Women’s voices fading in politics
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday December 8, 2025 06:00
Instead of gaining ground, women in politics seem to be losing it, and the evidence is becoming impossible to ignore.
In party central committees and in Parliament, the numbers are strikingly low. Political analyst Dr Onalenna Selolwane recently told Mmegi that women’s representation is not just stagnant, it is worsening.
Despite countless discussions about equality and balanced leadership, the country is quietly slipping backwards.
This decline became more visible this week when Professor Mpho Pheko, one of the most respected women in Botswana’s politics, resigned from both her role as a Spokesperson for the main opposition, Botswana Congress Party, and from active politics.
Her announcement on Tuesday shocked many who had seen her as one of the most fearless, consistent voices in the opposition benches.
Pheko had contested for a parliamentary seat in 2019 and 2024 at the Gaborone Central constituency. She did not win, but her influence grew with each attempt. For 15 years, she served the BCP in different positions and became party spokesperson from 2022 to 2025. She was known for speaking boldly on national issues and challenging the political establishment with confidence and clarity.
Her property was attached after they lost an election appeal, after they felt that elections were rigged by the then-ruling party, Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Her departure feels bigger than a resignation; it feels like the loss of a pillar. She is not the only one who has walked away.
Over the years, Botswana has watched women with experience, courage, and political weight leave the battlefield. Former ministers Tebelelo Seretse, former Minister Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, former Speaker and Minister Dr Margaret Nasha, and former BNF vice president Dr Kathleen Letshabo are just a few who stepped back after years of trying to rise within their parties. Their exit raises a painful question: why are capable women leaving a space that desperately needs them?
Also, the numbers in Parliament highlight the depth of the problem. Out of 61 seats in parliament, only three women made it through the general elections. Again, even during the primary elections of different political formations. In fact, fewer than 10 women stood or contested for Parliamentary seats. Those who won parliamentary seats in 2024 include Maipelo Mophuting, Pushie Manyeneng, and Unity Dow.
That places Botswana amongst the lowest in the SADC region when it comes to female political representation. For a country that prides itself on stability and democracy, this is a sobering statistic.
Yet, instead of giving up, some women are fighting to turn the tide. Selolwane says efforts are underway to revive political education aimed specifically at empowering women.
“The goal is simple: we have to encourage more women to step up, run for office, and contest party leadership positions with confidence,” she said.
“This is sad. We are losing strong women, and even within SADC, Botswana has the least representation of women in Parliament. Our culture has really disadvantaged women. We are going backwards. Women’s voices are needed in Parliament.”While men face political competition, she said women face competition plus cultural expectations, stereotypes, limited support, and harsher judgment. Therefore, for many, the political environment feels like a battle they are expected to fight alone, she revealed. To rebuild a stronger base, Selolwane said they are focusing on Women’s Leagues across political parties. “These structures, when functioning well, have the power to identify, nurture, and mentor women who want to enter politics. The plan is to provide training, create safe platforms for political development, and push these structures to extend their influence throughout their parties,” she highlighted. However, she said even this effort faces hurdles.
Furthermore, she said in some parties, Women’s wings are weakening or collapsing entirely.
“Without a strong foundation, fewer women are identified, prepared, or encouraged to take on bigger roles. This gap leaves many potential leaders unseen and unsupported,” she said.
Still, advocates believe that with deliberate action, the current decline can be stopped.
They argue that Botswana cannot afford a Parliament and political ecosystem shaped almost entirely by men. “Women bring perspectives that matter, perspectives drawn from lived experiences, community involvement, and social realities that men may overlook or underestimate,” they said.
When women step back from politics, the country loses more than numbers. It loses depth. It loses balance. It loses the opportunity to craft laws and policies that speak to the whole population.
Women leaders like Pheko, Seretse, Venson-Moitoi, Nasha, and Letshabo represented decades of institutional knowledge and resilience. Their retreat should not be normalised. They also left active politics under unhappy circumstances.
However, for the country to move forward, political parties must treat the absence of women as a crisis, not a footnote. It should invest in mentorship, provide financial and strategic support, and actively create environments where women are not sidelined or discouraged.
There is a need for the nation to understand that representation is not a favour to women; it is a necessity for progress.
With that regard, the shrinking presence of women in politics is not just a gender issue but it is a democratic issue.