Tshireletso is an indefatigable fighter whose appetite for contest for political positions rewarded her handsomely in the past. During her tenure at the helm of the BDP Women’s Wing, she stewarded the party’s powerful organ by numbers, to the top. Due to her resilience and endurance in the political game, Tshireletso has become the epitome of success in elected political positions and her story is telling enough that politics rewards those who work hard and smarter.
She stands as an example that hard work pays even women politicians. Besides chairing the BDP Women’s Wing (2001-2006), the Mahalapye-born politician previously chaired one of the most powerful councils, the Central District Council (CDC) from 1994 to 2004 where she beat her male counterparts to the council’s powerful position.
Prior to ascending to the chairpersonship, Tshireletso was deputy chairperson for sometime. From 2004 to 2019 she was elected legislator for Mahalapye-East until she hung her political boots. This is where she proved her prowess, beating more male counterparts to their game at both her party’s primaries and in the general election. To the best of her recollection, the BDP Women’s Wing came into being after the formation of the BDP National Youth Executive Committee (NYEC) in 1977 following a decision made in Mochudi to officially recognise the youth brigade in the party. It was in 1985 that the party leadership formed the Women’s Wing at its meeting in Sebele.
The first chairperson of the organ was another Mahalapye-born politician and now late Mable Koma. The party organ instantly became an integral part of the BDP as it wooed more women into the party ranks. It was through the Wing that women were given the impetus to take up leadership positions in their party after hero-worshipping their male counterparts for long. Through the BDP Women’s Wing, the party leadership realised that other women will be able to support others and be encouraged to remain politically conscious and solid.
Some political careers were formed through the Wing whilst others were destroyed. Other women who were chairpersons of the wing in that order include Lesego Molapo who was elected at Gantsi, Margaret Nasha who was elected at Mmadinare, Tshireletso at Shoshong, Tebelelo Seretse elected at Tati Siding, Angelinah Sengalo elected at Tsabong, Caroline Lesole elected at Kang, Dorcas Makgato elected at Kang/Maun and Veronicah Lesole who was co-opted after the departure of Makgato to the public service employ. “The Wing came up with resolutions that contributed to the well being of the BDP. Remember, the chairperson of the organ is a member of the BDP central committee with all voting rights,” Tshireletso emphasised. She is happy that any woman can contest for the position of Women’s Wing chairperson, as there is no age limit to interested women. Through the Women’s Wing, women are encouraged to contest for political party positions and partake in the activities of the party.
One of the functions of the Women’s Wing is touching lives of many through its corporate social responsibility where disadvantaged members of the society have been built houses and provided with various forms of assistance across the country. “Every year during my tenure, we raised funds and assisted disadvantaged members of the society,” she added. Tshireletso quickly remembers the past when there were only four women councillors at the CDC around 1979 and she witnessed the numbers steadily growing as women aggressively competed for places. The BDP Women’s Wing remained the mouthpiece for women in many respects and it gave them some form of responsibility.
At some stage, women got worried that their superiority in numbers within their party never translated to greater numbers in elected positions. “It worries that we are many as women but our male counterparts continued to outclass us in terms of numbers in various party positions,” she noted. Tshireletso was insistent that knowing the people she served and worked with including their challenges, really helped her to remain focused on her political business. According to her, consultation is key when canvassing for a political position. “During our time, we worked with elderly people and they were understanding and sincere. I literally knew people’s feelings and their needs and that’s what kept us closer,” she explained.
Because of her resoluteness and strength, Tshireletso was only challenged once for the position of the Women’s Wing chairperson and she easily brushed that challenge by former Cabinet member Tebelelo Seretse. She acknowledges that it was never easy whilst she was at the helm of the Women’s Wing, but she fought on. Leading women from different backgrounds brought its own challenges and Tshireletso was forced to be firm and brave and come up with ideas that steered women into action to occupy their places in the ruling BDP.
She regards herself and others to have contributed immensely in encouraging women to lead from the front rather than celebrating their male counterparts simply as their heroes. Tshireletso has witnessed women come up with solid ideas and positioned themselves appropriately. She is elated that women today play various roles in the party, including serving in various individual and party campaigns, they sing and dance attracting people to their party; they lead house to house campaigns and lead fundraising activities.
Women also do cook and serve people. In summation talking about the party circulating lobby lists she said: “ What I can say is that at the end of canvassing for support, whoever wins, the party would have won. Lobby lists are there and what is very key is for them to work together and know that at the end of the day, the biggest winner is the BDP and not individuals.”
