BDP women empowerment crusade starts in Mahalapye

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women’s Wing Chairperson Dorcus Makgato says her committee is determined to ensure that when they leave office they would have empowered fellow women to match their male counterparts.

Makgato stated this week that when politicians talk about women empowerment, they tend to narrowly think of women contesting for elections. Her committee wants to approach the issue from a broad based perspective. Makgato, who is also Minister of Health and Wellness, said this is why her committee has decided to hold an inaugural General Assembly next week in Mahalapye.

The assembly aims to create a forum for BDP women to discuss issues of concern to the empowerment of women. She said BDP women in leadership positions across all party structures would attend the assembly, which will be officially opened by President Ian Khama, The forum will focus on political, economic and social empowerment.

“The general assembly is one of the commitments my committee made upon assuming office last year to create additional organisational structures at national level to ensure BDP women engage more regularly on issues of concern,’ she said.

“We want to have such forums where we are able to discuss issues outside our normal elective congress. This is so because during the congress people focus more on canvassing for votes and there is no time to give attention to pertinent issues,” said Makgato when briefing the media about the assembly.

She pointed out that in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the assembly will discuss related women’s political education, their participation in politics, entrepreneurship as well as empowerment.

Makgato stated that the assembly will come up with clear goals and targets on what the BDP women plan to do to enhance the status of women in politics and the economy. Resolutions taken at the assembly will be forwarded to various structures of the party like the National Council.