Childline Botswana has expressed profound horror and sadness following a recent spate of brutal child murders by biological fathers, a disturbing trend that has shaken the nation to its core.
In the past month, the country has been rocked by a series of heinous acts that have left communities in mourning and raised urgent questions about the psycho-social well-being of society. Just last week, a father in Francistown shockingly took the lives of his two children. On Wednesday, June 17th, the nation awoke to the tragic news of a similar occurrence in Tati-Siding.
These tragic incidents follow closely on the heels of similar acts in Bobonong, Gaborone, and Maun. Childline Botswana has highlighted these barbaric acts as symptomatic of deeper issues within the fabric of society, emphasising that such violence is not only a profound violation of children’s fundamental rights but also a severe affront to our collective humanity.
In a heartfelt statement, Childline Botswana underscored the urgent need for societal introspection and action. “These barbaric acts offer insights into the collective psycho-social wellbeing of our society; and we should all be as ashamed as we are concerned. We cannot and should not ignore the pandemic that’s creeping into our society as a component of Gender-Based Violence; where men are now tragically targeting their own children in a twisted attempt to inflict emotional trauma on their partners,” the organization stated.
The senseless killing of children, according to Childline Botswana, underscores the dire state of some family setups and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address this alarming trend. The organiaation called for immediate and concerted efforts from all sectors of society, including government, civil society, and communities, to tackle the root causes of this violence and to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
“The family unit is compromised in as far as developing and grooming responsible citizens is concerned. A multifaceted approach is needed to address this pandemic. All efforts need to be invested in building stronger families,” Childline Botswana said. It said strengthening family units is essential, as is providing evidence-based interventions to support healthy family dynamics and prevent such tragedies.
“We call on men to deeply reflect on these incidents and the picture it depicts of a man in Botswana. We call on men to, as a matter of urgency convene their “Men’s Conference” and reflect on this shameful development in our nation. Childline Botswana is committed to supporting any such community initiative and shall duly be reaching out to some communities,” it said. It added that; “We urge all community members to remain vigilant and to report any signs of distress or potential danger to the appropriate authorities. Our 24/7 toll-free hotline, 116, is available for anyone in need of support or counselling; especially as it relates to family relations. Together, we can work towards a safer and more compassionate society for our children.”
