BOTSWANA: 'There is No Gender Balance in Councils'

There is gender imbalance in councils throughout the country, where men outnumber women. Addressing councillors at a gender and local government strategy workshop, women affairs director Marty Legwaila said that out there is only one woman heading a council as council chairperson.

Same Bathobakae heads the South East Council. Legwaila said "I feel compelled to ask: How is this possible in a country whose women population is 52.4 percent?

This does not add up we need more numbers of women where decisions that are shaping the direction of our country are being made.

After all the decisions made affect both women and men. So why should only one section of the population be involved in making decisions that affect both men and women?" she said.

She challenged her audience and the nation to eliminate barriers that stop women from occupying decision-making positions.

They should focus on how to get women to the stage where they can have a voice in making decisions.

Though men also face hurdles in having access to power, unlike women, they have had the support of society for many years, she said. She said that people are eager to blame gender inequality on the way "we were brought up and even use proverbs to back their ancient beliefs.

"This is outdated and we should not waste our time and energy on it as it pulls us back.

Just as we are cultural beings, we should remember that culture is dynamic," she said.

She urged civic leaders to infuse gender issues into rules and procedures, planning and budgeting and how to raise service delivery to the electorate.

She said they should do a gender analysis thus, asking, "yourselves how the project will impact on women and men based on their different roles and responsibilities and the context in which they operate".

After her deliberation, the civic leaders engaged into debating sessions where words like gender, sex and stereotypes were used.

When one councillor suggested that a man can look after children at home whilst his wife works in an office, some male councillors went ballistic and said it was unnatural for men to do such 'womanly' chores.

"Some roles come with nature. We are like animals. By instinct, a male knows it should protect its family. Is it biology or social environment that influence certain behaviour? I think it's instinct," said Southern District Council chairman, Kentse Rammidi.

His comment prompted Legwaila to plead with them to desist from being too defensive in addressing the gender equality issue.

"I have a problem when people keep on referring to animals, being defensive. Why should we go down to the level of animals when talking about human beings?

We are thinking beings, let's look at the issues and say why we have gender inequalities in our councils," he said.