Africa-Press – Botswana. It is high time men and women enjoy the same benefits and any form of prejudice against women eliminated.
This is the response of some women in Serowe, whom BOPA interviewed on the significance of International Women’s Day.
In Masololo Ward, a street vendor, Ms Babolotse Thipe, 63, said she understood that the day was meant to celebrate women, their achievements and track how far they had come in terms of ensuring that they shared equal opportunities with men.
Ms Thipe said women were underrepresented in politics but that was because they did not support one another and suggested that events like International Women’s Day should be used to remind women that they matter and were capable just like men.
Ms Neo Lentswe, 28, of Phokela Ward said International Women’s Day should be promoted with vigour, saying women were forced by their circumstances to lose hope in life and so, honouring them reassured them of their value.
She said women were burdened with many responsibilities that left them with little time for themselves.
Ms Lentswe said: “I believe it is high time women are given a chance to thrive and see how far they can go. If I had my way, I would establish a cost free centre that trains women on different trades as cooking, tailoring and hairdressing so that they would be self-employed. I would also help them find a market for their goods and services.”
Doing so she said would to bridge the economic gap between men and women. Ms Lentswe said all hope was not lost because there were women with successful businesses although most were small scale.
In Seetso Ward, the Secretary of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Serowe North Branch Committee, Ms Keagomang Dithebe, 56, said women were limited by many factors from competing for council and Parliament seats.
Ms Dithebe said: “I am a married woman and whenever I show interest to contest for a council seat, my husband disapproves on the basis that I want to misuse family funds and have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. This goes to show that men do not believe in us because we have not given them any reason to, we give up easily.”
She added that she had resorted to supporting women with an ambition to compete for political leadership positions.
She said she was proud of the few female parliamentarians and others in executive positions noting that the 21st century had risen to a crop of courageous women not afraid to change things.
Ms Dithebe said she drew inspiration from Finance Minister, Ms Peggy Serame, former Assistant Minister of Local Government, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, former Botswana’s High Commissioner to Australia, Ms Dorcas Makgato and the Assistant Mnister of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Talita Monnakgotla.
She said the BDP Serowe North Branch executive committee was made up of women only.
Ms Gofaone Moepi, 39, of Masololo Ward wishes there could be council and Parliament seats reserved for women to compete against one another to balance political representation.
She said if a woman could manage to keep a home orderly, then she would succeed as a leader. Ms Moepi said men should share responsibilities with women, to afford them an opportunity to excel.
“We have children tied to our laces full time and we miss out on job and business opportunities. During occasions like this one, we need to have conversations around that and while at it, government should intervene and help us,” said Ms Moepi.
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