12 Mar 2024

African Union Sport Council (AUSC 5) Region 5, chief executive, Stanley Mutoya says investing in women will make the world become better place since it drives progress in every sphere of life.

Mutoya said this during the commemoration of International Women’s Day at the National Stadium recently. 

He said women were able, capable and needed men to create opportunities through mentorship and shadowing for women and girls to explore passions of their hearts.

As such, he said the region prides itself with women such as Amantle Montsho and Caster Semenya, and many others.

He highlighted that gold medals won by region in 1980 at the Olympic Games was obtained by Zimbabwe’s women hockey team.

Mutoya said they wished to see sizeable budget from governments and organisations supporting investments by women in the entire region, noting this would make the region to be a safe and better place

He said the region called for no non-accidental aggression against women, which needed to be denounced. 

He implored attendees to give recognition to disadvantaged, venerable and all women working hard to drive economies in the region and striving for an economically empowered region.

Mr Mutoya said beyond just sports the region needed women in sectors such as Agriculture, Commerce, women controlling means of capital such land capital, emphasising that such women they deserve an opportunity to be supported. 

Boitumelo Motsenyana, communications coordinator for Botswana Red Cross Society said in interview that they found it on point to sell their services at the day because they were mandated to help communities and they had women in various areas helping people whatever their circumstances.

She said they had women helping to distribute food baskets, they had gardens in different parts of the country and all were manned by women who came up with innovative ideas to help communities alleviate the poverty.

She said they had women who helped as care givers; cooking and even doing laundry for the underprivileged. 

“As such we have come to celebrate the contribution women does in every spheres in life and domain.” ENDs