07 Sep 2017

South Africa’s High Commissioner to Botswana, Ms Rosemary Mashaba says she will focus on the empowerment of women and the girl-child during her tenure in Botswana.

In an interview after presenting letters of credence to President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama on Wednesday, Ms Mashaba said women and girls in both Botswana and South Africa were feeling the impact of the scourge of HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment more than their male counterparts.

She expressed discontent that after many years of independence, girl-children in both countries continued to miss school due to them not having sanitary pads.

The situation, she said, was a direct impact of HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment; which the two countries continued to grapple with.

On Botswana and South Africa’s formal relations, Ms Mashaba said the two countries have enjoyed cordial relations for almost 23 years.

She said the 36 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that that two countries had entered into and signed in the course of the 23 years were proof of their good relations.

Vowing to continue the legacy of her predecessors, Ms Mashaba also highlighted the similarities on the issues affecting citizens of both Botswana and South Africa.

She said both countries were facing challenges of poverty, unemployment and unskilled labour.

She said it was therefore critical for the two countries to leverage from each other’ strengths as well as learn from each other’s best practices in the endeavour to fight the ills.

She observed that the problems affected mostly women and children, noting in addition that HIV and AIDS had resulted in both countries having a high number of child-headed households whose parents had succumbed to the scourge. ENDS