Botswana’s Youngest Cabinet Minister Talks Ambition and Empowerment
In a country undergoing significant change, one young woman is making headlines for her impressive achievements and inspiring story. Lesego Chombo, a 26-year-old lawyer and beauty queen, has become Botswana’s youngest cabinet minister, appointed by President Duma Boko to lead the ministry of youth and gender.
According to a report by the BBC, Chombo’s enthusiasm for life is contagious, and her accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable. She has won the Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024 crowns, is a working lawyer, and has established her own charitable foundation, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged youngsters and their parents in rural areas.
President Boko, a 55-year-old Harvard-trained lawyer, made a bold move by appointing Chombo to his cabinet, citing her commitment to various causes and her potential to inspire young people to become entrepreneurs and leaders. In an interview with the BBC ahead of his inauguration, Boko emphasized the need for Botswana to diversify its economy, which is currently heavily reliant on diamonds.
“My main focus is fixing an economy that is too reliant on diamonds,” Boko told the BBC. “I want young people to be the solution, to become entrepreneurs, employ themselves, and employ others.”
Chombo’s appointment as minister of youth and gender is a key part of Boko’s strategy to empower young people and promote gender equality. In an interview with the BBC at the ministry’s headquarters in Gaborone, Chombo expressed her pride in being a young person living in Botswana, passionate about youth development, gender equality, and the development of children.
“I’ve never been more proud to be young,” Chombo said. “I’m a young person living in Botswana, passionate about youth development, gender equality, but also so passionate about the development of children.”
As the BBC reports, Chombo did not campaign to become a member of parliament; instead, she was specially elected by the president. She is now one of just six female MPs in the 69-member National Assembly.
Chombo revealed that becoming an MP and then minister came as a complete surprise to her. “I got appointed by a president who had never met me,” she said. “Miss World and the journey that I thought I was supposed to pursue as my final destination was only the platform through which I would be seen for this very role.”
The BBC notes that Chombo’s crowning as Miss Botswana in 2022 raised her profile and enabled her to campaign for social change, while inspiring other young women. Her foundation, the Lesego Chombo Foundation, continues to support disadvantaged youngsters and their parents in rural areas, with projects funded by corporate companies and others.
As quoted by the BBC, Chombo said, “We strive to have a world where we feel seen and heard and represented. I’m very thrilled that I happen to be the very essence of that representation.”
In conclusion, Lesego Chombo’s remarkable story is a testament to her ambition, hard work, and dedication to empowering others. As Botswana’s youngest cabinet minister, she is poised to make a significant impact on the country’s development, and her inspiring story is a must-read for anyone interested in politics, social change, and women’s empowerment.
The appointment of Lesego Chombo as minister of youth and gender is a significant move by President Boko to address the country’s challenges and create opportunities for young people. As reported by the BBC, Chombo’s story is a shining example of what can be achieved through determination, passion, and a commitment to making a difference.
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