‘Mantoetse Maama
MAFETENG — ‘Malimpho ‘Molai and her five children are struggling to make ends meet.
Their lives changed drastically after her husband deserted them.
For the past 16 years ‘Molai has had to rely on odd jobs to put food on the table for her children.
She says this is a far cry from the life they were used to when her taxi-owner husband was still providing for them.
“When I was pregnant with my last born daughter he started coming home late. Sometimes he would disappear for weeks without informing us about his whereabouts.
“I regularly called the family elders to intervene but nothing changed. He refused to support me and his children financially. My children were from time to time sent home over unpaid school fees,” ‘Molai said.
‘Molai says she had to swallow her pride and knock from house to house asking for a job.
She said after joining Gender Links (GL) through the Mohale’s Hoek Urban Council her self-esteem got a boost.
“Attending workshops and sharing my experience with other women who have a similar experiences has relieved my pain,” she said.
About 86 percent of women in Lesotho experience gender violence at least once in life time.
In celebrating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Gender Links Lesotho held a workshop for Mohale’s Hoek Urban Council cyber dialogue to discuss ways to fight gender based violence.
Members of the council, together with victims of gender-based violence, were discussing a topic on reducing gender-based violence through economic empowerment.
Some of the issues that were raised include issues like husbands’ unwillingness to allow their wives to go to be formally employed.
The internet-based discussion forum concluded that women need to work together to start small businesses that will empower them and increase their self-confidence.
Gender Links consultant, Matšeliso Ntsoelikane, said the purpose of the workshops is to connect victims of gender based violence together in order for them to share their experiences.
“We offer training on gender equality and reduce gender based violence. Victims of gender-based violence meet other people who have similar experience and share how they overcame their pain,” she said.
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