Mophuting stands to correct injustices
Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)’s Parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Bonnington North, Maipelo Mophuting vows to bring to her community hope, a fresh new style of leadership and excellent governance mechanisms.
She fields questions from Botswana Guardian regarding her candidacy.
BG: You are representing the UDC as a parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Bonnington North, what is your motivation to want to represent the people in parliament?
MM: In democratic states, Members of Parliament are elected by citizens of that country, regardless of the make-up of that country’s electoral system by which they are elected. The actual role of a Parliamentarian I describe in three ways, first you’re a Representative, second, you’re a Legislator and third, you’re an Inspector of the Government of the day.
The first implies the fact that MPs are elected to Parliament as representatives of their electorates. The second mirrors what a lot of people see and understand to be the predominant role of an MP which is to pass legislation or make changes to an existing Act. Then lastly, the third has to do with analysing or oversight that Members of Parliament are compelled to exercise over the operations of the Executive, inclusive of the implementation of laws passed by Parliament. My ultimate decision to run for Public Office representing the community of Gaborone Bonnington North was motivated by how I saw and still see Batswana particularly the marginalised being exploited in our country with no visible recourse to improve their lives.
BG: What is it that you will do differently from the previous area MPs for residents of the area?
MM: In progressive democratic states, the representation of the people must be the fundamental source of authority for the institution that passes laws under which society functions. As a Member of Parliament, one of my primary roles would be to act as a central hub to try and resolve constituents’ issues. However, it is slightly more complex. An MP does not actually have power vested in them to resolve constituents’ problems, they act as a spokesperson or mouthpiece for local interest and advocate for their constituents in Parliament.
What I guarantee the residents of Gaborone Bonnington North is, in consultation with them, I would go and speak on their behalf and put their needs ahead in my decision-making process and, do so with the utmost honesty. I bring to my community hope, a fresh new style of leadership and excellent governance mechanisms. As a firm believer, I hold the strong view that as one who would be aligned in a Governmental/Legislative position, my job would be to restore credibility and integrity to politics in Botswana, and to bring about proper alignment into the Infrastructure of the Government’s Agencies in order to keep them blessed by God.
BG: In your view, what are some of the major challenges facing residents of Gaborone Bonnington North?
MM: Some of the major challenges facing residents of Gaborone Bonnington North Residents are; skyrocketing unemployment rates particularly among young people, poor infrastructure such as dusty roads and limited street lights, debilitating healthcare institutions and an increasingly collapsing education system, the list is by no means exhaustive.
BG: What is your plan to solve those challenges?
MM: Under a UDC led Government, we propose the following solutions for some of these challenges:
Education
As part of the UDC Manifesto on inclusive Economic growth, the education system will be overhauled to usher in STEAM curriculum to produce learners with education with production, engineers, scientists, technologists and other critical disciplines such as lawyers, accountants, economists, psychologists, doctors, creative arts specialists, among others to help diversify the economy.
The adoption of STEAM Education is meant to ensure that Botswana fully participates in digital technology and intensification of appropriate artificial intelligence. Education institutions to be provided with modern and state of art facilities, laboratories, libraries, computer centres, stadia, creative arts auditoriums, sports and recreation centres or facilities to harness and develop diverse talents. A national Research and Development Fund to be created to support the Diamond beneficiation industry with relevant skills, knowledge and technology to improve productivity and competitiveness. This and many more.
Technology Regarding infrastructure and technology, currently some countries are jockeying to create the ideal environment for digital innovators to thrive. Countries in the Gulf are actively advancing their digital transformation by investing in cloud infrastructure, data centres, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
This creates attractive opportunities for foreign investors, and we could benchmark with such countries to help us build partnerships that could boost the presence of international companies to support Botswana’s shift toward a knowledge-based economy. We need to tap into a robust tech talent pool of young people, which would open new avenues for innovation, entrepreneurship, and eventually cross-border investments aligning with Botswana’s economic diversification ambitions.
Still on innovation, we are ushering in a creative economy inspired by stronger strategic management of local creative talent in indigenous arts, music, paintings design, production and the use of modern technological platforms, and Botswana Television as a strategic asset for the export and commercialisation of our arts and culture.
BG: You are a woman, and we know that in Botswana women representation in parliament is very low. In your view, why is it that women are not raising their hands to be voted into political office?
MM: Gender inequality in political representation is a persistent issue across the world, where women are still grossly underrepresented in the political arena. In spite of the supposition that gender equality is “within reach” the channel to the top positions seems to leak more women than men.
Inadequate political representation in Botswana in my view can be ascribed to several factors such as both the demand side, for instance voters’ reluctance to vote for female candidates, and the supply side, that being women’s hesitance to run for public office. Moreover, other factors including patriarchy still remain a huge challenge. Campaigning too is extremely expensive, so those are some of the hindrances that cause women in Botswana to refuse to raise their hand to serve in this sphere.
BG: What do you think the country, political parties, individuals can do to ensure that women are given equal opportunities to occupy positions of political power?
MM: Political organisations are the fundamental and most direct vehicle through which women can access public office. The manner in which women engage in political parties, and how those parties encourage and cultivate women’s participation and embrace gender-equality issues are critical determinants of women’s political empowerment.
Providing training, easier access to funds such as political party funding by the Government, and significant media coverage are some of the key factors that could assist in closing the gender representation gap.
BG: You are relatively new in the political scene in Botswana, what has been your experience so far, especially that you are a woman?
MM: Running for political office is no walk in the park, especially for a woman, and a young woman at that. Unless you are in those shoes, you cannot begin to fathom the sacrifices that come with it, they are countless in number, moreover the boldness it takes especially opposition politics
Speaking of boldness Thomas Sankara once said, “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness.” So those words from Sankara continue to fuel my fire. My little experience in the political arena in Botswana has been quite multifaceted and not so easy to navigate I must admit. I came to realise very quickly that things are done very different in politics than they are in the corporate world.
I am learning daily, on the go, and continue to fail forward and try again with each passing day. For the most part I have received overwhelming support and encouragement from several Batswana all across the political divide and from other Batswana not affiliated to any organisation.
By the same token I have not received support albeit from a few. Organisationally within the BNF and wider UDC family, there are some who have taken it upon themselves to handhold me and assist me in so many ways including using their own resources to step in and help ease the burden.
BG: When you look at Botswana as a whole, and its people, what are your areas of concern and why?
MM: When I think of how Batswana are struggling in a nation that has been blessed with vast amounts of natural resources, I’m kept up at night unable to sleep.
It completely defies logic why as Batswana ba Sekei, we are right at the bottom of the food chain in our own country with absolutely no control of our economy, an economy that has now completely collapsed, as we are now fully aware, our economy is growing at less than five percent, and for the past 12 months it has been stagnant at zero percent. As UDC our solution to challenges of the economy is that we will position Botswana as one of the top 10 diamond trading centres globally and top three in the EMA region.
An economy that will attract at least P100 billion annually in domestic and foreign investment. As UDC we will create an equitable, dynamic, and diversified economy with an annual growth rate of at least 10 percent. This kind of economy must be able to create our proposed 450 000 to 500 000 jobs within five years across new and existing sectors.
Job creation is another “Top of the Agenda” for me and our organisation. Bringing it closer to home, the Diamond Technology Park is housed in Gaborone Bonnington North Constituency, and a UDC led Government will strive to make GBN a mini-Dubai with full value chain development of the diamond industry.
Specifically, full beneficiation of diamond products including jewellery will be undertaken in the constituency and provide employment of skilled citizens. We will Intensify skill development in jewellery and full diamond beneficiation both locally and internationally.
There are countries like India with advanced jewellery human capital development centres, UDC led Government will benchmark with them.