03 Jul 2022

Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) has been urged to train its members on financial literacy issues.

Serenity Riverfront Gardens managing director, Mr Mose Saudu, said a lot of people lacked financial literacy.

Giving a keynote address at BOSETU annual gender conference themed Achieving Gender Equality and Equity Through Sustainable Economic Empowerment Beyond the COVID-19 Era, he said financial freedom was key to prosperity.

Financial literacy, he said, would enable people to appreciate and properly apply financial management skills.

The COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Saudu said, showed that workers needed to undertake side hustles, therefore he advised participants to take advantage of the various BOSETU schemes to improve their livelihoods.

He also advised BOSETU members to shop for available programmes in the market before they could make any financial decision.

“See what is being offered. There are agencies such as Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) and National Development Bank (NDB), which fund production for economic gain,” he added.

In the interest of gender equality and equity, Mr Saudu said gaps needed to be filled to achieve gender equality, adding that could be achieved by creating a conducive environment and empowering people.

He also urged BOSETU to create more opportunities for women, noting women should not be favoured because of gender, but should be given equal opportunities like men.

BOSETU leadership was also advised to remain transparent, accountable and have democratic structures which could be audited.Ms Same Saudu, who is also the co-director concurred that financial literacy was key, adding employees were facing serious challenges in financial decision making.

She also noted that people needed a conducive environment and motivation in order to be economically empowered. 

Ms Saudu also informed members on the basics of running a thriving business, adding people should not be driven by financial gain but by passion in order to soldier on even during difficult times.

BOSETU secretary for health and wellness, Ms Monica Legwale said teachers were the most financially embarrassed workers and believed that financial literacy would come handy.

She underscored the need to educate and create awareness in the workplace so that people could be abreast with gender issues.

Ms Legwale also called for the repeal of old policies, saying they had been overtaken by time and called for new policies that included gender equality.

To advocate effectively, Ms Legwale also noted that all organisations dealing with gender issues should speak with one voice, noting t fragmented voices were defying their course. Ends