Online Reporter
GABORONE. — Lesego Chombo’s enthusiasm for life is as infectious as her achievements are impressive: she has won the Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024 crowns, is a working lawyer, has set up her own charitable foundation — and made history in November, becoming Botswana’s youngest cabinet minister.
She was just 26 years old at the time — and had clearly impressed Botswana’s incoming President Duma Boko, whose Umbrella for Democratic Change had just won a landslide.
Chombo was appointed Minister of Youth and Gender.
“I’ve never been more proud to be young,” she told the BBC.
“I’m a young person living in Botswana, passionate about youth development, gender equality, but also so passionate about the development of children.”
The beauty queen did not campaign to be an MP — she is what is called a specially elected member of parliament — and is now one of just six female MPs in the 69-member National Assembly.
Chombo said 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.”
It was her crowning as Miss Botswana in 2022 that raised her profile and enabled her to campaign for social change, while trying to inspire other young women.
It also gave her the opportunity to set up the Lesego Chombo Foundation, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged youngsters and their parents in rural areas — and which she is still involved with, the projects are funded by corporate companies and others.
“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,” she said.
As she prepared for last year’s Miss World pageant, she said: “I really put myself in the zone of service. I really channelled it for this big crown.”
Now in political office, she is aware of the expectations placed on her in a country where approximately 60% of the population is below 35 years.
It also has a high level of unemployment — 28%, which is even higher for young people and women who have limited economic opportunities and battle systemic corruption.
Chombo said this was something she was determined to change: “Currently in Botswana, the rates of unemployment are so high.
“But it’s not just the rate of unemployment, it’s also just the sphere of youth development.
“It’s lacking, and so my desire is to create an ecosystem, an environment, a society, an economy in which youth can thrive.”
Chombo said her plan was to develop a comprehensive system that nurtured youth-led initiatives, strengthened entrepreneurship and ensured young people had a seat at the table when decisions were being made.
While youth development is a central pillar of her work, gender equity also remains close to her heart.
Her short time in office has coincided with a growing outcry over gender-based violence.
According to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report, over 67% of women in Botswana have experienced abuse, more than double the global average.
“It hurts to know that it could be me next,” she admitted.
A month into her appointment, she was criticised for voting against an opposition motion in parliament to create “peace desks” at police stations and magistrate courts to quickly deal with victims.
At the time she said such provisions already existed within the law and what was needed was more public awareness.
This was followed in January by a police report noting that at least 100 women had been raped and another 10 murdered during the festive season — this caused public outrage with many lashing out at her on social media over the issue. — BBC.
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