Tshireletso hangs political stilettos
Chakalisa Dube | Friday August 16, 2019 15:08
More than a year ago, the Mahalapye-East Member of Parliament (MP) and former Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women’s wing chairperson announced that she would bring to the end a stellar 40-year old political career this August.
The Mahalapye East legislator is amongst the longest serving BDP Women’s Wing chairpersons. The Wing has been running for over 30 years. She is also a former member of the BDP Political Education and Elections Committee (PEEC).
Prior to becoming an MP, the mother of three was a councillor for Mahalapye East ward (before the delimitation exercise). She was also at one point the chairperson of the Central District Council (CDC). Tshireletso was at CDC for 25 years.
She has been in Parliament since 2004. Adding to her rich resume, the fashion-loving politician is also a patron of the Botswana Netball Association.
Those closer to her also say that it is her hard work, public demeanour often characterised as ‘charismatic, measured and considerate’ that has ensured her longevity in politics.
One of the notable instances where Tshireletso highlighted her political prowess and charisma was when she helped the ruling party crush a combined opposition during a by-election in Mokobaxane in 2012. The legislator, who is also the assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, was the campaign manager for the election.
At the time, then the opposition coalition was taking shape before it experienced turmoil ahead of the 2014 general election. Many believe that it is through Tshireletso’s charm and easygoing personae BDP won.
“It is her charisma and ability to relate with people very well that made her an automatic candidate to lead the campaign team under the current political climate,” the then BDP executive secretary, Thabo Masalila had said in an interview with Mmegi after the BDP won the council by-election.
Tshireletso has successfully coordinated and managed election campaigns before. She deputised Kentse Rammidi who managed the Tonota North parliamentary by-election in 2010, where the BDP also triumphed over a combined opposition.
The victory was also considered special because it came at the time the party was experiencing unrest.
Although all the credit and attention went to the BDP’s then pin-up poster boy, Kentse Rammidi, sources in the party say Tshireletso did much of the groundwork and her compelling attractiveness earned the ruling party votes.
She was also at another point deputy campaign manager for former BDP MP for Palapye, Boyce Sebetela.
But it is Tshireletso’s relentless fight for the rights of women and proving that women have a place in local politics that will continue to define her legacy in years to come. During her tenure in Parliament, she constantly advocated for policies to ensure that women and girl children felt safe to achieve their full potential.
Tshireletso has on several occasions vocally advocated that the government should legalise and regulate prostitution.
Her reasoning is that sex workers in Botswana face violence and are forced not use condoms, which expose them to HIV/AIDS. She noted that they are exploited because the law does not protect them. She also vocally urged the government to legalise abortion, saying many women continued to lose their lives because of unsafe abortion practices.
Tshireletso’s relentless fight for the rights of women has even impressed her opponents alike. During her time as MP she also successfully convinced government to rescind its policy of dismissing pregnant special constables.
Her relentless fight for the rights of women especially on advocating for the legalisation on prostitution and abortion turned her into one of the enemies of the Christian community. At some point they made attempts to have her voted out to no avail.
She has often maintained that advocating for the legalisation of abortion and prostitution is without malice and is informed by challenges faced by women in the country.
This week, Tshireletso said that her only disappointment is quitting politics without realising her dream of becoming a full minister.
“But it is worth noting that despite not being appointed a full minister I am happy with my political career. I won so many political battles and this makes me very content. I also draw solace from the fact that there are many MPs who deserved to be ministers or assistant ministers, but I was selected ahead of them. After all we can’t all be full ministers because we are many in parliament.”
Tshireletso was first appointed assistant minister under the presidency of Ian Khama. Mokgweetsi Masisi retained her when he took over as State President. She added that she is also saddened by the fact that the number of women who want to contest for parliament is dwindling
“There is a serious need for our legislators and political parties to seriously push for the development and implementation of policies meant to encourage women to contest for high political positions.
We need more women in parliament in order for them to push for policies that address the plight of their women counterparts.”
She maintained that lack of resources is one of the major reasons why many women are not keen to contest for political office.
“The other factor is that there is still perception from the society that women cannot lead. This has resulted in many women not showing eagerness to contest for high political positions.”
As a woman, Tshireletso has had to shoulder the burden of playing the traditional role of caregiver in her family. This interfered with her political work. She has even in the past conceded that dabbling in politics with the role of caregiver at home can be very demanding.
“I have to maintain balance between my family and political assignments. I am lucky that my children support me in my political work. It is all about striking a balance,” Tshireletso had said after the Mokoboxane by-election.
Tshireletso noted in an interview this week that she is content that she leaves at a time when almost nine out of 10 villages in his constituency have access to electricity and good roads.
“I am talking about areas that were amongst the least developed in the country when I took over as MP. I fought so hard to bring developments to those areas.”
Tshireletso cites ensuring improved access to education by children from many rural areas around the country as one of her key achievements during her time as assistant minister.
The Mahalapye East legislator leaves the BDP at a time when the party is experiencing turbulences that have resulted in the party’s second split that led to the formation of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF).
Former president, Khama backs the new party. Khama left along with other BDP members to form the BPF after falling out with his predecessor Masisi. She however, refuses to discuss current troubles within the party.
“At the moment I want news stories to centre around my retirement. It will not be ideal for me to discuss what the party is going through in the media. I am glad that I served the party well,” she said. Tshireletso said that she would use her post retirement time from politics to venture into various community projects in Mahalapye.