BCP moves to empower women for leadership
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday January 11, 2016 12:59
On Friday, the BCP women’s league trained more than 20 women across the entire party region at Tlotlo Conference Centre, which ended Sunday.
The workshop was held under the theme ‘Women’s Rights Are Human Rights’.
Opening the workshop, the BCP chairperson, Daisy Bathusi said their aim is to see women in party leadership positions.
“We had decided to start with women who are in regional structures to empower them further and after this training, we will then train those in the lower structures. The training for those in lower structures will kickstart in April. Our party is going to have regional congresses in the year 2017 and we want to see more women contesting with men for regional positions,” Bathusi said.
She said the training would also help women to advocate or debate issues well in different forums without being assisted.
Bathusi said usually in politics women always sit back while men are at forefront on issues and the training would help women have confidence and be bold when they talk.
“In the BCP, we want women to contest for MP seats together with council seats without fear or favour. In the previous elections more women contested in our party, but we want to see the number increasing,” Bathusi said.
BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando said his party has been at the forefront of women empowerment issues and that is why they have a woman who is a party chairperson.
“I hope these women who are attending the workshop will also empower others when they get back to their regions. As the BCP executive committee, we do help those party structures, which are working hard to revive themselves and contribute immensely to our party,” Saleshando said. He said his party had taken a bold stand that in each committee they should have 30 percent women representation or more. He said though they believe that it is not enough, women should also avail themselves for party positions or any work for the party than be spectators.
“At times women are afraid or question themselves when there are vacancies for certain posts in the party. I believe this is the time to change your strategy. Men do avail themselves even if they are not sure whether they can deliver on the post or not,” he said.