To explain the importance of civil society, Lebogang Mothibatsela likens a nation to a three-legged pot; all the legs have to function for the pot to balance.
“I have always had a passion for civil society because it’s a third vital leg after the private sector, and public sector; it fills the gaps that are not met by the private sector and public sector,” she says.
We are at Gaborone’s Wharic Park, where a rugby match is in progress. From where we sit, a short distance from the club house, we do not pay even the scantest attention to the unfolding action on the field. A while earlier, Mothibatsela, who turns out for the ladies’ side of a local rugby outfit, was on the same turf.
“Since I was a kid,” she explains, “I have always volunteered in civil society.”
She is explaining how she chose to quit one of the Big Four audit firms after only six months on the job, to join a relatively young NGO, Botswana Substance Abuse Support Network (BOSASNet), which – though formerly registered as a society in 2008 – opened its doors last June. It was apparently not a very difficult decision to make because Mothibatsela – who holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Canada’s Trent University and an MSc in NGO Management and Development from the London School of Economics – saw the move as an opportunity to develop as an individual, as well as be part of the development of an organisation that would have impact in Botswana, to address the rising problem of substance abuse in the country.
Joining BOSASNet as administrative officer last November, she has been Acting Executive Director since February. It is in this position that she leads an organisation that offers rehabilitation and support services for people suffering or affected by substance abuse.
BOSASNet’s work encompasses public education, prevention, as well as rehabilitation and support services. The education aspect is carried out through outreach by presentations and workshops with individuals, organisations, and schools. The thinking is that education should lay the foundation for prevention.
“We are hoping that if people are informed they will make informed decisions knowing the consequences for themselves and other people,” Mothibatsela explains.
The rehabilitation and support aspect is for those already in need of intervention.
“We have an outpatient rehabilitation centre where we offer specific substance abuse counselling. We do screening, assessment, treatment planning and counselling, and support through follow-ups. This is done for individuals, family and groups. Counselling is also done for those affected; we do support counselling for them to avoid maladaptive behaviour to be able to support the abuser. The key thing is that counselling and treatment are only effective if the patient is willing,” she says.
She explains the three distinct steps that make the process: substance use, abuse, and dependency, which is also called addiction. She emphasises that it is important to know the stages for one to be able to detect when they have a problem by picking the symptoms.
“The key thing is clinically, addiction or dependency is a disease. Therefore, any intervention has to be clinical. It’s beyond choice. You often hear friends and relatives say about someone, ‘kante ke eng a sa tlogele?’ not realizing that at that stage it would have moved beyond the point where one can decide to stop. At that stage, one needs clinical intervention and support,” she says.
While studies on the extent of the problem in Botswana are yet to be done, Mothibatsela asserts that there is sufficient evidence that abuse and dependency affect a lot of people. She makes the point that there is no discrimination in terms of gender, age, socio-economic status, and background. The substances in question are also as varied as the people who abuse them.
“Very often we focus on alcohol. We neglect tobacco. We focus on marijuana, but we have seen other substances. In South Africa, they are seeing rising use of inhalants such as deodorants and cleaning substances. So within the home there are substances that can be abused. We shouldn’t forget that there are so many things that can be abused. These substances are accessible to all; it’s not even about access to money. We need to eliminate certain misconceptions about people who abuse substances,” she says.
In the short time that Mothibatsela has been here, she has learnt that one can’t profile a typical BOSASNet client. They vary. It’s the same story how they get here. There are referrals from schools, and clinics. Some come with a friend, or a colleague. The only condition is that it must be a voluntary decision.
She explains that rehabilitation is a lifelong process, and there is always the possibility of relapse, which underscores the importance of support for the person undergoing treatment.
“It’s not just about people stopping. You have people who relapse after a month or 20 years. People need to be educated about responsible use. Your whole life must change. The promise is made to the self,” she says.
Mothibatsela cautions against the tendency to blame children’s wrong choices on their parents. She points out that what informs one’s decisions is far more complex and cannot always be pinned down to a single cause. Some parents are known to blame themselves for the way their children turn out, wondering if they could have done more. Such people are consumed by guilt and an overpowering sense of failure.
“You have children from what would be regarded as bad parenting circumstances, but they turned out to be very responsible. Then you have caring parents who are open with their children and are what you might consider model parents, yet their children become abusers. Parents are only one part of someone’s life. There are parents, peers, friends, and colleagues. Sometimes parents blame themselves, but it depends on the individual. You can try your hardest, but it’s not your fault because you are not in control of the first decisions of the person. You can only do your best. The decision is of the individual and it’s shaped by a lot of things,” she says.
She suggests that prevention should start with observation and enforcement of legal requirements such as age restriction for access to permitted drugs like alcohol and tobacco products.
“Any child can walk into a liquor store and buy alcohol. In Canada, you’d be required to produce your ID even if you looked 45. And if required, you have to produce it, otherwise you wouldn’t be served. It’s just a question of enforcement of laws in place,” she points out.
She states that enforcement should not be seen as the responsibility of the police alone. Instead, she wants to see more responsibility being shared by purveyors ranging from vendors to big corporations.
Though the problem is widespread countrywide, Mothibatsela says BOSASNet cannot have a wider footprint due to resource constraints. One way that the organisation is going round this limitation is to build the nation’s capacity to respond to substance abuse. In May, 15 people graduated from a counselling course offered by BOSASNet and accredited by Botswana Training Authority (BOTA).
“We will maintain a network with them,” she says. “We are building capacity and partnerships. We also try to expand our service through partnership with other organisations.”
I ask what lies behind her drive. A personal experience, perhaps?
“Substance abuse is a reality in Botswana,” she responds.” My view…my philosophy prescribes to the mission of BOSASNet, which is to lead Botswana to be a substance abuse free nation. Alcohol for an average human being is not the problem; the problem is abuse. Personally, I have seen people affected or suffering from abuse and dependency. What also appeals to me is that BOSASNet goes out to help individuals and it’s not moralistic; it’s not judging. Who are we to judge? How can we help when we judge?”
