BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – In the midst of the reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV), Emaswati can draw comfort from the fact that there is a decline of 16 percent that has been realised in the past financial year.
According to the 2023/24 performance report of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO), there has been a national decline of GBV reported cases from 17 391 to 14 678, which indicated a national decline of 16 percent.
It has been stated in the report that the DPMO continued to vigorously engage Emaswati on GBV, which had become a concern among the nation. “The office is vigorously engaging communities, leaders of various organisations, including traditional leaders,” said part of the report.
All the people engaged by the DPMO, according to the report, were called upon to discuss viable strategies to end violence in the country. Among the viable strategies, positive parenting was also discussed to find out if the people engaged were warming up to it.
GBV has been a concern among many in Eswatini, causing many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to plead with Government to declare it as a national disaster. Many Government officials, including ministers and legislators, have also called upon stringent measures to be taken to deal with this scourge once and for all.
His Majesty King Mswati III has also called upon all Emaswati to fight this problem, when he opened the First Session of the 12th Parliament in February this year.
