03 Jul 2023

 Investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment in their future and the future of humanity, founder of FMK Foundation has said. 

Speaking recently during Desertification and Drought Day themed: Her Land Her Right, Mr Francisco Kgoboko stated that empowering women benefitted families and communities. 

“In addition to being on the frontlines of land degradation and climate change impacts, women can also be at the forefront of global efforts to restore land back to health and boost drought resilience,” said Mr Kgoboko.

Moreover, Mr Kgoboko said that being gender-responsive to land restoration was a pathway to reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition. 

Observed every June 17, the day has been commemorated at various villages countrywide since 2013. 

Places like Mosu, Mapoka, Kalamare, Mmathubudukwane among others have hosted the day’s commemoration  aimed at promoting public awareness on international efforts to combat desertification.

 Attendants learnt that land degradation neutrality was achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels. 

“Women hold a vital stake in the health of the land, yet they often don’t have control over it,” said Mr Kgoboko who added that women faced significant barriers in securing land rights which limited their abilities to thrive and prosper. 

The FMK founder said securing women’s land rights could help advance global gender equality and land restoration goals whilst simultaneously contributing to the achievement of broader Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal 15. 

The goal aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Mr Kgoboko said desertification, inter alia, threatened ‘our poor populations’ and the prospects of poverty reduction. 

However, he indicated that Botswana government was alive to the challenges of degradation and consequently attached great importance to addressing the problem. 

“Currently, a national action programme developed in context of the convention to combat desertification and drought is in place to ensure that people participate in anti-desertification programmes,” said Mr Kgoboko. 

Speaking at the same event, Department of Forestry and Range Resources deputy director, Ms Ingrid Mpundu Chite said the department taught students about the importance of trees and the value of planting more trees, prior to the event. 

She told the gathering that some parts of the country faced drought and therefore, appealed for preservation and conservation of forests and natural resources. 

She also discouraged over-harvesting of natural resources by some who trade out of such.

 For his part, Bobirwa District Council chairperson, Mr Kgomotso Mmereki called on women to apply for land rights. He argued that although women were fighting for gender equality, they appeared to be not doing enough with regards to acquiring land rights. 

“I would like to see a lot of women going to the land boards to apply for land and produce food amongst other uses,” he said. Desertification and Drought Day is a United Nations observance day commemorated June 17 annually. Desertification along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. ENDS