Gaborone — The Fourth SADC Gender Protocol@work summit opened last week in Gaborone on a high note with indications from the Botswana government that they are ready to sign the reviewed SADC Gender Protocol. Botswana and Mauritius are the only countries in the region that have not signed the 2008 SADC Protocol on Gender and Development whose targets expire at the end of this year.

Giving his keynote address to the more than 200 delegates from 13 SADC countries at the official ceremony held at Tlotlo hotel in Gaborone, Vice President Mokgwetsi Masisi reaffirmed the government's commitment to gender equality. His speech indicated a shift on the government position in not signing the Protocol. "Allow me to fall short of a promise that we Botswana (sic) as you reposition yourselves will very keenly and expectedly look forward to the issues being addressed and will append our signature to a new Protocol." His statement comes at a timely moment as this week Botswana will take over from Zimbabwe as the chair of SADC and will play an important role in the review of the Protocol.

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