26 Aug 2015

Research has and continues to indicate that when women are empowered, economies tend to perform better, trade and industry assistant minister, Mr Sadique Kebonang, has said.

“The United Nation’s report on women, April 2015 facts and figures on economic empowerment, revealed that when women work, economies grow. Therefore, an increase in female labour force results in a faster economic growth,” he added.

Mr Kebonang said this when officiating at the 1^st Women in Business association(WIBA) Excellence awards themed: Women uniting in business recently.

Women, Mr Kebonang said, constituted 52 per cent of Botswana’s population, of which about 60 per cent were in the informal business sector, adding that their effective participation and contribution in Botswana had been immense.

“We have seen our women build this economy through the multiple roles they play- from being mothers to being captains of the industry,” he added.

In recognition of various challenges faced by women, he said the government had committed to providing financial resources to women groups to set income generating activities.

In the just ended financial year of 2014/2015, he said a total of more than P25 million from the alcohol levy was given to the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs for women’s economic empowerment programmes. 

These funds, he said supported a total of 72 women groups creating jobs to 360 individuals. Furthermore, he said the government had also adopted the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy, which provides that 30 per cent of all government purchases should be from women and 15 per cent of those purchases should be from youth and people living with disabilities. 

Therefore, the awards, which were open to all women in business including non-WIBA members and women operating in the informal sector, Mr Kebonang said were a commendable initiative as they recognised women who had committed themselves and those of others meaningful through their own business enterprises. 

The event, he said also created an opportunity for stakeholders to interact with Botswana women in business and engage in possible partnerships and marked an important milestone in government’s continued efforts to promote women’s economic integration.

In her welcome remarks, WIBA president, Ms Tumi Mbaakanyi, said the association found it fit to hold the awards ceremony in order to recognise and reward Batswana business women who had made a significant contribution to the country’s economic development. 

These 1^st WIBA Excellence awards were divided into seven categories being, Inspirational Woman of the Year Award won by Ms Obakeng Lebang, Female Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award won by Ms Julia Farmers of Farmers Nature Produce, Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Female Innovator of the Year Award, both went to Ms One Modisane of Young Chefs Academy.

Other categories were, the Female Collaboration of the Year Award won by Ms Julia Ramanteba of Lobatse Engine Filling Station and Trish Holdings and The Informal Business Woman of the Year Award went to Ms Mary Israel of Mary’s Nurseries. 

Additionally, all entries were automatically considered for the overall Business Woman of the Year Award scooped by Ms Pinkie Setlalekgosi and Ms Michelle Gabriel of Print Couriers. Print Couriers was awarded for being a business which is well branded, with sound leadership, potential for export and clean balance sheet. 

The Business Woman of the Year Award winner walked away with P50 000 cash and P50 000 worth of jewelry, whilst the Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner got a flight ticket to any destination of her choice and Yarona FM airtime worth P150 000.

Winners of the other six categories walked away with P10 000 cash each, a one year insurance cover and a business development course of choice. 

The innovation award was not a technology or Information and Communications Technology (ICT) award, but basically any unique experience, service or product that had been introduced to the market, either on an existing product or service, but with a twist of uniqueness.

These awards were only open to women making 100 per cent shares or 50 per cent shares if they were with a male counterpart. For example, nominees were women who owned a shareholding of 51 per cent and above and playing an active role in the business, like holding the managing director or chief executive officer position in the business if working with male counterparts.

Deadline for entries was June 19, 2015. Once the nominations were done, the public was invited to vote for their preferred nominee- for a maximum of two categories. Ends