Economist Bogolo Kenewendo made the headlines five years ago after becoming minister, at 30. She was appointed Botswana’s trade minister and one of the youngest, if not the youngest, government ministers in the world.
Social media users across the continent would then go on to lavish praise and celebrate the appointment of the 30-year-old. Her exact title was Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister. Her appointment came courtesy of the country’s new president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s 18-member cabinet
Born in 1987, she is currently 36 years old. She is also currently serving as the UN Climate Champion’s Special Advisor for Africa.
But in an interview with the BBC Focus on Africa podcast, she has spoken about the sexual harassment and discrimination that she faced.
Surviving the environment
Looking back at her 19 months in the job she spoke about how she “survived the environment”.
“When you’re a young woman in such a space there are a lot of innuendos – how you got the job – but even those who you work with, fighting off sexual advances or even harassment in some cases.
“There was a severe case that happened and I reported it to my principals and there was action,” she told the BBC’s Audrey Brown without going into more detail.
“What surprised me was that they thought it was an isolated case, which it wasn’t. They quickly learned that it wasn’t an isolated case and so it was taken care of.”
She added that as a result she felt empowered to bring bills to parliament that dealt with the protection of women and children.
Kenewendo first joined parliament in 2016 as an MP becoming the country’s youngest MP. Kenewendo is a trained trade and economic diplomacy professional. However, she says her accession to parliament and cabinet at such a young age is not the only reason why she should be everyone’s career idol. She would like to be known for her legacy rather than her young career advancement.
Ms. Kewendo boasts an impressive CV. She has taken part in Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative and has a Masters degree in economics.
