Botswana: The Botswana Police Service has taken actions to curb the problem of drug and substance abuse and Gender-based-violence in the nation. The organization hosted the GBV Training and Stakeholder workshop in Orapa on Friday.
The workshop aimed to promote better awareness for the issue for the members of the community. The Divisional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer for North Central Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Musa Oteng delivered his views on the issues. He said that drug and substance abuse is one of the contributing factors which aggravate Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Oteng said the most prevalent drugs in the Boteti region are dagga, Methcathinone, and Cocaine among others. He also added that the youth are the most affected and vulnerable group indulging in such drugs.
Oteng urged the stakeholders and the community to embark on robust intervention measures to save the youth from moral decay. He urged the participants to report any suspicious illicit drug dealings to the Police and also provide psychosocial support to the victims of drug abuse.
The Senior Medical Officer, Orapa Mine Hospital, Dr Koketso Maotwe, said Orapa, Letlhakane, and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) are committed to eliminating GBV, hence the partnership with the Botswana Police Service (BPS) to capacitate stakeholders and the District leadership in the area. Dr Maotwe appealed to participants to develop action plans that would efficiently address GBV.
No.8 District Crime Executive Committee Chairperson, Kgosi Gowinnemang Matlhare of Mopipi Village appealed to the participants to find the root cause of GBV and rectify the problem. Kgosi Matlhare advised the community to play an immense role in raising and guiding their children to become responsible citizens. He expressed concern about parents who neglect their children, adding that the situation exposes them to GVB.
At the end of the workshop, stakeholders came up with a roadmap that will bridge the existing gaps when responding to GBV. The objective of the workshop was to strengthen the prevention efforts and improve the effectiveness of the response to GBV issues in the Boteti District.
The five-day workshop was organised by the Botswana Police Service (BPS) in collaboration with Debswana – Orapa, Letlhakane, and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM).