Only 28 women stood for parliament out of 258 contestants, representing 10.85 per cent. Only three women won their seats. This represents 4.92 per cent of the 61 seats. It’s a drop from 5.26 per cent in the 2019 elections.
Lesego Chombo, a dynamic figure in Botswana's youth scene, lawyer and Miss World Africa 2024, is now the rising star of the country's government, having been appointed Minister of Youth and Gender Equality by Botswana's President, Duma Boko.
Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) in conjunction with Botswana Editors Forum Botswana recently held a two-day workshop to train journalists on how media can play a supportive role in advancing meaningful participation of women in politics.
Women from across the political spectrum are calling on President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi to appoint an equal number of women and men to the Constitutional Review Commission.
With less than a decade to go to 2030, the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, women constitute just 11% of MPs and 18% of councillors in Botswana: well below the gender parity target and among the lowest proportions in Southern Africa.
Gofaone Mabutho, a 28-year-old woman from Marapong is one of the few women councillors in Botswana.
Female under-representation in politics continues to be a problem in Botswana, where only three women won seats in the 57-member National Assembly during last week’s general elections.
Botswana is considered a middle-income country. The country has also enjoyed a stable democracy since 1996.