09 Nov 2021

Government has made tremendous progress in addressing the challenges of low representation of women in leadership and decision-making structures, gender based violence (GBV) and high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among young women and adolescent girls in Botswana.

Delivering his State-of-the-Nation Address in Gaborone on Monday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said in efforts to empower women and girls, hard-working and committed women had been appointed to positions of power.

Among the appointments, he mentioned Ms Peggy Serame as the first woman Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ms Emma Peloetletse as the first female head of the civil service along with her deputy, Ms Matshidiso Bokole.

In other firsts for Botswana, the President said Judge Tebogo Tau took the reins as Court of Appeal president, Ms Diana Marathe as commissioner of Botswana Prisons Service and
Ms Jeannette Makgolo as Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) commissioner general.

Two other women, Professor Sheila Tlou and Ms Tebelelo Seretse, ascended to the  vice chancellorship of Botswana Open University and University of Botswana respectively.

“All these appointments are testimony of our efforts to ensure that women of Botswana are genuinely included in the leadership and decision making at the highest level of Government.

I also wish to express appreciation to the private sector for heeding the call, as many women are being appointed to positions of influence and leadership at many of our private institutions,” said Dr Masisi.

He urged stakeholders to continue improving conditions and the role of women in society, especially in the political space, where females were glaringly underrepresented.

President Masisi also informed the nation that significant improvements towards addressing GBV had been made including the introduction of a toll-free number for reporting GBV-related incidents and establishment of  a Gender and Child Protection Unit by Botswana Police Service, enactment of Sex Offenders’ Registry Act to record and publicize names and particulars of all persons convicted of sexual offences and the setting up of an Inter-Ministerial Committee which provided strategic guidance on GBV response.

In addition, the President said  First Lady Neo Masisi had been working in close collaboration with the public and private sectors as well as civil society to raise awareness about GBV.

He noted that she was recently awarded a grant by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) for a GBV and related issues advocacy project currently being carried out in Mogoditshane, Molepolole, Goodhope, Ghanzi, Maun and Letlhakane, where GBV incidence was most prevalent.

Targeting community leaders, the intervention was meant to increase knowledge and skills on GBV prevention as well as male involvement in mitigation efforts, President Masisi said.

He emphasised that more still needed to be done to ensure effectiveness of GBV interventions and to improve the situation of women and girls in Botswana. ENDS