Molokomme elected President

THATO CHWAANE
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 20, 2007 00:00

 

The newly elected secretary general is Bonolo Khumotaka, while the treasurer is Bopelokgale Soko. The youth representative is Nozi Tlhong and three additional members are Constance Nshimwe, Segopotso Keediwe and Thatayaone Nnini.

The President of Botswana Teachers' Union (BTU) Japhta Radibe, who was one of the election observers, encouraged the women to campaign well in advance for such elections. He commended the peaceful manner in which they held the elections.
The newly elected Molokomme encouraged the members to leave a legacy for the future of their children. She said they had done well in the past and said it is important to raise women organisations.

Molokomme said she had heard in some quarters that all other women organisations are in need of an obituary, and added that as women of this nation they have to raise the other organisations.
She said their organisation was keeping their heads above water. She said some people say that women do not support each other, however, she stated that there is no other gender that loves one another than women. 'Perhaps we should ask, do men support each other?'

Molokomme said that leadership is about speaking, listening and acting and challenged the members to discuss 'undiscussables', in a country with many problems and where people hide issues.
The former president Joyce Anderson, said that she is happy to give another person a chance and added that she is against those who stay in leadership too long. Anderson, who was president from 2001, said that leadership is like a relay and she believed that the baton should be passed to the next person.

As a founding member, she said that it would be difficult to leave and that she will continue to be a member. She also confessed that it is difficult to lead a controversial organisation, where one is bashed about issues that are in conflict with culture.