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A woman leaves a polling station after casting her vote in Kumakwane, Botswana, near Gaborone, on Oct. 30, 2024.

Three out of 28 female candidates were elected to Botswana's National Assembly in last week's general election, as women's rights activists called on the new administration to increase female representation in the nation's politics.

Helen Manyeneng of the new ruling party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, is one of the three female members of parliament in the 61-seat assembly.

The UDC defeated the Botswana Democratic Party, which had held power since the country gained independence in 1966.

Manyeneng said women face many challenges, including poverty, in their efforts to win political office.

We have very low socio-economic status in Botswana as women. The past government showed no political will to assist. I think as a newly elected female MP, I am going to advocate for women economic empowerment. -Helen Manyeneng

Manyeneng said the patriarchal nature of Botswanan society, in which men have greater control over money and decision-making, restricts female participation in politics even though women are interested and capable.

The issue is, who is supposed to elevate them? Who is supposed to assist them? If you allow yourself to be under a man ... who is assisting you financially, he will not allow you to stand for political position. The majority of men want to control. They don't want to be controlled or don't want to share that control with you. -Helen Manyeneng

On Wednesday, newly elected President Duma Boko used a special dispensation to name three more women to the National Assembly.