09 Jul 2023

Women representation in elected political institutions is essential in establishing credibility and legitimacy of a democratically elected government. United Nation Development Program (UNDP) resident representative, Dr Balazs Horvath said when opening the UNDP discussion on women in politics dubbed ‘Mafoko a kgotla’.

Dr Balazs Horvath said there was need for women to occupy influential political positions in order to nurture Botswana’s democratic status. He said the pursuit of gender equality in politics was not merely an ethical obligation but rather a foundational requirement for a prosperous, balanced and inclusive democracy.

“By empowering women to participate fully in politics, we stand to cultivate societies that are more equitable as well as sustainable,” he said.

This, he said would have a ripple effect resulting in improved governance which would result in increased economic stability and improved social cohesion. A panelist representing Botswana Democratic Party, Dr Tebelelo Seretse highlighted the importance of creating systems that would recognise the need to empower women as parliamentary representatives. Such systems, she thus said would support the emergence of a gender-sensitive government and adopt gender-sensitive policies and legislative frameworks.

Botswana Congress Party panelist, Dr Daisy Bathusi, said women made up half of every country's population and should rightfully have equal participation in decision making systems.

“By empowering women to participate fully in politics, we stand to cultivate societies that are more equitable as well as sustainable,” she said.

Ms Resego Kgosidintsi of Botswana National Front pleaded with the community to refrain from the narratives that depicted women as weaker leaders than their male counterparts.

“Political dynamics should change from a very patriarchal society to a more feminine dominated one because there are a lot of capable women who can outsmart males in decision making,” she said. Ends