09 Mar 2016

The chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Women, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has called on political parties to come up with strategies aimed at increasing the number of women in Parliament.

Making an International Women’s Day statement in Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Tshireletso expressed worry that the proportion of women in Parliament had failed to exceed 10 per cent over the last two general elections held in 2009 and 2014.

“When it comes to politics, I must say currently women Members of Parliament constitute only 9.5 per cent of the house of 63 parliamentarians. 

Therefore in the absence of an electoral process that allows for deliberate measures to ensure a critical mass of women in Parliament, I implore all heads of various political parties to come up with strategies of addressing this anomaly,” she appealed.

She also urged MPs to make a difference for every woman and girl child by building supportive environments and working towards eliminating conscious and unconscious bias, speeding up cultural change with progressive corporate policy such as paternity leave and flexible working hours.

She said the day, which has been celebrated since the early 1900s, was meant to reflect on progress made and celebrate acts of courage and determination by women. 

The day was celebrated under the theme: Pledge for gender parity. Ends