Africa-Press – Botswana. Time is overdue for women to effortlessly take political office, but that is only possible if they support each other.
Maun West MP Mr Dumelang Saleshando said this at the ongoing Gender Links training for Botswana women in politics, in Maun yesterday.
He said women’s Archilles heel was their penchant to vote against others vying for political office.
The distrust by woman on woman was borne of the belief that women were incapable, which was false, he said.
“Women are very capable of holding high political positions and we want to see political grounds being levelled to allow women to penetrate politics effortlessly without fear.”
Besides, he said, women were disadvantaged by the the fact that their male competitors had financial power.
Therefore, it was only by believing in each other that women would be eager to see other women holding political office, and as such nominate them for election.
Women, he said, should actively participate and not be content with merely being voters.
Mr Saleshando said there was hope for women where public funding for political parties was provided as that facilitated and promoted their participation in politics through financial support.
The MP said that private funding of political parties was complex as politicians encountered a conflict of interest and moral dilemma because they became beholden to their funders, and failed to deliver on their political duties.
Gender Links Consultant, Ms Chigedze Chinyepi said there was need to capacitate women and advocate their equal participation in politics.
She said the training was meant to empower women to have a strong and impactful voice in their respective structures of politics.
Ms Chinyepi said women from all political parties in Botswana would participate in the five day training. Specially elected councillor, Ms Motlagomang Mauchaza said women had the ability to lead in every sphere having shown their capabilities by running households while juggling careers at the same time.
However, she said there was need to educate and raise awareness among women to vote one another because they had numerical power which they could use to vote men.
Ms Mauchaza said women faced many challenges in politics especially when they showed interest in higher positions.
“We have men who threaten women when they want to stand for a political position, which in turn makes us feel discouraged because it is not in our nature to engage in devious fights,” she said.
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