Africa-Press – Botswana. Women in Mokgopeetsane ward in Molepolole have found a way of empowering themselves by selling cans, selling food as alternative ways of earning income to ease reliance on government programmes.
Giving a word of encouragement to the women on January 22, the MP for Molepolole South, Mr Kabo Morwaeng, called upon them to support one another and urged them not to accept any forms of abuse.
Gender and Social Affairs Officer, Ms Mighty Ntswabi, said women should desist from shielding abuse and protecting abusers saying children were the most vulnerable as they mostly depended on the abusers who should be the ones protecting them.
Ms Ntswabi said women should love their children unconditionally to avoid cases of them looking outside which might result in cases of defilement and teenage pregnancy. Men are also not free from abuse and they have been encouraged to report such cases and Ms Ntswabi said community members who fail to report cases of abuse when they witness them were in a way encouraging them.
She advised women to use Gender Affairs programmes provided by government to make a living and avoid depending on the Government feeding them through social welfare programmes.
Meanwhile, Community Development Officer, Mr Alfred Kekonnwe, said his department encourages people to fend for themselves instead of being classified as ‘needy’ when they have the abilities to provide for their families. Neighbourhood Watch group chairperson, Ms Kegaisamang Motshwanaesi explained that her group does not only keep out theft but also cares about the wellbeing of their community and also encourages women to help one another.
She said even when men failed to support them, they should remain strong. Giving a testimony, Ms Dimakatso Moloi encourage the community saying her can collection initiative has been profitable as she managed to buy herself a car despite the criticism and mocking she received from the public.
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