Botswana appoints Health Minister Phumaphi as Chairperson

The Department of Gender Affairs under the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) has unveiled Joy Phumaphi as Chairperson of the National Gender Commission (NGC).

By
Amelia Jones
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Botswana appoints Health Minister Phumaphi as Chairperson
Botswana appoints Health Minister Phumaphi as Chairperson Image Credit: Facebook

South Africa, Botswana: The Department of Gender Affairs under the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) has unveiled Joy Phumaphi as Chairperson of the National Gender Commission (NGC).

Phumaphi previously served as Assistant Director General for Family and Community Health at the World Health Organization.

While giving his welcome remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Kagiso K. Kemoeng, reiterated that the Ministry oversees four critical sectors (youth, gender, sport and culture) in the country.

He also noted that the Ministry promoted gender mainstreaming in all sectors and called for the media to represent women positively as a way of promoting women’s empowerment and resilience.

While giving the remarks at the event, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso M. Rakgare, availed that the Ministry will continue to advocate for the enhancement of women’s rights with the support of the Commission and Botswana at large.

He explained that the Government has set up structures at the national and local levels, which are overseen by the NGC. “The National Gender Commission is responsible for advising the Government on gender and development issues as guided by the National Policy on Gender and Development, Regional, continental and International Gender instruments,” said Rakgare.

For her part, the newly appointed NCG, Joy Phumaphi, “expressed gratitude for her new role and the opportunity to work with an exceptional team of Commissioners to achieve critical milestones in strengthening gender equity, which is a crucial backbone of our vision and national ethos.”

Phumaphi stated that this Commission accords them the opportunity and responsibility to address gender equality & justice and to ensure that appropriate programmes are developed across the board by all stakeholders and partners to enhance gender equity.

Career:

In 2001, Joy Phumaphi was Minister of Health, and in 2024, she was appointed to a higher rank as a chairperson of the National Gender Commission.