22 May 2018

Women empowerment will never be realised if women do not gather enough courage to spearhead the initiative themselves.

At the forefront of its realisation would be women who are courageous, ambitious, and energetic with self-respect.

These words were echoed by a renowned motivational speaker, entrepreneur and former police officer, Ms Thandie Malebang at a Ladies Wellbeing Seminar in Francistown recently.

“As women, we have the same capability as our male counterparts to forge ahead with good things in life.

We can be empowered to own the things we aim for, if we lead in the fight to be recognised in society.

Let us aspire to inspire before we expire,” said Ms Malebang.

She urged women to be on their best at all times so that they make positive influence with their presence everywhere they go, calling on them to perform every task given perfectly.

“All of us have the time and chance to be the best, we can be, but we must bear in mind that if we do not utilise our chance in life, there will come a time when it will no longer be relevant.
Put God in your lives, make him proud.What are you living for if you do not excel beyond a women’s expectation,” she quizzed.

In many occasions, Ms Malebang stated that women were not utilising their minds to full capacity in fear of what the society would say.

She said they live in a patriarchal society, but women had shown to break even in areas that had always been traditionally for men.

The motivational speaker called for women to never settle for anything less than what they deem to be their value, calling for women not to settle for mediocrity.

Ms Malebang, who is a Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) accredited motivational speaker advised women to never lower their standards for anybody, saying women empowerment was possible, but it would come at a great cost and rebuke for many ambitious women.

One speaker, Ms Gomolemo Majafe, who is a Fashion Designer and owner of Basadi Ba Tlhwatlhwa Fashion House, advised women to dress appropriately, saying some aspects of gaining societal respect on the road to women empowerment depended on women’s dress sense.

“A good sense of dress can speak for you without even uttering a single word.

The Bible calls for us women to dress ourselves in modesty and self-respect,” she said.

Additionally, Ms Majafe called for women to support one another so they quash the narrative that ‘women are always out to bring one another down.’

The organiser of the seminar and director of Active Lifestyle Fitness Centre based in Francistown, Ms Phemelo Oatile encouraged fellow women to engage in physical exercise to stay in shape.

Ms Oatile said in this age of non-communicable diseases, it was important that women stay physically fit.

The certified fitness trainer underscored the importance of exercising, saying despite women juggling hectic schedules, they needed to stay fit and eat healthy.

“Whenever a chance arises, I urge you to go mountain climbing, jogging or performing squats time and again.

This exercises, though not much, will sharpen your mind and body to achieve greater things in life,” she said.

This seminar was organised by Active Lifestyle Fitness Centre to discuss issues that affect women on their day-to-day life. Ends