12 Aug 2015

The Lobatse Town Council (LTC) is charged with the responsibility to address gender issues and therefore a great opportunity for the SADC Gender Links women to have found it fit to visit Lobatse on a bench marking mission.

The Lobatse Town Council Deputy Mayor, Mr Francis Mokwena said this during a meeting held in Lobatse by the Lobatse Town Council and the SADC Gender Links on Tuesday August 11.

These kinds of meetings, he said play a significant role as they act as a platform for the review of contributions that the council has been providing to its clientelle.

The meeting, he said also serves as a platform for information sharing and therefore must be utilised by both parties to interact and exchange views on gender issues.

He also urged them to continue with platforms of this nature in order to review their collective contributions and “facilitate the sharing of experiences and information”.

He said the LTC recognises the need to strengthen its capacity to aggressively address gender issues as a global challenge.

He also highlighted that the Ministry of Local government, which LTC falls under, has from time to time reviewed its organizational and management structure to ensure that it is service orientated and responsive to the needs of communities.

He challenged everyone to stand on their toes and face today’s changing world to deal with emerging issues of a cosmopolitan society and provide remedy for such issues as gender equality.

For his part, Lobatse Town Council Deputy Town Clerk Mr Gontse, said LTC recognises the importance of gender in development hence gender comes as a key factor in unlocking the town’s development.

“Mainstreaming gender in our developmental agenda is a critical step”, he said.

He said LTC ensures that all issues pertaining to development recognises all gender and therefore expect both men and women to be part of the production forces and engages them on equal basis.

Mr Gontse said every individual in the community is engaged and educated with regards to gender issues as they commemorate all activities geared towards gender education.
To reinforce gender education, he said LTC has assured that each council department has a gender focal person who works towards educating and sensitizing employees on gender issues.

He said the LTC has for the past four years been participating in the Gender Links national summit and presenting projects that scoop the first position and have represented the country also at regional level, and their effort, he said deserves credit.

Presenting the situation at hand on the LTC Economic Empowerment program progress, Ms Kutlo Mophalane the Senior Home Economics Officer and Lobatse Town council Gender Committee Secretary, told the gathering that the LTC trains poor households to acquire productive skills such as catering, dress making, bead work and provides funds for them to start income generating projects. 

Ms Mophalane said the Council ensures an increase of its clientele’s market base by promoting their projects through local mini shows, market days and participation at the annual Botswana Consumer Fair. 

Since inception of the programme she indicated that two hundred and forty five clients have been trained in both the dress making and catering through the Local Economic Training Programme.

She indicated that out of two hundred and forty five, 112 have sat for testing at Madirelo Training and Testing Centre and acquired recognised certificates. While 33 former trainees have been funded under the poverty eradication program and started their business projects. 
She added that 78 beneficiaries have been equipped with technical skills such as Hair Dressing, Tent Hire Techniques, Bead work and bakery. 

The project, she said has made a significant developmental impact on individuals, households and the community at large as they have acquired knowledge and skills including assets through income earned from participating on the project.

“These people’s lifestyles have changed and their self- esteem has also been boosted”, she said.

She said the empowerment of women through gender mainstreaming has significant proof of power balance at home as women now own pieces of land, have increased number of developed plots, are engaged in income generation projects and empowered with gender issues hence now are able to communicate to their male partners on family issues. 

The SADC Gender Protocol Regional Summit that attracted over 150 participants from all over Southern Africa, and held in Gaborone ended with the participants visiting Lobatse to meet and interact with women entrepreneurs some of who were funded, mentored and given support by the LTC.

The participants had the chance to meet and visit women empowered by Lobatse Town council to start up their own businesses under the Local Economic Empowerment Program.

The projects visited included among others candle making, toilet paper manufacturing and tent hiring.  ENDS