04 Mar 2020

 Elderly women’s experience in the development of the country is important for guiding current and future generations.

This was said by Mr Tsholofelo Molapisi, organiser of  a Conversations with the Matriarchs event held at Mokolodi Nature Reserve on Monday.

Mr Molapisi, who works in the diamond industry, said just as the country’s post independence profile glittered owing to diamond-led economic growth, women added to the sparkle by nurturing the nation and producing leaders who served in different spheres.

He indicated that being raised in a female-headed home made him realise the importance of women in society and prompted Conversations with the Matriachs intiative.

Saying the event would be held annually, he explained that it was a forum for bringing together prominent elderly women nation builders to share their experiences.

Among the national luminaries who graced the Mokolodi event were Professor Serara Selelo-Mogwe, Dr Gaositwe Chiepe, Dr Margaret Nasha, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and Ms Imelda Molokomme, who were all grateful for the initiative.

Former cabinet minister Dr Venson-Moitoi said she was privileged to be in the company of women who had left an indelible footprint in the development of the country.

She said the knowledge they possessed was still important for future of the nation.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly and ex-cabinet minister, Dr Nasha, said national pioneers were being wasted as their expertise was rarely utilised.

She suggested that retired former office bearers should be called in regularly to train and offer advice to current leaders in institutions such as Parliament.

Dr Nasha said when the nation embarked on the anticipated constitutional review, elderly former leaders should be invited to offer guidance to the process.

Professor Serara-Mogwe shared her experience in pioneering the country’s national health institutes that continued to produce nurses as well as her work at the University of Botswana School of Nursing.

The country’s first woman cabinet minister, Dr Chiepe expressed happiness that they had been given the opportunity to have a conversation on where they came from and how the country could be further shaped. ENDS