Ndove: from street vendor to mayoral seat

| Friday August 10, 2012 00:00

FRANCISTOWN: She may not have educational credentials to boast of, but Francistown Deputy Mayor, Joyce Ndove is slowly making her way towards attaining the country's coveted title of iron lady of politics, which is currently associated with the likes of Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and Botlogile Tshireletso to name but a few. In this interview she opens up to Mmegi.

Mmegi: Can you please tell the readers about your background?

JN: My name is Joyce Lumba Ndove I was born in Kasane 49-years ago of a Motswana mother and a Malawian father. Though I spent most of my childhood in Kasane, I attended primary school in Livingstone in Zambia. I completed my secondary education at St Marie, a Roman Catholic school also in Zambia before returning to Botswana. That was between 1973 and 1983. I do not have a tertiary qualification.

Mmegi: Are you married?

JN: No, but I am a mother of five children; one girl and four boys. Unfortunately, my daughter passed away a few years ago.

Mmegi:Tell us about your career background...

JN:I have worked for various companies throughout the years. My first job was at the Grand Hotel in Francistown from 1984 to 1987, where I was a receptionist. After that I took a break from work. In 1998 I joined Sedgwick Insurance Company as an agent in Kasane. In 2003 I joined the Dynamic Insurance Company, also in Kasane as an agent. I left the job in 2005 to set up my own business in the Francistown Central Business District (CBD). I was vendor selling cooked food.

Mmegi: Then how did you end up in politics?

JN: Many people think that I am new to politics, but that is untrue. I acquired my BDP membership in 1984 whilst working at the Grand Hotel. Back then, the Grand Hotel was among the top hotels in the city. Former cabinet ministers and politicians like Daniel Kwelagobe and Kebatlamang Morake were regulars at the hotel, especially during their trips. Through my interactions with them, I developed interest in politics and acquired my BDP membership, though I was not active in the party. I served as Tshelang Masisi's campaign manager in the last general elections. I was also the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) women's wing chairperson for Francistown west region, before I left the position when I became a councillor.

Mmegi: How did you end being a specially nominated councillor?

JN: I contested the BDP primaries at Gerald, in Moselewapula Ward prior to the last general elections and lost to Johnson Moremi. After the general elections, I was nominated as a specially elected councillor. By then I was still with the BDP before I left in 2010 to join the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) I think the move was intended to help make the women's voices in the council chambers become more audible.

Mmegi: This month is the month of women. So let's talk of the role of women in local politics. Do you think women are doing enough to change the political landscape of this country in their favour?

JN: Women in this country are not doing enough to support their counterparts who are in politics, as they would rather vote for a man. Maybe they doubt other women's capabilities. This is an area where I believe as women we are still lagging behind.

Mmegi: What do you want to do for women in the city during your tenure as the deputy mayor?

JN: Majority of women are in the informal sector business and when my tenure as a deputy mayor ends, I hope that they will have stalls they can operate their businesses from.

Mmegi: You made history by becoming the first woman in the opposition ranks to become deputy mayor, how does it feel?

JN: I never saw it coming although there were speculations in the media about me taking the position. I only got to know that I was going to assume the position a week before the mayoral elections. It is a privilege and an honour to become the first opposition party woman to hold this position. It shows that it is dawning on the country that women are equally capable.

Mmegi: Men dominate the city council. When you are chairing meetings, do they not undermine your authority because you are a woman?

JN: There are some who try to harass me, but they will not succeed because they are in the minority.  Many men have been supportive of my efforts and we have a common understanding.

Mmegi: Lastly what are your future ambitions?

JN: I intend to contest the upcoming general elections. If I win, it will be my last tenure because I do not want stay longer in politics. If you do, you run the risk of your ideas becoming stale and this is a recipe for a clash with voters.