US pledges P2m to advance women in politics
Women make up 9% of lawmakers in Botswana
The United States of America Department of State’s African Regional Democracy Fund Programme has pledged US$ 250 000 ( P2 million) for a project to support training for women across Botswana who are active in, and interested in politics.
The money was released through the Capacity Enhancement for the Political Advancement of Women ( CEPAW).
The programme, which was recently launched in Gaborone by the Democracy Works Foundation under the tagline, ‘ Go Ruta Mosadi, ke go Ruta Sechaba,’ will drive for capacitation to increase participation of women in politics, at grassroots and national level.
USA Ambassador to Botswana Craig Cloud said all the major political parties have been engaged to ensure that there is a high turnout of women in the training workshops, which will be rolled out later this year.
Cloud noted that the hope was that gender equity and equal participation in Botswana would experience an improvement, going forward.
“The programme aims to promote and increase the participation of Batswana women in politics, and also encourage inclusion, as well as raise awareness on the importance of including women in political processes, and fostering a sense of community among women candidates and political figures”.
It also aims to facilitate the bolstering of equal representation in the political landscape by advancing women’s issues in the political mainstream, and thus increasing active participation across many areas in the politics sector, including in civil society, academia, political parties, government, media and private sector.
Cloud pointed out that Botswana was performing well in terms of women leadership in other sectors such as business and civil service, but still struggled in getting more women to take on influential and impactful roles in politics.
“Botswana is still lagging far behind its counterparts in the SADC region in terms of including women in political and elected leadership roles in government.
“Women are a majority in Botswana, accounting for 52 percent of the population; but only three women were
elected to Parliament in the last general elections out of 57 constituencies.
“Perhaps what is more troubling is that only 12 women stood as candidates for the National Assembly, including the four specially elected members, women now make up just nine percent of lawmakers in Botswana.”
Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, also Minister of Gaborone Bonington South, Annah Mokgethi said it was disheartening to note how political involvement of women still remains at an all- time low.
She indicated that women in politics face challenges such as lack of finance,
resources and support. She however said technical capacitation would go a long way towards empowering women and motivating them to take centre stage in Botswana’s political activity.
CEPAW project manager Ntlogeleng Modise indicated that the programme’s objectives include: reflecting on the history and challenges that women in politics face, developing key strategies for lowering barriers and increasing women’s roles and influences in political institutions and decision- making, and also identifying desired outcomes and activities that will increase women’s political capacity and capacitation.
Modise noted that the role of women in politics and policy development in Botswana are critical as they advanced matters of interest, pointing out that historically, it is women in Parliament who were influential in the proposal and lobbying for stronger laws on marital rights, fair labour laws and gender- based violence.
“Women in government have been key to Botswana’s trade policy, legal code, foreign and social policy. Women are already integral to politics in Botswana… but they don’t sit in the seats in Parliament or in the district councils.”