- BDP has 7 female candidates vying for MP seats
- BCP and BPF have 6 each while UDC has 3 candidates
- Only 3 women went to parliament via election in 2019, making up 5.2 % of 57 winners
BONGANI MALUNGA
As the general elections draw closer, the extent of female representation fielded for parliamentary seats is conclusively low, with no party exceeding 20 percent.
No political party in Botswana has fielded more than 10 female parliamentary candidates for the 2024 general elections.
In the 2019 general elections, only three women went to parliament via election, which represented 5.2 percent of the 57 constituency winners.
Highest
Annah Mokgethi, Talita Monnakgotla and Nnaniki Makwinja won parliamentary seats through the ballot.
The party with the highest number of female candidates in this year’s elections is the Botswana Democratic Party with seven women hopefuls for parliament.
The female candidates of the BDP are Beauty Manake (Selibe-Phikwe West), Kungo Mabogo (Palapye), Annah Mokgethi (Gaborone Bonnington North), Dorcas Makgato (Tswapong South), Lillian Motsumi (Mogoditshane East), Peggy Serame (Goodhope-Mmathethe) and Diana Kaartze (Kgalagadi South).
Second highest
The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) are tied for the second highest number of female candidates fielded.
The BCP has fielded Daisy Baithusi (Boteti East), Dr Mpho Pheko (Gaborone Central), Unity Dow (Kgatleng West), Tebo Shereen-Hannah (Lobatse), Ethel Gaampone (Mahalapye East) and Julia Chepete (Mogoditshane West).
The BPF has fielded Dr Thoko Muzila (Francistown East), Virginia Boingotlo (Gaborone North), Gaone Kgapoetsile (Letlhakeng), Letty Molefane (Molepolole North), Evidence Pelaelo (Gaborone Bonnington North) and Pini Morupisi (Tswapong North).
BMD’s one
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has fielded three female candidates, namely Nono Mokoka Kgafela in Kgatleng East, Maipelo Mophuting in Gaborone Bonnington North, and Hellen Manyeneng in Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe.
The Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) has fielded one female candidate, Mary Nkumba in the Gaborone Central. The Botswana Republican Party also has one female parliamentary candidate, Bonolo Gabudiwe in Lentsweletau-Lephephe.
While constituencies have been increased to 61 for this year’s elections, the representation of women in constituency duels has not grown to levels exceeding the 50 percent mark.
Under party representation, 24 women are running for parliament in 61 constituencies. The only constituency with two women from two different parties is Gaborone Central where the BCP has Dr Pheko and the BMD Nkumba.