Men fight over girlfriend
Police in Nata are investigating a defilement case after two young men, aged 26 and 18, were caught fighting in the streets of Kachikau.
Both men had already torn each other's clothes before the fight broke out and have since been charged with defilement.
Reports indicate that the altercation stemmed from a dispute over a girlfriend, with both young men asserting their claim to be her partner. Despite intervention attempts from two elderly witnesses, who urged them to stop, the men disregarded the warnings and persisted in their fight
Concerned that the situation might escalate into serious violence that may lead to murder, one of the elders called the police, who arrived quickly and found the two still exchanging heated words over the girlfriend.
During questioning, police learned that the girlfriend involved is a minor, aged 16. She was brought to the scene and admitted to having sexual relationships with both men, and that she loves both young men.
Based on the confession, the police charged both men with defilement, pending investigations. The two men have been remanded and are awaiting a court appearance.
Defilement continues to be a serious concern across Botswana, with recent reports from villages such as Mahalapye, Kanye, Serule, and Kgatleng revealing a worrying increase in cases involving minors.
In Mochudi, there are growing concerns that some minors are already engaging in sexual relationships. A bus driver, who operates a school bus in the area, was recently accused of facilitating contact between underage children and older men and was exposed on local television.
In Kanye, teenage pregnancy has become a major issue, prompting several awareness campaigns aimed at students, including one known as Mokgosi Teenage Pregnancy Awareness.
Last week, Mahalapye central police station commander, Superintendent Meshack Ranku, expressed concern over the growing number of defilement cases in his policing area.
He revealed that 13 cases are already under investigation, with more expected to be reported as the year progresses.