Low Female Participation in Botswana's Upcoming Elections Raises Concerns

Gaborone, Botswana– As Botswana gears up for its general elections in October, the number of women running for office remains disappointingly low, reflecting a persistent gender imbalance in the nation's political landscape.

Political parties have finalized their candidate lists for the 2024 elections, with a striking gender disparity evident across the board. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has nominated nearly 200 candidates for the National Assembly, but only 20 of them are women. This continues a troubling trend from the last general election, where a mere 5% of elected members were women.

Gender activist Pamela Dube expressed deep concern over the situation. “The pertaining state of affairs in women’s political participation in Botswana is saddening. While statistically, women make up more than 50% of voters, women’s representation in elected positions remains very low,” Dube said. “I have serious doubt that we will see an improvement in the upcoming October elections.”

Botswana's gender representation falls significantly short of the Southern Africa Development Community's (SADC) framework, which advocates for equal representation in political and decision-making positions.

Gender Quotas and Electoral Reform Needed

Dube criticized the ruling BDP for not implementing gender quotas that could ensure a more balanced representation. “Botswana has no such laws, or even constitutional provisions. It is even sadder that the constitution review bill that is before parliament is silent in this regard,” she lamented.

Opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa highlighted the structural challenges posed by Botswana’s electoral system. The country uses the first-past-the-post system, where voters choose a single candidate, which often disadvantages women. “You cannot expect the very same set-up or situation that is patriarchal, conservative to allow women to rise and occupy positions of authority,” Mohwasa said. He advocated for a mixed electoral system that combines first-past-the-post with a list system, which has been shown to empower women in other countries.

Supporting Women in Political Leadership

Sifisosami Dube, Women in Political Participation (WPP) programs officer based in Maputo, stressed the need for comprehensive support for women in political leadership. “There is a need to handhold women in political leadership from the time they are campaigning, or when they are thinking about campaigning, to the time they will be in elections and to the time they are in political leadership positions,” she said. Continuous motivation and support are crucial for women once they are in political offices.

Regional Comparison

While Botswana struggles with gender representation, neighboring countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe boast over 30% women representation in their upper and lower houses of parliament. This stark contrast highlights the urgent need for Botswana to reform its political and electoral systems to foster greater gender parity.

As Botswana approaches its October elections, the pressure is on political leaders to address these gender disparities and create a more inclusive political environment. The nation’s ability to achieve meaningful gender representation in politics will be closely watched, not just locally but across the region.