August month is women�s month

In 1997, Southern African Development Community Heads of State/Government signed a Declaration which, among other things, states: “ii)...COMMIT ourselves and our respective countries to, inter alia…Ensuring the equal representation of women and men in the decision-making of member states and SADC at all levels, and the achievement of at least 30 percent target of women in political and decision making structures by year 2005

“iv) Repealing and reforming all laws, amending constitutions and changing social practices which still subject women to discrimination, and enacting empowering gender sensitive laws...”

The Declaration was signed on behalf of Botswana by then President Festus Gontebanye Mogae. I now read in The Botswana Gazette of 06-14 August 2014, Minister Edwin Batshu’s statement: “We are committed to SADC, that is why we opted to host the SADC secretariat when no one else wanted to… We are implementing the SADC Gender Protocol  even more than states who signed it…” 

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up