Africa-Press – Botswana. Tsabong Police Station last week hosted a PITSO YA BORRE workshop under the theme “Strength in Brotherhood; Unity, Wellness and Service.” The men-focused forum drew participants from the Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Prison Service, and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Goitseone Ngono, Director of Gender and Child Protection, officiated the event. She highlighted that men in uniform face the same mental health challenges as other men. She noted that recent national events emphasized the urgency of addressing stress, anger management, and other issues linked to violent behavior.
Ngono encouraged men to let go of harmful perceptions that discourage emotional expression. She emphasized behavioral change as a key solution to mental health challenges and warned against using substances as coping mechanisms. She added that combating illegal drugs and substance abuse requires supporting pre-addiction interventions, closing distribution spaces, promoting rehabilitation, and raising awareness through education.
Addressing gender-based violence, Ngono said the message must be clear: “Real men must protect; they must never harm.”
Superintendent Albert Mphela, Tsabong Station Commander, explained that men often avoid actively participating in solutions to Gender-Based Violence, even though statistics show they are mostly perpetrators. The PITSO YA BORRE workshop was designed to foster brotherhood among disciplined officers, encouraging solidarity that could inspire other men in society to engage in combating GBV.
Tsabong District Council Deputy Secretary Mogolodi Modibo noted that disciplined officers serve as role models on and off duty. He urged participants to safeguard their mental well-being and foster a culture of open engagement among colleagues.
The workshop reinforced the importance of unity, wellness, and service among men in uniform, aiming to create a healthier, more responsible, and community-focused approach to challenges such as mental health and gender-based violence.
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