28 Jan 2025

Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse says there are some flaws in Botswana’s democracy leading to under-representation of  women in Parliament. 

Speaking during a kgotla meeting in Serowe yesterday, Mr Keorapetse said the situation called for political parties to address the under-representation of women in their own structures and in the selection process of candidates for elections. 

He noted that the problem became even more evident during last year’s general elections when only six women made it to Parliament, the number having dropped by about nine per cent from the 12th Parliament. 

Mr Keorapetse shared that women in the 12th parliament constituted about 12%, but this dropped drastically in the current parliament. 

Mr Keorapetse said in Botswana women made up 54% of the eligible voters but few occupied positions of power, where decisions and policies that affect them are made. 

He said despite an increased advocacy of the women in positions of leadership, gender parity in Parliament remained a challenge. 

However, he expressed delight that the 13th Parliament comprised mostly of the youth. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) describes the youth as those under the age of 45.

He said in the previous Parliament there were only six MPs under the age of 45 while in the 13th parliament there are more than 25, a number he noted is satisfactory. ENDS