This shows that there is determination on the part of the organisations to increase women representation. That determination is borne of appreciation that women can be and are equally as accountable as their male counterparts. Sadly though, the same cannot be said about women's representation in elective office. This country is yet to have an opposition woman candidate in Parliament. In the current parliament there are only four elected women representatives out of 57 representatives! There appears to be little or no effort on the part of political parties and government to increase representation of women. Hence we see women representation in parliament dropping from 18 percent to 6.5 percent after the 2009 elections, with the result that Botswana trails any other SADC country in women representation in elective positions. Even then very little is being done to show government's willingness to increase women representation into these positions. Indeed, government's unwillingness is shown in its refusal to sign to or ratify international protocols that call for better or equal representation of women. For example government has staunchly disregarded calls for all SADC members to sign and ratify the SADC Gender Protocol. So far only Botswana and Mauritius have not signed. The Protocol aims to ensure that women take up an active role in national development by occupying half of the decision-making positions in all structures of society. The protocol covers constitutional and legal rights; governance; education and training; productive resources and employment; gender-based violence; health and HIV/AIDS; peace-building and conflict resolution; and media, information and communication. It is saddening that Botswana, touted around the world as Africa's shining example of democracy, good governance and human rights should find nothing amiss in failing to sign to the protocol because "doing so is nothing new to us". By refusing to be a signatory or to ratify a protocol, a country is confirming its unwillingness, or non-readiness, or even contempt for the protocol. The fact that women are heading large businesses in Botswana attests to the fact that women are as good as their male counterparts. And macho-minded lawmakers ought to appreciate that failure to sign these important protocols is a blemish on this country's good ratings. This is because the very countries that have looked to Botswana as a model of democracy, human rights and good governance are now taking the lead in showing Botswana how democracy works. It is important that government should go back and review the various democracy-enhancing instruments, such as the SADC Gender Protocol, with a view to signing and ratifying them. Otherwise, the country's indifferent stance may be construed as hypocrisy.
