Makgato not fazed by multiple roles
Chakalisa Dube | Friday April 17, 2015 16:23
She insists she can juggle her responsibilities with ease, despite the challenges that go with each office.
Makgato was, over the weekend, elected the chairperson of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women’s Wing in Lobatse.
She is also the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefhare-Ramokgonami. In her second term as an MP and cabinet minister, Makgato is, however, new in the party leadership. But she contends multiple tasks are not too much for her to live to the expectations of the party masses. By virtue of her position as the BDP Women’s Wing leader, Makgato also sits in the party Central Committee.
In terms of numbers, the BDP Women’s Wing is the party’s largest organ. BDP women, like their opposition party counterparts, have been battling to establish themselves politically.
This is one of the challenges that Makgato, as the chairperson of the BDP Women’s Wing, will have to grapple with to make an impact as a political leader. For her to make an impact as the leader of an ambitious organ, she will have to always feel its pulse for strategic leadership and guidance.
Gone are the days when women politicians played second fiddle by cooking and singing for their male counterparts. Today, they are pushing hard to establish a strong political foundation at all costs. While pushing political party presence, Makgato is leading a demanding Ministry of Health. However, she remains unfazed by having to deal with three demanding jobs.
“Being a Women’s Wing chairperson is not a full time position. In addition, I have a strong team that will be supporting me to deliver my duties in the Women’s Wing. I will make sure that duties are shared well between me and fellow Women’s Wing leaders so that no one is overburdened,” she said. Furthermore, Makgato said, “I also have a team of people I work with in my ministry, which will make my other jobs easier. Furthermore is about having a strategy to stick with in order to deliver in all my roles”.
Again, said Makgato, the multiple roles would help her focus on representing her constituents in Sefhare-Ramokgonami.
Makgato noted that she has handled various leadership positions before she became active in politics.
“The experience I have gathered along the years in other positions of responsibility will help me balance my duties very well. I promise that I will do what is expected of me in all the positions,” she said.
During her tenure Makgato said that she would focus on political education and fund raising for the women’s wing. As part of her mandate she intends building structures for the women’s wing across the country, a task that requires a lot of work to accomplish her dream.