Transformation of Women in Politics
Botswana women have played a pivotal role in the political space of the republic with low wins on their side.
Women made their greatest gains in the 1999 election achieving a total of 17 per cent women members of parliament in the National Assembly, but then fell back to 11 per cent in the 2004 election and 8 per cent in the 2009 election.
In the October 2009 parliamentary election in Botswana only two women candidates won seats earning women a mere 3.5 per cent of directly elected seats in the National Assembly (down from 7 per cent of directly elected seats in 2004).
However the country has had some of firsts in Parliament since 1966. We remember
𝐃𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐰𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐩𝐞 who is the first woman education officer in Botswana from 1948 to 1953, the first woman to be appointed a cabinet minister having become a specially MP in 1974. She was instrumental in developing Botswana’s education system and is known to many as the woman who fought for free education in Botswana.
The appointment of 𝐃𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚 in October 2009 as the first woman to occupy the post of Speaker of the National Assembly signaled another step towards gender equality in Parliament.
In April 2018, 31 year old 𝐁𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨 was appointed the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, making her the youngest minister in Botswana’s history. The appointment became an instant internet sensation with many Africans applauding Botswana.
In 2021𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐲 𝐎. 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞 made history as the first woman to be appointed the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. She also made history as the first woman to present the Budget Speech in Botswana.
We acknowledge and commend all the women in politics and leadership positions who continue to bring diversity, visibility and change needed in Botswana.
