By Benjamin Shapi
Gaborone — Bank executives were held at ransom Saturday (August 13) night as battle to win the Miss Inter Bank beauty pageant continued until early hours of Sunday.
Mphoentle Motswagae from Botswana Building Society (BBS) ultimately won the pageant.
Motswagae said in an interview that she will use her reign to empower women in financial matters.
She, however, admitted that though men were at the centre of financial services, she was impressed that more women were coming on board.
She said this was a positive development that required support from all stakeholders.
Motswagae, who won P10 000 and a weekend at Masa Hotel, was followed by Jennifer Jorowe from Standard Chartered Bank as first princess (P7 000) while second princess title went to Tuduetso Modise of Bank of Botswana (P5 000).
Motswagae was among the top seven out of a total of 17 contestants and as if in unison everyone shouted her number (No. 15) when she reached to the stage in three occasions as judges battled to select the winner.
In her answer to a question, Motswagae said victims of gender based violence should not under any circumstance withdraw cases from the courts.
She said it was hurting to experience such cases and therefore called for stringent punitive measures to be taken against perpetrators.
The hyper-charged audience however could not contain itself when she answered her second question by stating that Botswana just like United States of America is ready to have a female president more so that ladies are born natural leaders and given the necessary support and opportunity they could lead the nation to greater heights.
Earlier on while officiating at the event, chief executive officer of National Development Bank (NDB), who was also the host, Lorato Morapedi said the pageant was part of the interbank games which will be held throughout the week and its proceeds will be donated for a needy course.
Morapedi, who was herself elated at the turnover of the audience, said all these events are a unifying factor and remain relevant in the banking sector, particularly that they do not just promote healthy leaving style but create a sphere to introspect and come together in a relaxed mood.
Source : BOPA