Speaking at the CPA Africa Region women parliamentarians workshop in Gaborone, Mohohlo said the business-like manner in which the event was conducted has left no doubt that the remaining task - drawing the terms of reference - will be easily achieved.
Speaking at the closure of the workshop on Tuesday, Mohohlo said it is important that men regard themselves as part of the search for solutions rather than victims of change, since issues affecting the women are about justice, equity and equality. “No one is looking for revenge, at least not the women, but everyone wants change in the direction of equality for all,” she said.
She added that men and women have shared a common destiny from the time of creation and will do so to eternity. “That is why progressive voices throughout the world see the emancipation and advancement of women as a sine qua non for the survival of man,” she asserted. She said that examples of women who have distinguished themselves in all walks of life in the world are very small in relation to men.
She said that women are few in positions of responsibility and decision making partly out of the societal and other institutional stereotypes that characterise various communities.
She cited the example where the girl child was moulded to get ready for early marriage, often to an older man, while the boy child went to school. “Socialisation dictated that some occupations became no-go areas for girls, the distribution of the family estate was deliberately skewed in favour of male siblings,” she said.
She added that experience has shown in Botswana that whenever two people, a man and a woman compete for a position, the scale is always invariably tipped in favour of the male candidate even by female voters regardless of merit.
“It is believed that women participants at political rallies would rather go into musical entertaining and catering functions rather than seek political office or support another woman who seeks such office,” she said.
Therefore she said this trend is going to translate itself into fewer women MPs during this year’s general elections, judging by the number of women candidates.
Mohohlo said she is glad that in the recent past, women have advanced strong advocacy for their meaningful participation in positions of responsibility in the public domain. As part of the on-going reforms, the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs will be tabling the Abolition of Marital Powers Bill thereby removing the inequalities between spouses when it comes to borrowing from financial institutions.
According to the law, a woman must get permission from her husband to a get loan. Mohohlo says the struggle should continue not only in Botswana, but in all countries until true victory is achieved in matters of gender equality and equity.
