BNF WL President paves way for women candidates
Botswana’s political landscape has largely been dominated by men, however, it is women like Katlego Morolong who are tired of the status quo and believe that change is inevitable.
Morolong is the President of the Botswana National Front (BNF) Women’s League. Besides being a woman, one of the factors that drove her to plunge into the sometimes hostile political scene, was seeing Batswana swimming in abject poverty. She is annoyed that sometimes resources meant for citizens are withheld such that people are forced to align with the ruling party in order to benefit from government programmes.
She is also moved by the need to help and rescue the girl-child from several social ills that befall communities. Morolong strongly believes that politics is an avenue for her to make significant contribution and make a difference.
She joined politics at the age of 20 years and vows she is in it for the long haul. Her joining politics was not without opposition. Some people around her, especially her immediate family were antagonistic.
“They did not like it at first especially my immediate family but they had to understand that it’s my decision and they only had to support me. Now I have their full support in everything I do,” she told Botswana Guardian in an interview. She currently does not have anyone that she looks up to in local politics but she closely follows the guidance and leadership of the BNF and Umbrella for Democracy (UDC) president, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko. She admires his firmness on principles and decision-making.
Besides her experience in leadership within her political party, Morolong has been instrumental in facilitating several women from the BNF to stand for the upcoming general election, one parliamentary candidate, Maipelo Boitumelo Mophuting who is contesting Bonnington North constituency and she had a hand in reserving 50 wards for women so far.
Morolong, who hails from Mahalapye, is of the view that it is difficult for women in politics in Botswana, even worse for those in opposition politics than in the ruling party.
“It is very difficult because even the resource allocation is not the same. The ruling party has money and other resources at their disposal, while we from opposition have to start everything from scratch.” The BNF WL under Morolong’s leadership has already started facilitating workshops for different topics relating to women in leadership, in preparation for the 2024 general election.
“Our next stop will also be to engage international political parties and even organisations to help us facilitate more engagements. In addition, we will undertake fundraising activities to help women standing for elections during their campaigns, as well as media training for women candidates.”
Despite persuasion from some people to contest for elections this year, Morolong declined. “I was personally not in the right mental state to stand for elections. My mental health is my priority,” she said.
She is happy however, that she has been able to nourish and inspire other women in her party so that they can be the best versions of themselves and benefit their communities. This is the most fulfilling thing for her as a woman politician.
Morolong’s political journey started in the BNF in 2014, and in fact, it is the only political party she was born into from her family background. A short five years after joining the BNF, Morolong was appointed head of election observers for the 2019 General Elections for the UDC.
In 2022, she was elected the Secretary General of the BNF Women's League, and now the WL President, following the resignation of Dr Bonang Nkoane towards the end of 2023. Morolong is also Chairperson of Women in Opposition Politics Forum.
She is also part of the leadership of the recently-relaunched Botswana Caucus for Women in Politics (BCWP) as Treasurer. BCWP is an inter-party platform established to enable women to converge and support each other
While Morolong has assumed positions of leadership in her political party, she has experienced a share of challenges.
“Being in a male dominated space is very hard, you have to prove yourself more than men that you are excellent at what you do and that you can even do more than the men,” she says, adding that she is pleased because the party leadership is always willing to give her a chance.
“I have no complaints.”
In order to contend with challenges, Morolong had to cheer herself on. “I told myself that I would not be bullied or disregarded by anyone. I will remain focused and disciplined to the core mandate of my position,” she said.