Emang Basadi Elects New President Meet Theresa Mmolawa

Emang Basadi Elects New President:

MEET THERESA MMOLAWA

Emang Basadi (EB), one of the country’s first non-governmental, non-profit making women’s human rights organisations, recently welcomed its newest president, Theresa Mmolawa, on December 4th, 2021. Formally founded in 1986 after a group of female friends started weekly meetings at the University of Botswana to discuss their mutual interest in issues affecting women in Botswana, Emang Basadi also came after the government formed the Women’s Affairs Unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1981.

This founding group of women felt that the Women Affairs Unit did not address critical issues affecting women and those government departments marginalised and perceived women in terms of welfare rather than politics and so they wanted to change that narrative. The term 'Emang Basadi' is a Setswana phrase, meaning, 'Rise Women.' Emang Basadi Community Empowerment Emang Basadi's key objective is to render the principles of equality, justice, and peace for both genders in Botswana. It currently has a membership capacity of approximately 2000 men and women. The organisation's main goal is to develop action-orientated strategies, mobilising women to take steps that help change their social, political, economic, and legal positions in Botswana. As a form of execution and implementation, EB raises stakeholder and the general public's awareness through lobbying, advocacy, capacity development, legal aid, and counselling services for the empowerment of women.

Emang Basadi departed radically from the traditions of established women's organisations, which were essentially welfare-oriented. The movement challenged men's monopoly of the legislature such that in 1993, Emang Basadi officially changed its strategy, and shifted its focus, from championing individual rights to political empowerment, seeking to increase women's representation in the legislature, political parties, and cabinet. Meet Theresa Mmolawa: Emang Basadi's new President A teacher by profession, Mmolawa rose through the ranks of education development from being a primary school teacher to retiring as a School Head at Maoka Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Gaborone. She attributes her success in teaching to having a passion for it, citing that she loves teaching because she enjoys working with, and learning from other people. Mmolawa said the profession helped her to be accommodating and tolerant of others.

She believes in a "bottom-up" management style because she believes that as a leader you are ultimately a servant of the people, and as such, should serve with diligence and humility. Mmolawa also believes in participative management, where everyone in an organisation has an impactful contribution that should not be overlooked. She said up to this day this is the same belief she carries in other areas of her life, and this is what she intends to do in her new role as the President of Emang Basadi.

TRC: Kindly share with our readers about your nomination to become President of Emang Basadi. How did that happen? TM: As I mentioned earlier, I work well with different people. You will be surprised at how many people pay attention to what you say to them. I always make sure I have relevant and impactful discussions with various people. So in this instance, when the post for president of EB became vacant someone remembered me. Someone I had worked with in the past, a woman who believed in me, put my name up for nomination. These are women who believe that when we work together, we will drive the mandate of the organisation very well and deliver on its objectives.

After I was nominated, we went for the Emang Basadi Congress on December 4th, 2021, and because of my hard work, the women there voted for me. Before voting began we were allowed to present to the executive members what differences we will bring to the movement. I guess they loved what they heard and that was how I became president. TRC: What can Batswana expect from you during your tenure as president? TM: The world as we know it is continually evolving, and as this evolution takes place, my aspiration for Emang Basadi is that we reach new heights. I want our geographical reach to be extended and I intend to take Emang Basadi to the rural areas. It is my vision for Emang Basadi to have an impact on people in under-represented regions. And this means we have to put in the work to actualize our intentions.

We will do this through various fundraising activities and I am thankful for having a great team made up of professional women who are bringing in volumes of wealth as accountants, researchers, counsellors, teachers, and all professionals you can think of. It is important to highlight and educate people that EB is not just for women; it doesn't benefit women alone. I also want to do away with the misconception that Emang Basadi is here to break the union of marriage by encouraging the woman to be defiant in her marriage. We aim to raise awareness of our organization through media, working with our partners such as Kgotlas, the police, schools, and others to educate people on what Emang Basadi truly represents.

We are very passionate about addressing issues affecting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Botswana. By empowering women, we are not trying to disempower men. We will also look at empowering the boy child and the adult male. This way when we have informed and empowered people, we can work as one for the betterment of the welfare of our people as a whole. Nobody gets left behind. And we can reduce the escalating rate of GBV in this country.

One of the biggest problems we are currently facing as a nation is depression. We need ways to channel our frustrations and fears. We need to open up better and create non-judgemental safe spaces of communication to help reduce the level of depression in this country. And the first step is intentionally engaging in dialogues surrounding the topic of depression, especially among men. Again, we intend to engage partners like Kgotlas, police, social workers, and teachers, employers to educate and empower people to overcome depression.

During my tenure, I would also like us to open up and increase collaborations with different partners. I intend to work very closely with the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, and other organisations involved in citizen empowerment so that we foster a well-balanced nation.

Emang Basadi was founded in 1986 meaning our constitution is quite old. We are currently working on renewing it and the new constitution will include us advocating for the boy child, adult male, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, marginalised minorities, and not just women. TRC: Are there current initiatives that EB has started developing? TM: We are currently underfunded, so we are on a mission to raise funds so that we are in a better position to help Batswana. We are in talks of collaborating with other organisations to avoid overlapping with them, as they may be doing similar initiatives. But I believe the most exciting initiative on the table for us right now is that we are going to start working with men and empowering the boy child. My goal is that within the first 100 days of my appointment, the EB constitution will have changed. TRC: You are a staunch opposition politician and have contested for the parliamentary seat twice. How will you stay impartial from your political influence during your tenure? TM: Emang Basadi is not a political organisation or association. EB is a nation-building organisation with value systems of lobbying for equality, justice, and peace. When I took over the role of the presidency, I made an oath to adhere to the mandate and principles of EB. I was well aware of the responsibility that came with it. I know not to align my role as the president with my political influence or affiliation. My intention as the president is to advocate and fight for the betterment of Botswana as a whole.