Telenova targets abusive marriages
WeekendLife
Section 82 is a telenova about the injustices that women caught up in abusive marriages battle with. It tells the story of a highly educated woman who gets married to the man of her dreams until she wakes up a slave in a world completely new to her.
Written and directed by Mental Health Activist Mmakgosi Tau, Section 82 is also inspired by ‘’Bokgoba-Ba Golegilwe’’, a documentary on minimum wage by CineScent films. According to Tau, the 24-minutes telenova Section 82 is a fourth year final graduation film by a group of AFDA Botswana students called CineScent films. It is written in Ikalanga, Setswana and minimal English.
Produced by Mompati Rantuana, Section 82 unveils lot that people can’t see from the outside. ‘’On the surface it’s shocking, but once you understand the background it all makes sense. It is important to consider how someone’s upbringing, past exposure to abuse, and emotional capabilities might influence her decisions. From the outside, you might think it’s obvious and simple to avoid pursuing a relationship with someone who is abusive. But it’s not clear for everyone’’ she said
According to experts, domestic violence does not have to be physical; abuse comes in emotional and sexual forms as well. Low self-esteem isn’t the sole or even primary reason someone becomes a victim, say other women who’ve suffered abuse. Other factors include the inability to set boundaries, feeling incapable of saying ‘’no’’ and a person’s troubled relationship to authority figures. Tau underlined ‘’If cruelty and bad behaviour are familiar to you, you may feel comfortable being stomped over. You just do not understand any other way, you do not know how to set healthy boundaries’’
She further noted that the pressure of fixing abusive relationship is often placed squarely on victim’s shoulders, with the world still asking why victims do not make better choices. The truth is domestic violence doesn’t always end when victims make good choices. Section 82 telenova was produced by Mompati Tantuana and written by Mmakgosi Tau. This telenova’s cast consists of pretty Phuthego, Omphile Mabine, Karabo Sasebola, Chuka Mmolotsi, and Moanamise Machola with an appearance by Jethro Ndebele. The film’s cinematography was done by Benjamin Sediba and edited by Leano Ennetse.
Meanwhile, according to Gender Based Violence Indicators Study Botswana by the Women’s Affairs Department and Gender Links, over two thirds of women in Botswana, approximately 67%, have experienced some form of gender based violence in their lifetimes, including partner and non-partner violence. A smaller, but still high, proportion of men, at 44% admit to perpetrating violence against women. Nearly one third of women, 29% experienced violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the 12 months to the prevalence survey that formed the flagship research tool in this study. In contrast, only 1, 2% of women reported cases of Gender Based Violence to the police in the same period. Thus the prevalence of GBV reported in the survey is 24 times higher than that reported to the police. This suggests that levels of gender based violence are far higher than those recorded in official statistics.
Most of the violence reported occurs within intimate relationships. About three in every five women experienced violence in an intimate relationship while about half of the men admitted to perpetrating intimate partner violence. Emotional violence is the most common form of IPV experienced by women and perpetrated by men, at 37% in the sample in their lifetime. Similar proportions of women, 11.4% and men 10.7% reported experiencing or perpetrating non-partner rape respectively.
Of all the women interviewed, 16% experienced attempted rape, while 8% of the men in the sample disclosed attempted rape of a non-partner. Almost a quarter, 23% of all women interviewed said they had experienced sexual harassment at school; work, in public transport or at a traditional healer. Almost a quarter of women who were ever pregnant, 24%, experienced abuse during their pregnancy. Despite the high levels of rape, only one in seven women seek medical attention.
Patriarchal attitudes are a significant underlying factor driving the incidence of gender based violence in Botswana. While women and men affirm gender quality in the public domain this has not translated in their private lives particularly in their intimate relationships. These are among key findings of the Gender Based Violence Indicators Research project in Botswana undertaken by the Women Affairs Department and Gender Links.
The report said these findings show that GBV has reached pandemic proportions in Botswana and needs to be treated with the same urgency as HIV and AIDS. As a key building block in the achievement of Vision 2036, gender based violence needs to be placed high on the political agenda.
About one in every ten women interviewed said they were forced to have sex with someone who was not their partner while one in thirteen men disclosed perpetration. Three per cent of women were raped under the influence of drugs and 5% of men admitted to raping a non-partner when she was too drunk or drugged to consent. Two per cent of women were gang raped while 3.4% of men admitted to participating in gang rape.
WeekendLife
BOTSWANA TO HOST MISS WORLD 2026
Even though Botswana has over the years been performing extremely poorly at the Miss World competition, the country has confirmed that it will be hosting the beauty festival in 2026. Initially, the country was to host Miss World next year, something it failed to confirm before deadline. Director at Miss Botswana, Benjamin Raletsatsi, says Botswana will be ready then to host all participants. Miss Botswana Top 25 finalists left the boot camp yesterday. Quite shocking though, Miss Botswana team is still failing basics as responding to media inquiries on time yet it is dangerously hoping to host an event of high status
WeekendLife
DJ Sway ‘saved’ the YAMAs
DJ Sway, the daring and ambitious on-air presenter of Yarona FM, played a crucial role in saving the radio station’s music awards, known as the YAMAs. The event was initially dry and disorganized, but DJ Sway, who co-hosted with Pearl Thusi, injected life into the show. However, things took a turn for the worse when Pearl Thusi abruptly left the stage, leaving DJ Sway to carry on alone. Despite the unexpected setback, DJ Sway rose to the occasion and captivated the audience, effectively putting an end to the drama caused by Pearl Thusi.
In an exclusive interview after the YAMAs, DJ Sway revealed the behind-the-scenes chaos that unfolded during the event. He acknowledged the script editors, Phalana and Hope, who worked tirelessly to reedit the script and adapt it to a one-host format. Despite the last-minute changes, DJ Sway remained composed and focused, thanks to the support of his colleagues, such as Owen Rampha, Katlego Rakola, Tshepang Motsisi (DJ Easy), and LB.
When asked about his initial reaction to the unexpected turn of events, DJ Sway admitted to feeling saddened by how things ended. However, he credited Pearl Thusi for giving him a much-needed confidence boost during his moment of doubt. She reminded him that he was destined for greatness and that he didn’t need big stars to succeed. With her words of encouragement, DJ Sway regained his composure and approached the rest of the show with the same professionalism and charisma he displays on the radio.
To overcome the challenges he faced, DJ Sway relied on his radio skills and calm personality. He engaged with the audience as if he were speaking to a single person, pointing out individuals in the crowd to create a more intimate connection. He also expressed gratitude for his backstage team, who provided support and ensured the smooth running of the show.
DJ Sway expressed satisfaction in being seen as the saving grace of the YAMAs. He believed that he fulfilled his role as a host and brought joy to the Yarona FM board, his family, and his fans. Despite his success, DJ Sway’s journey has not been without hardships. He has experienced the loss of his mother and sister, which has left a lasting impact on him. While he continues to grieve, he seeks solace in therapy sessions and relies on his father for emotional support.
DJ Sway’s dedication to his craft and ability to overcome adversity make him a remarkable figure in the radio industry. His vibrant personality and deep knowledge of music have made him a perfect fit for Yarona FM. Despite the challenges he has faced, DJ Sway remains determined to make a positive impact and bring joy to his listeners. With his talent and resilience, there is no doubt that DJ Sway will continue to thrive in his career and leave a lasting legacy in the world of radio.
WeekendLife
Chef Gustos walk of shame
Chef Gustos, the renowned hitmaker, recently experienced what can only be described as a walk of shame at the 8th edition of the Yarona FM Music Awards (YAMAs). Despite being nominated a whopping seven times, he failed to secure a single win. Ouch!
The night was filled with surprises, drama, and controversy, but the biggest winner of the evening was Han C, who walked away with three awards, including Best Pop and Best Male Single for his hit song, “Sebinki.” Han C graciously announced that he would be donating P10,000 from his winnings to his fellow nominees, promoting a spirit of togetherness among artists. What a noble gesture!
Meanwhile, Chef Gustos found himself on the losing end of several categories, including People’s Choice Artist of the Year, which he had won in the past. He seemed unfazed by the loss, stating, “People know that ‘Away’ was big, but they won’t stop me.” It’s clear that Chef Gustos is determined to continue making music, regardless of the awards he receives.
However, he did express his frustration with the outcome, suggesting that the awards may be corrupt. He declined to comment further, citing the need to protect his brand and maintain good relationships with corporate clients. It’s understandable that he wants to avoid any potential damage to his future prospects.
In fact, Chef Gustos went so far as to request that Yarona FM not nominate him for future YAMAs. It seems he wants to distance himself from the disappointment and focus on his music without the pressure of awards. Perhaps this decision will allow him to create freely and without the burden of expectations.
While Chef Gustos may have experienced a walk of shame at the YAMAs, it’s important to remember that awards do not define an artist’s talent or success. His fans still appreciate his music, and he continues to have gigs with corporate clients. So, despite the disappointment, Chef Gustos remains optimistic about his future in the industry.
In the end, the YAMAs may have been a letdown for Chef Gustos, but he’s determined to keep moving forward. He won’t let a lack of awards dampen his spirits or hinder his creativity. And who knows, maybe next time he’ll come back stronger and prove that he’s deserving of recognition. After all, the true measure of an artist’s success lies in the hearts of their fans, not in shiny trophies.