09 Mar 2022

Women have been encouraged to be brave and bold enough to take up space in areas society expects them not to. 

Speaking during the commemoration of International Women’s Day in Tonota on Tuesday Gender Affairs Officer, Ms Senwelo Mantata said self-empowerment by women was the only way to fight stigma and laws that did not favour them. 

She said the day, held under the theme: “Gender equality today for sustainable tomorrow” should be used to look at all the obstacles that hinder women from prospering and occupying leadership positions, in all aspects of life. 

“As we are celebrating capabilities of women and all they have achieved so far, we also have to find ways to stop gender discrimination, through sharing experiences,” Ms Mantata said. 

Meanwhile, Miss Botswana 2020 first Princess, Ms Batho Nleya called on women to be work for the change they want to see, instead of believing they deserve it. She said women should work on making their visions a reality, and in the process, discover themselves and learn their worth. 

“External and internal etiquette are very important for a woman if ever she wants to be taken seriously and portrayed as deserving of respect and opportunities in leadership positions,” Ms Nleya added.

She encouraged women to have relationship with themselves, and learn their personal values to know when they were being taken advantage so they could be able to leave unprofitable relationships and environments. 

Ms Nleya stressed the need for self-respect and self-love, reminding women that the only reason for staying in a toxic relationship was lack of self-love. 

She encouraged women to dream big, have passion for life and try different things to discover themselves. BOPA