She will have to weather the storm

Dorcus Makgato believes she has what it takes to push the women empowerment agenda and she is challenging for the position of chairperson of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women’s Wing.

The ruling party’s women folk go for their congress next month and jostling for positions is ongoing. The chairperson of the Wing automatically becomes a member of the central committee. Makgato’s quest to be a dominant force in the BDP politics will not come easy; she has to fight a challenge from Tshepo Wareus, who also has her own strong support base.

“I want to ensure improved participation of women in politics. I believe that they have a big role to play especially owing to the demographics of the country. There are more women than men and we should activate ourselves to participate meaningfully in shaping the laws of this country, growing the economy, and influence the political environment among other things,” Makgato said in an interview with WeekendPost.


According to the Minister of Health, the BDP needs to be strengthened further through more strong leaders because the economic landscape has changed – “we need an even stronger party,” she stressed. She indicated that her journey in politics and the corporate world has baptised with immense skills which she is willing to lend to the BDP, and she has identified the Women’s Wing as a launch pad for such exuberance.  

She is confident that her skills of articulation and influence have produced results along her journey – “I want to use them to empower women, while at the same time help my party deal with the challenging political landscape,” she said. She contends that it is not enough to have a strong government; in fact it should be complemented by a strong party.

On whether she has assembled a team for the congress, Makgato said she has decided alone to stand, and that she has heard of other competent BDP women who are running. “I have a feeling that it is a very rich menu and I am very happy to work with them.”

While Makgato would not necessarily take a bite that she can’t chew, she is conscious of the fact that she is in the game of politics, where anything is possible. She intends to work hard to ensure success in her mission of becoming the party’s Women’s Wing chairperson.

But Makgato is not without critics, there are those who posit that she does not support women empowerment. She said she is aware of the “smear campaign”, but she submits that she has always been a proponent of women empowerment. “As chairperson of the BNSC I came up with an initiative specific to women empowerment. When I was the Sports Council, there were very few women in sports and I managed to produce several presidents of sports associations who are women,” she said.

The Sefhare-Ramokgonami Member of Parliament said she is proud to have presided over the moulding of female talents such as Amantle Montsho, Tshotlego Morama and others. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, she has recently been appointed the patron Women in Sports International and her immediate predecessor is Finland’s Prime Minister. Makgato is preparing for the 2018 Women in Sports meet.

“The only thing that I could have said in the past which has been misconstrued is that women must see themselves as humans first; and then see themselves as women second,” she said. According to Makgato her fear is that women will lose opportunities that come along while waiting for initiative that are specifically designed for them. “They will lose sight of other opportunities, but I do believe is women specific initiatives but they should not stop us from competing elsewhere,” she said.

Makgato hopes to increase awareness and education in politics among women because she wants them to participate from a position of knowledge. “I will use my skills and try to inspire women.” She wants women to understand the party, put deliverables on the table, and also make improvements on regulation and governance of the Women’s Wing. “I intend to use the Women’s Wing to improve the image of the party,” she said.

Makgato said there are a number of women she is mentoring in the party. She has told them that it is possible to work in the private sector and join politics, but the latter is not for the faint hearted. She warns them against propaganda that it can break them if they allow it to stick. “I despise propaganda politics, smear campaign, lies and fabrications. I prefer issue based politics,” she said.

However, she insists that she does not sweat over small stuff because “you can throw everything at me, if it is not true, it won’t stick.” Makgato describes herself thus; “Clear, bold and driven.”