Botswana’s First Lady Mpepu Program Focuses on Child Development and Human Rights

First Lady Kaone Boko Expands Role with Mpepu Initiative

GABORONE, Botswana – Botswana’s First Lady Kaone Boko is redefining the traditional role of the First Ladyship through her Mpepu program, a comprehensive initiative prioritizing early childhood development and child protection, while also addressing national healing and remembrance.

The Mpepu program, named after the Setswana word for carrying a child, frames vulnerable citizens not as an afterthought but as integral to the nation’s progress. This philosophy guides the program’s structure, which is built upon two core pillars: Early Childhood Development and Child Protection. The former encompasses maternal and infant care, nutrition, and learning disabilities, while the latter focuses on positive parenting, masculinity and femininity, and creating child-friendly environments.

Unlike typical non-governmental initiatives, Mpepu actively seeks to integrate traditional leadership into its framework. First Lady Boko has engaged with the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Botswana’s advisory council of traditional leaders, to solicit their wisdom and guidance for implementing the program at the village level. This collaborative approach has led to suggestions from dikgosi, including the establishment of village committees led by women known as Bahumagadi to anchor the program and the incorporation of mental health support, recognizing the psychological impact on children beyond basic needs.

Partnerships and Public Health Focus

The Mpepu program has secured a partnership with the Merck Foundation, which is providing psychometric tools for children with disabilities, scholarships for healthcare professionals, and support for underprivileged girls’ education. The initiative has also publicly addressed critical issues such as child malnutrition, underage pregnancy, and the necessity of age-appropriate sexual education and accessible abuse helplines. Beyond the distribution of essential supplies like sanitary pads, the program highlights the systemic impact of barriers to education, such as a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products.

National Healing and Remembrance

Expanding the scope of the First Lady’s office beyond ribbon-cutting ceremonies, the National Healing, Remembrance and Closure Programme was launched to honor victims of national tragedies. This program specifically commemorates the 54 Batswana lost in the 2015 Matsha truck accident and the 2024 Mmamatlakala bus tragedy. The initiative involves refurbishing the Home Economics Laboratory at Matsha, improving housing for vulnerable families, upgrading the Dutlwe Memorial Monument into a permanent site for memory and road safety awareness, and providing psychosocial support to bereaved households. This effort signifies the state’s commitment to acknowledging collective grief and reinforcing national solidarity.