Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba said GBV cases increased from 4,942 in the third quarter of 2021 to 8,790 cases in the same period in 2022.
Mr Kajoba said this is a sad development for the country and advised police officers to step up anti Gender Based Violence (GBV) sensitization programmes.
He said police officers should ensure that GBV complaints made by women and men are taken seriously and that all victims receive appropriate support at the Front Desk.
Mr Kajoba said this when he launched the Basadi (XIII) Operation in Monze District, Southern Province which is a code name for an operation conducted by the Women’s Network bi-annually in May and December in all Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organization (SARPCCO) member States.
Full statement
Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba today launched the Basadi (XIII) Operation in Monze District, Southern Province.
Basadi, meaning women in Tswana, is a code name for an operation conducted by the Women’s Network bi-annually in May and December in all Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) member States.
The Network was established in 2007 by SARPCCO chiefs in compliance with international and regional standards obliging member states to implement strategies that would enhance the overall quality of the lives of women.
Basadi Operation came into being in 2014 mandating National Women Network structures to conduct female led regional simultaneous Operation code named BASADI targeted at combating Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Speaking during the launch of the 13th Operation which was done simultaneously with other SARPCCO member States today, Mr. Kajoba bemoaned the continued rising of GBV reports in the country as evidenced by the 2022 Third Quarter report in which 8,790 reports comprising 6,303 criminal and 2,487 non-criminal reports were recorded countrywide as compared to 4,042 criminal and 900 non-criminal reports recorded during the Third Quarter of 2021.
He said the need to collect gender disaggregated data that is accurate and timely was crucial to ensuring gender sensitive responses for victims of GBV.
Mr. Kajoba has called on Police officers who he described as first responders to ensure that GBV complaints made by women and men are taken seriously and that all victims receive appropriate support at the Front Desk as they navigate the often complex justice system.
The Police Chief highlighted the importance of clear unbiased communication between the victim and Police officers.
” Reporting GBV cases can be extremely upsetting for victims. It takes a lot of courage to make the initial decision to report a GBV complaint,” Mr. Kajoba said.
He has since called on Police officers and all stakeholders to enhance anti GBV sensitization programmes through all available avenues.
Unite! End Violence against Women and Girls is this year’s Basadi Operation international Theme.
Danny Mwale
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer
