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Botswana: Care Givers Light the Torch
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The Voice (Francistown)
18 March 2008
Posted to the web 18 March 2008
Gontse Gareebine
Francistown
Last Sunday, as part of the process to bid President Festus Mogae goodbye, the Women's Affairs Department launched the Women Sector of the National AIDS Council.
Launched by Justice Unity Dow, the Women Sector is a coalition of different organizations spearheaded by women who have both women and the girl child's interests at the forefront, and who especially are child bearers/caretakers and those mostly infected and affected by HIV&AIDS.
The event saw women come to Boipuso Hall by their large numbers, a day after the commemoration of the annual International Women's Day - celebrated on March 8. This year's theme was '100 Years of Active Women in Paid and Unpaid Work'. Dow said in regard to this year's International Women's Day theme, work that is carried out by women within any household is as important as any other job.
"It is women who uphold the nation. It is women who maintain households." As if reciting a poem of a woman scorned, Dow said, "Don't leave me with the kids while you run around with ma-14, when I cook meals for the whole family, help me with other house chores, don't kill me..."
Mogae took the opportunity to commend the Women's Sector launch "as yet another example of women taking the lead in the fight against HIV & AIDS. At the same time, I am mindful that tonight's tributes belong to all of us. In this respect, the struggle to achieve equality and mutual respect between genders, to recognize that women's rights are indeed human rights too, as well as the urgent need to put an end to gender based violence remains a central task for all Batswana."
The chairperson of Botswana National Council on Women (BNCW), Hermetinah Mogami, reminded all that "this day has great significance for us as women. We would like to express our gratitude towards the respect that our leader has showed us during his leadership."
Mogami commended Mogae on having worked hard to empower women. "There has been, over the years, a surge for gender equality and equity worldwide and we have seen positive changes at home under your governance such as the abolishment of the Marital Power Act that put women on the smoky side of the fire most of the time. The Botswana government became, during your time, a committed partner by finding equal ground for both men and women in different aspects of the society."
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Mogae encouraged women to support each other in politics by voting for capable women to represent them in parliament as they are the ones who throng voting cubicles when it comes to Election Day. Women from all walks of life graced the occasion held at Boipuso Hall in Gaborone.
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