– District the worst in Botswana for GBV
– 59 percent of women abused
The finger of shame was pointed at Chobe recently, with the District singled out as the place in Botswana where women are most likely to experience Gender Based Violence (GBV).
This was the grim revelation made by Chobe Gender Officer, Mosetsanagape Matenngwa during a community engagement forum in Kazungula earlier this month.
Matenngwa revealed the current GBV statistics have once again placed Chobe on the first spot as compared to other districts.
“The Gender Affairs report indicates that 59 percent of women are abused, while 39 percent of men are abusive,” she said.
Worryingly, this marks a huge increase from the 37 percent of females who reported abuse in Chobe four years ago. Back then (2018), 30 percent of men were recorded as being abusive.
The officer noted most GBV cases involve people who are romantically involved.
As the most populous village in the area, Kazungula recorded the most cases of GBV, defilement and child negligence.
“While physical and sexual abuses are the most common and mostly perpetrated by men, women are mostly guilty of emotional abuse. These could include denying partner access to the money they earned, or not allowing them to use the money the way they want,” explained Matenngwa.
“We also have economic violence, where we see in-laws coming to claim the estate of the deceased from the widow and accusing her of killing the husband,” she continued.
Meanwhile, an Associate Researcher at Botswana Institute for Policy Development Analysis (BIDPA), Thabile Sambona revealed there is an alarming increase in GBV cases being recorded in Botswana, with 67 percent of women experiencing it in various forms across all age groups. This is over double the global average!
Dropping more depressing statistics, Sambona further disclosed the country tops the world-wide list of recorded rapes per 100, 000 people with a rate of 92.93.
Speaking at a stakeholder’s consultation meeting on gender mainstreaming facilitated by Minister of Justice and European Union in Kasane, Sambona stressed it was important that both men and women have equal control over resources and decision making at all levels.
She said this will promote human rights, gender equality and social justice.
“Gender mainstreaming starts with the recognition that gender equality is a basic development goal,” she stated.
Sambona revealed that statistics have shown that poverty is more prevalent amongst women than men, with households headed by women more likely to be poor.
“Unemployment rate for females was 18.9 percent compared with 16.3 percent for males,” she added.
