Lerala, Botswana: Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi addressed the pressing issue of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) when addressing a kgotla meeting in Lerala.
On the 25th of November, Botswana commenced 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, a movement aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing action to end violence against women and children.
During his address, President Masisi said it makes no sense that lovers hurt and kill each other because of love. He urged Batswana to cultivate healthy relationships and look to positive examples, including those such as those shown by Kgosi Selelo Moroka III of Lerala.
An Afrobarometer report published in January of this year, citing the World Population Review puts Botswana’s rape incidence as among the highest in the World.
President Masisi continued to encourage citizens to take advantage of government initiatives aimed at uplifting their standard of living. He specifically highlighted the recently launched Temo Letlotlo programme as a tool for self empowerment.
Temo Letlotlo is a multi-sectoral programme intended to revitalize arable farming towards a more commercial approach and use agriculture as a drive to attain the country’s high income status.
In January 2022, the Botswana government banned the import of 16 types of vegetables, including everyday use vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, and potatoes. Giving an update on the 6th of November, when delivering the State of The Nation Address, President Dr. Masisi revealed that due to the import ban, Botswana has reduced its import bill by four hundred and fifty million Pula while also increasing the production capacity of food at household and national level.
President Masisi’s address in Lerala addressed both societal challenges and economic opportunities, indicating to not only the community of Lerala but the country as a whole how Mindset Change can assist.