Top 10 women newsmakers
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday August 7, 2015 15:37
Dorcas Makgato
The Minister of Health and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) women’s wing chair has an illustrious past in the higher echelons of the private sector as well as the sporting fraternity. Makgato burst into cabinet in October 2009 as Assistant Trade minister, before becoming the substantive minister in February 2010.
She oversaw the establishment of the Competition Authority and Commission and sealed the long-awaited Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union before being moved to the Ministry of Health after last October’s general elections.
Quotable Quote: “We may be a small economy, but we have the ability to pay for what we consume. We have to be taken and treated as such at the negotiating table and we don’t want to take the little crumbs.”
Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi
A long-time BDP functionary, ‘Mma V’ as she is popularly known is the country’s top diplomat as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Her mandate involves negotiating dicey political storms in the region and abroad, and defending the country’s sovereignty, sometimes even against the country’s allies!
The former journalist, who broke into Parliament as a specially elected MP in 1999, has served as minister in five different portfolios. Most memorably in the education hot seat where she withstood a deluge of criticism and condemnation. Known as ‘Mother of the House’ Mma V enjoys the respect of both allies and foes alike in the National Assembly and is renowned for her witty ripostes during debate.
Quotable Quote: “Honourable Nkagiwa ke tsile mo palamenteng ke thophilwe ke batho ba Serowe South, o kaya go ba botsa gore ke eng ba thophile motho yo o kana ka mmago.”
Botlogile Tshireletso
The Mahalapye-born native first joined politics in 1979, winning a council post in her home constituency before rising through the ranks of the ruling party and breaking into the National Assembly in 2004, to become one of the few female legislators at the time.
During her time in the August House, Tshireletso has shrugged off negative comments about her education and instead relentlessly pursued pro-gender lobbies seen in some circles as controversial. These include the legalisation of prostitution, brothels and abortion as well as other gender issues related to health and economic empowerment. Mma Tshireletso, who has been unfairly criticised over her educational background, is viewed as a people-person, given her councillor background. It is this approach that led to her appointment as Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
Quotable Quote: “It is time Parliament acts to ensure that the conditions under which sex workers operate are safe. This, inevitably, will entail legalising the trade.”
Linah Mohohlo
The multi-global award winning Bank of Botswana governor and women in business leadership trailblazer remains one of the country’s most celebrated financial sector achievers.
Having led the central bank since 1999, Mohohlo’s expertise has steered monetary policy through the boom years of the 2000s, the economic crunch of 2009 and the gradual recovery since then. Although viewed as austere, under her guard the bank has moved from targeting numbers to a focus on supporting growth and safeguarding the country’s posterity.
Quotable Quote: “Le fa ke le governor, mme le bongwanake and I must advise you journalists gore le ne le apara sentle fa letla ko Bank of Botswana.”
Maria Machailo-Ellis
The popular Business Botswana (former BOCCIM) CEO has become synonymous with the voice of the private sector. Under her leadership of the employer group, the private sector has forged closer relationships with government and presently sits in bodies that plan national policy. Machailo-Ellis is a shrewd strategist who has the ear of top political decision makers and has thus been able to secure commitment to resolving private sector challenges such as those around visas, licences and utilities.
Quotable Quote: “We had quite a scene at the airport yesterday and as BOCCIM we are not taking lightly to this kind of service by Air Botswana. As BOCCIM we will definitely be seeking recourse from the authorities on this issue.”
Regina Sikalesele-Vaka
Sikalesele-Vaka was already known for being a dynamo in the financial services sector, when she detonated a truth bomb in 2011, upon resigning from leading group, BIHL Limited. In her resignation letter, leaked to the media, she delivered a scathing rebuke of South African shareholder interference and gave Batswana a glimpse into a secretive world previously unknown. She later established Bramer Life and is presently steering it out of a period of investor uncertainty.
Quotable Quote: “My views were so strong that they earned me an invitation from Sanlam representatives to remove myself from my job as it was clear that I did not support the Sanlam vision.”
Beata Kasale
The popular refrain ‘woman in a man’s job’ does not apply to Kasale. For decades, she redefined the gender of the journalist profession to the point that it is still unclear whether the words ‘fraternity’ or ‘sorority’ should be used when describing the media. As The Voice publisher, Kasale has pushed back against male dominance in both the media and other sectors, becoming renowned for her gender activism.
Quotable Quote: “Women must make themselves visible. The media is about visibility. If they take a back seat, nobody will know that they are there. They should be more assertive.”
Daisy Molefhi
The ABM University founder and executive director occupies rarefied air in education being among the very few female tertiary education institution developers in the country. Established in 1989, ABM University is one of the country’s oldest private tertiary education providers and Molefhi’s face is one of the most recognisable in the industry. She has played key roles in the official recognition and certification of private tertiary education curricula and also the enhancement of the country’s overall examination and certification processes.
Quotable Quote: “For the first time, we have students from four or five nationalities. It is our view that education must be globalised.”
Charma Gal
First gaining attention as one of two female vocalists in the breakout traditional music group, Culture Spears, in the latter years of the last decade, Magdeline ‘Charma Gal’ Lesolebe has become a home grown celebrity. With the attendant gossip, titillating sound bites for media and undeniable talent, Charma Gal is the country’s most talked about artist. Her recent association with the ruling party has propelled her stardom as she is now splashed across front pages, with her private life often the subject.
Quotable Quote: “There are elders in society who admire us as musicians. But the moment they watch a woman putting on a ring wearing revealing outfits, it becomes a problem.”
Amantle Montsho
Her meteoric rise to global acclaim as the sprint champion in the 400-metre race crowned her the Sweetheart of Botswana. She could do no wrong and fans mobbed her as she walked around the Main Mall. With a haul of medals and the talent to back it up, the sky was the limit. Montsho’s world came crashing down last year at the Commonwealth Games, when tests revealed she had taken a banned substance. As she quietly serves out her two-year ban, the sprint queen carries her head high and is adamant she did not knowingly dope. She’ll be back, we know.
Quotable Quote: “I think from here, starting from here, I’ll be an example for the young athletes in Botswana. I think they will work hard from me winning the gold medal here.”