In what could be seen as both a noble act of humanity or a good advertising strategy, the party’s women’s wing recently launched BDP branded merchandise targeting women and specifically for expectant mothers and newborn babies. The initiative was led by Finance Minister, Peggy Serame, who campaigned alongside First Lady Neo Masisi. Despite lagging behind in choosing their candidates for this year’s polls and eventually launching them, the ruling party has been distributing its merchandise to ensure their visibility everywhere. President Mokgweetsi Masisi has led star rallies in various regions across the country. Dozens of the party followers would be given t-shirts, caps, sunglasses, and umbrellas amongst other things. Realising the huge role played by women in the party and even at national elections, Serame said they found it befitting to honour women by launching merchandise and distributing it to them.
As if that was not enough, the BDP women saw it fit to launch merchandise specially for expecting women and newborn babies. Multitudes of women thronged Matlala Junior Secondary Hall in Tlokweng where merchandise including dresses, maternity dresses, aprons, hats, scarfs, rompers, bibs, and baby blankets amongst other goodies was launched and distributed. Serame said as the saying goes “BDP ke ya rona le bana ba rona,” the party cares for its members and their children. He said women being more than men in the party should count. “Our party membership is mostly women with over 50% in membership but it doesn't show. We took a decision as the Central Committee of the party that we would do something to reflect this and appreciate our women,” she said. “We always do t-shirts and caps during elections and we decided we should show the heavy presence of women in the BDP through women’s clothing.” Serame hailed the women for being hard workers and voting in large numbers at the BDP. “We decided their clothes should reflect their value. We decided to pick expectant mothers and made three types of dresses for them.
It is the very first time that the BDP has dresses for women. Besides dresses, we also catered for their newborn babies. For the first time we also have merchandise for babies,” she said. Meanwhile, Serame also called on civil servants to join the BDP. She said as much as they aren't to be active in politics, they can have the membership. Besides the presentation of the goodies, women were treated to some lectures by a gynaecologist, a paediatrician and a clinical psychologist who spoke to members about their different fields. They encouraged women to register as early as possible when pregnant, take care of their newborn babies, and also their mental health. Serame said it was important for women to know what to do from getting pregnant to giving birth and raising their children.
