27 Mar 2022

Well-known sports personality Ms Tebogo Lebotse-Sebogo has emerged woman of the year in Botswana’s first edition of women’s awards held in Gaborone Friday.

  Also honoured was Ms Chaikhwa Lobatse who got two awards for best woman living with disability and woman of the year in environmental, health and fitness awareness.

Mr Wise BW won an award as a male supporting women awards.

  Ms Lebotse-Sebego,  who could not contain her excitement, said she was inspired by Batswana women whose passion, dedication and fierce determination had changed society and their communities.

  “Women such as Peggy Serame who continue to shifting and serving society and breaking glass ceilings as well as my husband who allows me to be unapologetically myself at all times!” she said.

   Speaking at the occasion, Ms Serame, who is finance and economic development minister,  implored women to be their own cheerleaders by rising together to build future women leaders.

She said women had in numerous ways demonstrated their ability to overcome challenges and excel through their lives, work and leadership in governance, diplomacy, social norms and just by raising families.

“Today is the day to demonstrate that women are capable, and therefore should be valued and celebrated,” she said.

The event, Ms Serame said,  came at an opportune time when women were being celebrated and recognised internationally.

“Since March is Women History Month, it accords us an opportunity to reflect on our contribution as women and how we can forge gender equality in all spheres of life,” said the minister.

Dubbed Women’s Awards Botswana,  the event would indeed raise awareness about the need for women to be granted equal participation, particularly in decision making positions, Ms Serame said adding that was one way of breaking the bias in line with the theme of this year’s women’s month; ‘Break the bias’.

The minister also applauded the Women’s Awards Botswana team for hosting  and celebrating a constellation of women across all sectors which she said added to creating a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

ABSA Botswana managing director, Ms Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane said she was aware of the challenges and stereotypes that women encountered.

“As women, we respond to these challenges and stereotypes by showing exceptional traits of leadership and excellence,” she said.

Ms Pheko-Moshagane said as the awards ceremony celebrated the nominees, their life stories, successes and hopes for the future, it must not be forgotten that they represented other women leaders whose stories had not been heard and yet were making tremendous contributions to society.

“As the private sector, political leaders, traditional leaders, industry leaders, community, social entrepreneurs, we should challenge ourselves to reflect on how we can translate their achievements for other women to tap into,” she said.

The event attracted a diverse audience who came out to celebrate the achievements of specially chosen women whose exceptional efforts would inspire tomorrow’s female leaders. Ends