GBV CONVERSATION WITH BGBVC CEO

Hello, I’m Ame, a staff member at BGBVC. As an international team member working here in Botswana, I had the opportunity to interview our CEO, Lorato Moalusi.
To get a deeper understanding about Gender-Based Violence in Botswana, I sat down for an interview with our CEO, who has decades of experience working in this field.

1. You’ve been working in GBV for more than 20 years. Have you seen any changes in the number or type of cases over time?

I’ve worked on the frontlines of GBV as a social worker since 1995.

Overall, the number of GBV cases has continued to rise. However, it’s not so simple to say that GBV itself is increasing—population growth and greater awareness of GBV have also contributed to more cases being reported.

In the past, due to low awareness and heavy stigma, it was very difficult for survivors to speak out.

Previously, many cases involved violence against wives or girlfriends due to suspected infidelity. In recent years, however, we’ve seen an increase in violence targeting children—both biological and stepchildren of the abuser.

Violence against children is a very serious issue in Botswana.

2. How does the situation in Botswana compare to other African countries?

Various rankings and reports are published, but in Botswana’s case, older data is often used, and because of its relatively small population, direct comparisons with other countries can be difficult.

Still, there’s no denying that GBV remains a serious and prevalent issue in Botswana.

I believe one underlying cause is the strong power imbalance that exists in society, in communities, and within families—especially the dominance of men.

For example, in Setswana, the word “Wa tsewa” means “to get married,” but literally translates to “a man takes a woman.” There is no equivalent term for a woman taking a man.

Also, there is a common Setswana wedding song that says, “Leave the pots, the owner has come.” This means that the bride will now take over cooking duties, so the mother-in-law no longer needs to check on the pots.

Additionally, Botswana has a tradition known as Lobola, a bride price, where the groom’s family gives money or livestock to the bride’s family when they marry.

This sometimes leads to a sense of entitlement—men may believe that having paid Lobola, they now “own” their wife and can treat her however they want.

As a social worker, I’ve seen cases where HIV-positive men refused to use condoms during sex, saying, “I paid Lobola—I can do what I want with my wife.”

These cultural issues are deeply rooted, but change is happening. Some couples are now choosing not to follow the Lobola tradition, which shows that cultural norms can evolve.

3. What’s still missing in the current GBV response in Botswana?

It is crucial for entire communities to recognize that GBV is a human rights violation.

Unfortunately, not all women currently have access to social workers or to support organizations like BGBVC.

Building a strong social mindset that “violence is wrong”—and encouraging people to speak out when they see abuse—is key to empowering survivors to come forward.

We also need long-term support systems for survivors.

For example, a survivor fund could provide care and compensation in cases where a parent is lost to GBV, leaving behind children, or where survivors suffer long-term injuries.

At BGBVC, we strive to provide rapid and effective support to the many survivors who visit us daily.

I talk often with our CEO, but this interview focused on the GBV issue through the lens of someone who has watched it evolve over many decades. It was insightful even for me.

While both men and women can be survivors of GBV, the majority of victims are still women—often due to power imbalances rooted in culture and tradition.

As I continue my work, I’m always asking:
How can we raise awareness of GBV in Botswana? How can we better support survivors?

GBV is not just something happening far away—it could be happening in your own community, or even next door. So let’s take a moment to reflect on the deeper issues behind it and think about what we can all do to create change.