28 Jun 2015

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng, says government is committed to supporting and promoting participation of women in sport.

Speaking at the Women in Business Association (WIBA) Golf Day Prize Giving ceremony over the weekend, Olopeng said the fact that  Cabinet had given Botswana Netball Association (BNA a thumbs-up to host the World Youth Netball Cup in 2017 was a clear indication of government’s support for women in sport.

The 2017 Netball Cup is expected to attract 20 countries to Botswana, he said, adding that in 2018 again the country would host the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) conference which is also expected to attract delegates from across the world.

He applauded WIBA for organising a golf day that was aimed at encouraging the participation of women in sport, particularly considering that golf had been a male dominated sport.

Furthermore, he said as the minister responsible for culture, he wanted to encourage women to see the significance of the role they play in the society as mothers and wives in the family unit.

A woman, he said, was a pillar of the family unit and therefore neglecting those roles and responsibilities because of business was tantamount to weakening the sanctity of the family.
He said he was also happy that WIBA was cooperating with the Department of Gender Affairs to assist all women in business regardless of their geographical location and that women in rural areas were also receiving business mentoring and coaching.

On youth, the minister said his ministry had made strides in empowering them and removing impediments that prevented young people from operating successful businesses.

“Within the youth category, there are young women in business who will need your support in mentoring them into successful entrepreneurs,” he said.

He said government took women empowerment seriously, hence the appointment of women into top positions such as the speaker of the National Assembly, governor of Bank of Botswana, Attorney General, director of DPSM, permanent secretaries, director of the  Directorate on Corrutption  and Eeconomic Crime, among others.

“I hope women could use these opportunities to empower other women, just as WIBA is empowering other women in sport and business opportunities,” he said.

WIBA president Tumi Mbakanyi said the gold day started last year with a golf clinic for women in business as a way of networking and keeping fit.

At the same event WIBA donated sanitary pads to Tsabong Junior Secondary School, and Neo Kebuile from Mahalapye was given food hampers, she said, adding that the hamper gesture would continue every month for a period of one year.

Meanwhile, players who participated in the golf competition were awarded prizes such as printers and towels. All those who won  printers donated them back to Tsabong Junior Secondary School. Ends