�Botswana Women Reluctant To Join Politics�
Lindiwe Mozola | Monday December 5, 2016 15:34
Tlou was guest speaker on Saturday at the just-ended three-day Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) National Women’s Wing inaugural General Assembly in Mahalapye.
She said that women are leading on issues of health and others. However, they are still behind in politics which plays a major role on their development and empowerment.
“Sometimes I get embarrassed whenever I attend the Parliament of South Africa when I see women being the ones driving diligently parliamentary issues, whereas back home there are few women representatives in our Parliament,” she said.
Tlou also said that many women across the country play the role of heads in their households, hence they should demonstrate the very same strength in politics as they do in their homes and banish the fear they have for politics.
She said that knowledge is key therefore, women should also also inform themselves on issues of national interest so that they take up key roles in politics.
She, however, applauded women on issues of health, emphasising the elimination of new infections among children through Prevention of Mother To Child Transition (PMTCT) programme, which she said Botswana is on the forefront for.
She also shared that before the end of the year, Botswana will be presented with an award for being the best in elimination of new infections among children through the programme alongside South Africa.
Tlou also recognised women’s role in the party, saying that the gathering will give them a platform to discuss more on health and socio- economic issues.
She encouraged them to also engage in value conversation aimed at improving their status, not only within the BDP, but also the country as a whole.
The BDP Women’s Wing president and Minister of Health and Wellness, Dorcas Makgato said that the General Assembly marks a historic moment in the evolution of the BDP Women’s Wing and the role they play as women in the party, going forward.
“When I took the role of Women’s Wing president, I promised that I was going to change the way things were done in the Women’s Wing.
I pledged to create a platform for open dialogue that did not have distraction of elective congress, a platform where we as women could come together to discuss our unique challenges and opportunities.
I am proud to stand before you today and say that we have done it,” Makgato said.
She said that her aim is that by the end of the assembly to have come up with tangible resolutions to address how they can achieve more numbers of women in the party leadership structures.