Botswana’s education minister Unity Dow has expressed concern about the continued sexual abuse of young girls. Dow in a letter addressed to “all you men who have engaged in sexual relations with young girls” issued on Wednesday indicated that 407 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy in the past 12 months across the country.
“Some of these girls were young enough to be your children, perhaps even your grandchildren,” said Dow, who asked the perpetrators to stop their wicked activities. Dow said the girls’ futures have been altered by the indecent actions of the elderly man. “Each one of these girls was born unique and different; and had you not entered their lives, they could have had a totally different future.
“Each one of these girls had dreams, but you dashed them. Had that little girl not met you, she would have stayed in school and received a decent education and then her chances of her being poor would have been reduced,” read the emotional letter.
The public this week called on the government to act on the abuse of a girl child following reports that a local government Councillor, Kemmonye Amon, from Sebina in the northern part of the country, publicly admitted having impregnated a 16-year-old girl.
The campaign has also ignited social media frenzy under the hash tag #Ishallnotforget, supported through wearing black and a blue ribbon.
Meanwhile the office of the President has called for justice on the issue. “Our view is that the law should be allowed to take its course. The presidency does not preside over everything, everywhere,” said Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi.
