BCP quintet reduces the gender gap :: Mmegi Online

As an effort to propel more women into Parliament and close the gender gap in political participation and representation, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) recently unveiled five female parliamentary candidates who will represent the party at this year’s General Election. This week Mmegi Staffer SPIRA TLHANKANE peeps into the five’s background as well as the constituencies the BCP think they have a real shot at

While the BCP president Dumelang Saleshando admits that five out of 61 constituencies is not enough, energised by the fact that the BCP chief campaigner for the General Election is a woman, the five candidates are expected to inspire even more women candidates at both Parliament and council levels. Though women make up more than 50% of the population, the five according to the BCP are expected to work towards encouraging women who are underrepresented in public office. Lack of interest in politics by women has also been a setback, something the BCP Women’s League (BCPWL) aimed to address.

Before the recent unveiling of the five, the BCP had long committed to women’s representation, making a provision in the party’s constitution that all structures should have mandatory 30% women representation. This was later extended to leadership structures in Parliament and council seats.

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