Masisi did well on women empowerment – Dube
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday March 31, 2023 14:22
Tomorrow he (Masisi) turns five years at the helm and he has so far done well in that regard. For the first time, in the history of the country, it has women appointed Minister of Finance, and the Court of Appeal (CoA) president as amongst others.
In an interview with gender and human rights activist, Pamela Dube she said the President has done well in empowering women in leadership positions, especially for civil servants and a little bit in politics.
"In his five years, I believe he has to be given credit for that. Politically, he has a long way to go. What is critical now is the fact that he managed to appoint a woman as Finance Minister, Peggy Serame, which is the heartbeat of the country’s economy and huge politically. Again, to appoint a woman to be Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Emmah Peloetletse is big because it is an engine control of the government," said Dube. She added: "Also, CoA president, Tebogo Tau, a woman, this is a welcome development.
Therefore, we need to applaud him for that. All these are key positions that have been in the hands of men for over 55 years.” Dube said the President has done well too by appointing women to leadership positions which helps a lot in changing the mindset of people who may think that women are not capable. She also said during his five year tenure, Masisi did well by appointing four women Specially Elected Members of Parliament to Ministerial positions.
She, however, said politically, the President should also state to the nation what his party, since it is ruling, intends doing to ensure that women are supported during the primaries and general elections.
“What we want to know is whether the ground will be level for them or not? If there is any quota the party has to push for women in order to have a good representative? Again, we want women with integrity, not just a woman,” she said.
Dube further said the President must make sure that other sectors also have structures that empower women citing the media industry, which she said is one of the areas that lag behind. She said a good example in the media industry is the Mass Media Complex where most of the key positions are held by men. Dube said the Gender Commission must also be applauded for raising its voice high on women's issues and what is currently happening shows that their cry was heard.
Some of the things that Masisi made sure that are fast-tracked when he took over include speeding up of hearing of Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases, Gender and Protection unit, inter-Ministerial committee on GBV, increase in the number of women in justice like CoA and appointment of the first women in the inaugural Registrar of the Competition and Consumer Tribunal and developing a strategy for gender mainstreaming in agriculture. Apart from women, at the party level, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) spokesperson Kagelelo Kentse said when Masisi took over, he ensured that structures are resuscitated since most of them had collapsed due to different reasons.
“There was no unity and there was no way one could resuscitate structures without having to preach unity within the party first. Mind you, some BDP members were no longer active due to factions.
We had to bring back those old BDP members. Of course, some had taken the side of former president Ian Khama but many came back hence the BDP popular vote has grown.
The BDP has become more attractive unlike before and more are joining the party. Every organisation has its problems because we are managing people and it is not easy but there is unity and cooperation. Our differences are not as bad as opposition,” Kentse said.
He said Masisi had stressed that there be consolidation within the party and that is one principle that still works for BDP and to revive activism which had collapsed. Kentse said political parties are voluntary movements and if a President does revive activism then there is no way his party could not do better and that is what Masisi emphasises.
He, however, said what Masisi has done in five years was clearly there in the BDP manifesto for the 2019 General Election.