Reclaiming Democracy: How Rural Women in Botswana Are Leading the Conversation
- Katso Lizarene Ramodia
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
In Botswana, women remain significantly underrepresented in governance, making up less than 11% of decision-making spaces, from local councils to Parliament. For many, the gap is not just institutional but informational. In rural communities, democracy often feels distant, a word heard during elections, but rarely lived beyond the ballot.
As a member of the Gender and Governance Committee under the Commonwealth Youth Gender & Equality Network (CYGEN), I led a grassroots civic education initiative aimed at transforming this reality. Under Women Lead Africa, our team travelled to remote villages across Botswana to ignite conversations with women about
democracy, governance and power.
We asked simple but powerful questions: What does democracy mean to you? Do you know who your Member of Parliament is? Do you understand how policies are made? These discussions revealed both a deep hunger for knowledge and a systemic lack of access to political information.
Grounded in Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), our approach went beyond voter education. We helped women understand how to hold their leaders accountable, follow parliamentary debates and even consider running for office. It was civic education but also civic empowerment.
Many of the women we met had never been invited into political spaces. Yet after our sessions, some expressed interest in attending council meetings or joining local committees. Others began organising within their churches or communities. The impact was immediate and inspiring.
This initiative reminded me that real change doesn’t always start in policy rooms; it begins in conversations, in courtyards and community halls. If we are to build sustainable peace and inclusive governance across the Commonwealth, then women, especially those in rural areas, must not just be reached, but heard.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katso Lizarene Ramodia is a distinguished speaker, advocate, and leader dedicated to advancing gender equality, youth participation and democratic development across Botswana and Africa. With over nine years of experience in civil society, politics and international development, Katso has built a reputation as a powerful voice for
marginalised communities, particularly women and young people.
A logistics graduate with a wealth of professional training and certifications, Katso has expertise in governance, peace and security. Her commitment to diplomacy and international relations has led her to engage in cross-border collaboration and global development initiatives aimed at creating inclusive, sustainable societies.
As a speaker, Katso addresses a variety of topics, including:
• Leadership and governance, with a focus on women’s leadership and youth leadership
• Gender equality and women’s political participation
• Gender-based violence and abuse
• Youth inclusion in decision-making
• Digital transformation and the role of technology in creating inclusive societies
• Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieving gender equality
• Building democratic, inclusive societies in Africa
• The Africa We Want: A vision for a prosperous and peaceful continent
• The challenges women and young people face in leadership roles across politics, civil society and business, including gender-based violence, discrimination and structural barriers.
Katso has been an influential voice on global platforms, using her expertise to speak at conferences, webinars and panel discussions that aim to shape policy, inspire youth leadership and elevate the role of women in governance. She brings attention to the persistent issues of gender-based violence, abuse and the structural barriers that women
and young people face when aspiring to leadership roles in politics, civil society and business. Through her speeches, she advocates for systemic change and the removal of these barriers to ensure safer, more inclusive spaces for women and youth in leadership.
Her experience as a speaker extends to hosting and moderating discussions on critical issues such as political inclusion, women’s empowerment, youth engagement and the importance of digital tools and technology in driving social change and policy innovation.
In addition to her work as a speaker, Katso serves as the Women’s Commissioner for the African Union Student Platform, advocating for community-based initiatives that promote gender equality and youth empowerment. She is also a trustee and board member at Women Lead Africa, a youth-led organisation committed to peace, security, leadership and skills development.
Katso is passionate about creating opportunities for young people and women to thrive, particularly through the use of technology and digital innovation and through her speaking engagements, she aims to inspire action, foster collaboration, and contribute to the development of a more inclusive, democratic Africa.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
