Africa-Press – Botswana. Member of Parliament for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi has warned residents in his constituency that a threat to kill ess no joke, and it should never be taken lightly.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Tonota on Thursday, Mr Moatlhodi said too often, people made threats without thinking about the consequences, adding that such actions had devastating results.
“I urge everyone in Tonota to take threats of violence seriously, and to report them to the authorities immediately. We must do everything in our power to keep our community safe, and to make sure that everyone feels secure,” said Mr Moatlhodi.
Mr Moatlhodi revealed that Tonota policing area had seen a slight decrease in criminal cases since the beginning of the year and commended Tonota station commander, Superintendent Moore Motsokono and his team for a job well done.
“Crime has a devastating effect on the community, and it is essential that we do everything we can to reduce it. I urge the people of Tonota to work with the police to make our community a safer place,” he said.
Mr Moatlhodi noted that there had been seven cases of rape reported in the Tonota policing area since the beginning of the year, and he urged men to behave responsibly and respectfully in their relationships.
“Rape is never acceptable, and it will not be tolerated. I call on men to treat women with respect and to seek consent before engaging in any kind of sexual activity. We must all work together to end violence against women and to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone,” said Mr Moatlhodi.
He cautioned against blaming the victims of rape for their ordeal.
“We should not be blaming the victims of rape, but rather focusing on educating men on the importance of consent and respect,” he stated.
In addition to rape cases, Mr Moatlhodi reported that the Tonota policing area had seen an alarming increase in defilement cases this year.
He said 14 cases ha been reported so far, all involving male perpetrators.
He noted that this was a particularly disturbing trend, as defilement had a long-term impact on both the victim and the community.
“It is crucial that we work together to address this problem, and to ensure that young people are protected from harm,” he said.
“Let us all do our part to create a safe and healthy environment for our children.”
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly also noted that the Tonota policing area was well-staffed, with at least two police officers assigned to each of the 15 villages under its jurisdiction.
“This allows us to provide a high level of service to the community, and to respond quickly to any incidents that occur,” he said.
However, he expressed concern over reports that some people who were enrolled in the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme were selling their medication or sharing it with others.
“This is not only illegal, but it can also be very dangerous. People who are on ARVs need to take their medication as prescribed, and any deviation from this can have serious consequences. I urge those who are in the programme to take their medication as directed and not engage in any illegal activity,” he added.
Residents complained about livestock roaming the village destroying water taps and backyard gardens.
They asked for increased enforcement of livestock control measures as well as the maintenance of some internal gravel roads in the village, especially Tonota West.
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