Lesego Chombo, a 27-year-old lawyer and former beauty queen, is redefining leadership and advocacy in Botswana as the country’s youngest cabinet minister. Chombo, who earned national and international acclaim after winning Miss Botswana 2022 and being crowned Miss World Africa 2024, now serves as Botswana’s Minister of Youth and Gender. Her appointment came after the historic 2024 elections in which President Duma Boko and his Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) ended a 58-year political dominance, ushering in a new era focused on economic diversification and youth empowerment.
President Boko, a Harvard-trained lawyer, made clear his vision to uplift Botswana’s economy by empowering young people to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. Chombo emerged as a fitting figure to drive this vision. Despite not contesting in the elections, she was appointed as a specially elected Member of Parliament, becoming one of only six female MPs in the 69-member National Assembly. She admitted that her appointment was unexpected, noting that the president had never met her before choosing her for this pivotal role. Her journey through pageantry, law, and advocacy positioned her uniquely for this leadership opportunity.
Chombo has used her public platform for meaningful impact, having launched the Lesego Chombo Foundation, which supports underprivileged youth and families in rural communities. The foundation’s projects are largely backed by corporate sponsorships, and she remains actively involved even as she takes on governmental responsibilities. She emphasizes the importance of visibility, representation, and service, describing herself as the embodiment of the ideals she advocates.
As a practicing associate at a law firm in Gaborone, Chombo brings legal insight and grassroots understanding to her political work. She is committed to addressing Botswana’s pressing issues, such as youth unemployment, which hovers around 28%, and systemic challenges that inhibit economic inclusion for women and the youth. Her ministry is developing an ecosystem to support youth-led initiatives and entrepreneurship while ensuring youth inclusion in policy decisions.
Under President Boko’s administration, Botswana is conducting a forensic audit of public spending across 30 state-owned enterprises to combat corruption and improve transparency. This effort aims to restore investor confidence and attract foreign investment. A recent milestone includes a new partnership with UAE-based CCI Global, which plans to establish a business outsourcing hub in Botswana, promising job opportunities for young people.
In her gender portfolio, Chombo is confronting the alarming rates of gender-based violence in Botswana. According to a UNFPA report, over 67% of women in the country have experienced abuse, far exceeding the global average. Chombo has faced public scrutiny for her initial opposition to an opposition motion on creating “peace desks” at police stations, citing existing legal provisions. However, she has since reiterated the need for more effective implementation of these laws and is advocating for a Gender-Based Violence Act to close legal loopholes and deliver justice to survivors.
Chombo promotes a holistic, multi-ministerial approach to tackling gender issues, emphasizing the importance of early education on gender equity. She advocates for updated curricula that teach gender equality from a young age and for parental modeling of respectful behaviors. In addition, she has highlighted the importance of addressing men’s issues, especially in the areas of mental health and positive masculinity, while urging traditional leaders to challenge harmful patriarchal norms.
Raised and inspired by strong women, Chombo credits her mother and global mentors like Miss World CEO Julia Morley for shaping her leadership journey. She is candid about the pressures and prejudices women face in leadership, particularly young women, and remains determined to prove that youth and gender should never be barriers to creating change.
Lesego Chombo’s story is not only one of personal triumph but also a symbol of shifting dynamics in African leadership. She is using her influence to create tangible, sustainable change across Botswana’s youth and gender landscape.
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