17 Nov 2020

Women economic empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality and reducing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Mahalapye East MP, Mr Yandani Boko has said.

Debating the State-of-Nation Address, Mr Boko noted that women economic empowerment should be regarded as a tool through which one could respond to and mitigate violence by increasing their bargaining power within their households and beyond.

He noted that previous research on women empowerment had illustrated a correlation between empowerment and reduced acts of gender-based violence, something he said had been confirmed by some studies.

Mr Boko said empowerment of women could lead to a social change and transformation in gender relations and dynamics.

He said it was disturbing to note that women with low economic income were most likely to be in a violent relationship for financial support and resource provision from their abusers.

He argued that government was not doing enough to maintain gender equality and ensuring that empowerment of women remained central to the socio-economic and cultural development of women in Botswana.

The prevalence of GBV especially on women and children, he said was a serious concern that needed concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address and thus pleaded with legislators to speed up drafting of the sexual offenders’ bill.

Mr Boko also expressed displeasure on lack of government commitment to fighting GBV particularly in the establishment of the proposed Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBV.

On other aspects, he stated that the economic transformation to a knowledge-based one would remain a wild goose chase if  government continued to be slow in improving teacher’s welfare and condition of service.

A knowledge-based economy, he said was the result of the orchestration of various facets, with education included.

He also said lack of employment among the youth impeded the country’s transformation agenda hence the need to create opportunities for young people.

Mr Boko stated that government was not doing much to facilitate employment opportunities for the youth particularly in his constituency as many tertiary graduates continued to loiter the streets. Ends