Women and the political glass ceiling
Friday, August 07, 2015
Sole voice: Tshireletso (in turquoise dress and hat) is among the few women MPs
Botswana prides itself as a beacon of peace and democracy in Africa, and is ranked well relative to most nations globally. As a result, the landlocked country continues to be highly regarded by the international community.
Despite strides in developmental undertakings, as reflected through provision of universal education, promotion of maternal health, and being the first African country to reduce HIV/AIDS deaths through the rolling out of free Anti-Retroviral Drugs, women in Botswana languish at the bottom of almost every sectoral indicator.
That a single private law firm pocketed P6.5 million for just four cases, out of a total P11.1 million paid for 25 matters, reeks of a system that was not merely disorganised but open to abuse.Bayford has taken a welcome first step by telling the Public Accounts Committee the truth. Now he must act decisively to ensure it never happens again and that any money lost to wrongdoing is recovered.The figures are staggering. Whilst ordinary Batswana...