On 30 October 2024, Botswana held its parliamentary elections. 81% of registered voters participated, indicating a significant interest in the polls. The UDC won 36 of the 61 directly elected seats up for election. The BDP, which had been in power since Botswana’s independence, obtained four seats. Although there was a slight increase in the percentage of female candidates, women's representation in the National Assembly declined following the 2024 polls.
The Republic of Botswana, one of the longest-lasting democracies in Africa, held its parliamentary elections on 30 October 2024. According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), there was 81% voter turnout. Women comprised 54% of registered voters. The election resulted in a dramatic change as the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has been since the country’s independence in 1966, lost to the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), led by Mr Duma Boko. The UDC won a majority in the National Assembly, obtaining 36 out of the 61 seats up for election. The BDP won four seats. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) became the second-largest party in the National Assembly with15 seats. The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) gained 5 seats and Dr Edwin Dikoloti, independent, one.
As the UDC secured a majority (59%) of the 61 directly elected seats in the National Assembly, Mr Boko became Botswana’s new President. The Constitution of Botswana states that “the presidential candidate of the party that secures more than half the directly elected seats in the National Assembly is declared elected as President.” Mr Boko was sworn in as President of Botswana on 1 November 2024. The UDC and the elected president promised to create new jobs, fight unemployment, and reform the healthcare system.
According to the South African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) and African Union (AU), the voting process in Botswana was conducted peacefully and orderly, with political parties campaigning safely and freely. SEOM, however, noted that some stakeholders raised some criticism around the voting process, such as opposition parties not being allowed to observe the voters’ registration process and some concerns about the vote counting process.
Women’s Political Participation
Few women stand for elections in the parliamentary elections in Botswana. There was, however, an increase in female candidates in the 2024 polls compared to the previous election. In 2024, 10.6% (28 out of 264) candidates were women, as opposed to 5.7% (12 out of 210) in 2019. Even so, the increase in female candidates did not translate into more women elected to parliament. In 2024, 3 women were directly and 3 indirectly elected, and in total women comprised 6 out of 69 (8.7%) members elected to the National Assembly. In 2019, 3 women were directly and 4 indirectly elected. Women comprised 7 out of 65 (10.8%) members.
The three directly elected women are Helen Pushie Manyeneng (UDC), Maipelo Mophuting (UDC) and Unity Dow (BCP). Ms Down, a human rights lawyer and activist, was the first female judge in the Botswana High Court and has previously served as minister of education and minister of foreign affairs. The indirectly elected women are Bogolo Kenewendo, Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, and Lesego Chombo.
As of 2024, the National Assembly of Botswana comprises 69 members of which 61 of the members are directly elected. The remaining eight include two ex officio members (the President of the Republic and the Speaker) and six specially elected members (indirectly elected by the National Assembly.) The purpose of the specially elected members is to fill the gaps in representation based on skills and diversity considerations relevant to advancing democracy. Newly elected President Duma Boko said that was to “reach out as broadly as possible to reach out as broadly as possible to bring in young women, in particular, with skills and visibility in society, and then, of course, we had to look at increasing the number of women [in parliament].”
A notable achievement in women’s political participation following the 2024 polls is the election by the National Assembly of Helen Pushie Manyeneng as the Deputy Speaker of the 13th Parliament. She obtained 43 votes against 21 votes of Dr. Unity Dow of the BCP. Ms Manyeneng is the second woman, after the late Gladys Kokorwe in the 9th Parliament, to hold this post.
There was a slight increase in female representation among the ministers in new cabinet. In the previous administration 3 out of 18 ministers were women. They currently hold 4 ministerial positions. The ministers are:
- Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoa, Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education
- Ms Phildah Kereng, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism
- Ms Anna Maria Mokgethi, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs
- Ms Lesego Chombo, Minister of Youth and Gender
The appointment of Ms Chombo has been seen as the president’s commitment to youth and women's empowerment. The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education has been introduced by this government, and it aims to improve children’s rights and provide effective support to children’s education and schools.
Legal and policy reforms on women’s rights
Botswana has implemented legal and policy reforms to address gender inequality and strengthen women’s rights in several areas. These measures directly and indirectly impact women’s political participation. In 2010, Botswana adopted the Employment Act, establishing a minimum pay of half salary. Other legal reforms provide equal rights in marriage. For example, the Married Persons Property Act establishes the possibility to administer properties according to civil law for people married under customary law. The Act also grants spouses equal administrative authority over assets during marriage. Other legislation, such as the Succession Act, provides female and male surviving spouses with equal inheritance rights.
The Government of Botswana also sought to improve women’s rights and access to justice under the Legal Aid Act. The 2013 Interpretation (Amendment) Act establishes the legal age of maturity at 18 for both women and men. The Marital Power Act established that women can also serve as head of household/family in the same way as men. Finally, in 2008 Botswana enacted the Domestic Violence Act which provides survivors with protection.
At the policy level, the Botswana Government has also implemented policies on women’s rights and gender equality. For example, the 2015 National Policy on Gender and Development addressed women’s participation in the economy, leadership and political participation. It also addressed women's rights concerning health, education, climate change, access to justice, gender-based violence, and social protection.
Challenges to women’s political participation
Various barriers prevent Botswana women's full and equal political participation. According to assessments, the political will to address equal political participation appears low, and the Government has done little to empower women sufficiently.
Botswana does not have legislated quotas. Two parties - the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana National Front (BNF) - have introduced 30% voluntary political party quotas on electoral lists. Reports indicate that the parties do not always meet the target, however, in 2010 BCP reached its 30% target.
In the recently concluded parliamentary elections, political parties invested little in finding and promoting female candidates. According to research, the BDP presented seven women candidates, the BPF six, the UDC three and the Botswana Movement for Democracy presented only one. Moreover, many women were candidates in constituencies considered non-winnable.
Another main challenge is financial constraints. Many women reported that lack of or limited funding to cover campaign-related expenses deterred them from standing for office. Women often lack financial independence and/or access to moneyed networks, credit and political clientelism to pursue a political career. Ms Manyeng noted that women in Botswana have a very low socio-economic status, while men hold political and economic power in the families and decision-making. The lack of funding is one of the main factors why more women “lose the race at the early stage of primary elections at party level.”
Botswana remains a patriarchal society where traditional, customary and religious norms shape perceptions of women and their role in society. Politics is male-dominated and viewed as a space for men. Female candidates often receive sexist remarks and unfair criticism and are compared with their male predecessors. Additionally, women experience abuse, harassment, intimidation and violence, which are factors that discourage many women from standing for elected office.
The media often fails to cover female candidates and their campaigns, which gives women less exposure. During the 2024 polls, preliminary results showed that media coverage of female candidates and gender issues was at its lowest. Furthermore, the media in Botswana often reinforces gender stereotypes. It portrayed men as strong, while female candidates negatively and in a sexist, stereotypical and trivialised manner.
Interviews with Botswana women interested in standing for office showed that insufficient implementation of existing laws represents another deterrent for them and contributes to the low percentage of female candidates. Despite the Domestic Violence Act, no law specifically addresses violence against women in politics.
Women in Botswana advocating for change
Botswana women in politics and civil society organisations actively advocate for strengthening women’s rights and gender equality and addressing existing inequalities and challenges. Organisations such as Emang Basadi and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), have lobbied for the signing of regional women’s rights instruments such as the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. The core mandate of Emang Basadi is to build women’s capacity in politics and it also works on awareness-raising campaigns, such as the Constitutional review.
At the parliamentary level, female politicians such as Ms Manyeneng and Ms Serame call for change and lead efforts to enhance Botswana women’s rights. During her tenure, Ms Serame supported policy reforms that remove VAT on menstrual hygiene products and address challenges faced by young women. Ms Manyeneng said that as a newly elected MP, she would advocate for women's economic empowerment.”
Women’s groups have also actively participated in efforts to amend the Consitution of Botswana. Under the banner Molaumoteu Buang Bomme (the Constitution: Women Speak out), they called for electoral reform. They advocated a mixed First-past-the-post and Proportional Representation system with a quota for women. Women from the five major political parties participated in the submission, and they stated that it is fundamental that Botswana’s Constitution align itself with global and regional instruments on gender equality and eliminate the discriminatory clauses and gender-blind provisions.
There have also been efforts to enhance women’s political participation at the local level. The Botswana Association of Local Authorities, together with Gender Links, implemented a program to ensure “women's equal and effective participation in decision-making, and to translate this into gender-responsive governance through gender action plans.”
Conclusion
The 2024 Botswana parliamentary elections resulted in a shift in power as the UDC won a majority of the 61 directly elected seats. The BDP, which has been in power since 1966, gained four seats. With its victory, Mr Boko of the UDC became Botswana’s new President. The BCP won 15 seats, while BPF secured 5. The remaining seat was won by the independent candidate, Dr Dikoloti.
While more female candidates participated in the 2024 polls compared to the previous one, it did not result in an increase of women elected to the National Assembly. Women comprise 6 out of the 69 (8.7%) members elected to the National Assembly in 2024. Following the 2024 polls, Ms Manyeneng was elected Deputy Speaker. In the new cabinet presented, of the 18 members, women hold four ministerial positions.
The low representation of women among candidates and representatives in the National Assembly reflects the challenges and barriers women in Botswana face. Lack of political support, financial constraints and social and cultural barriers are among the factors that deter women from pursuing a political career. Women’s groups and female politicians actively advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, including increasing women’s political participation. Among their efforts, they are making recommendations for constitutional changes, calling for a quota and strengthening women’s capacities in politics. With their efforts, future elections may not only show an increase in women elected. It may also include guarantees of equal participation through quotas.