Botswana enters a new era in its mining history with the appointment, this Thursday November 14 by President Duma Boko, of Bogolo Kenewendo as Minister of Mines and Energy. A former Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry at the age of 30, she is already well known for her bold reforms, which have left their mark on Botswana’s private sector and paved the way for a more modern and inclusive economy.
Bogolo Joy Kenewendo is an expert in economic diplomacy, with a 15-year career spanning areas such as trade and investment, finance and development, and public policy. Prior to her appointment as Minister of Mines, she founded and managed Kenewendo Advisory, a private consulting firm specializing in economics and development, based in Botswana.
A woman of conviction and experience, Bogolo Kenewendo returns to political life with a mission to promote Botswana’s mining potential. Long before her appointment as Minister of Mines and Energy, she had been appointed Member of Parliament by President Boko, and her mandate was validated by the National Assembly on November 6.
At the heart of Bogolo Kenewendo’s mission is the immense challenge of redefining the relationship between Botswana and De Beers, the global giant of the gemstone industry. Gemstones account for the bulk of government revenue in Botswana, which is the world’s leading producer of rough diamonds in terms of value. Recently, global diamond sales have been affected by oversupply, weak demand from the crucial Chinese market, and pressure from laboratory-produced diamonds.
Almost all Botswana’s mined gemstones are mined by Debswana, a joint venture equally owned by the Botswana government and De Beers, a subsidiary of Anglo American Plc. In early November, Botswana’s new president, Duma Boko, expressed his desire to rapidly conclude negotiations for a new sales pact with De Beers. In July 2024, under the previous administration, an agreement had been reached between the multinational and the government on a gradual revision of the government’s share in the diamonds produced by Debswana. Under this agreement, the government’s share in the joint venture would gradually increase to 50% over the next 10 years. Currently, Debswana sells 75% of its production to De Beers.
Leadership for a prosperous mining future
Bogolo Kenewendo is no newcomer to the Botswana political scene. At the age of 30, she had already made history by becoming the youngest minister in her country and in Africa, when she was appointed Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry. With an impressive background that includes a Master’s degree in International Economics from the University of Sussex, continuing education in Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century (Public Policy Analysis) from Harvard Business School, and investment expertise, she has been repeatedly recognized as one of the continent’s most influential leaders. Her time at the Ministry of Trade and Industry led to the introduction of decisive reforms, strengthening Botswana’s business climate. These included reducing the time it takes to set up a business from 49 to 7 days thanks to an online registration system, simplifying licensing requirements, launching a digital economy strategy and fostering the development of an e-commerce ecosystem. It has also introduced a supplier development program to integrate SMEs into value chains, resulting in an increase in foreign direct investment in one year, exceeding forecasts for the previous five years. In addition, she has overseen 11 public companies, including one dedicated to development financing, representing the interests of the State.
International leader
On the international stage, she has chaired major trade negotiations, as President of the Council of Trade Ministers of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). She has played a central role in strategic agreements such as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, the post-Brexit agreement with the United Kingdom, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
More recently, Bogolo Kenewendo has turned her expertise to climate action in Africa, working as a special advisor to the UN’s high-level climate champions. Through strategic partnerships, she contributed to the development of a $20 billion portfolio of UN climate projects. This work has led to the creation of several initiatives, including the African Carbon Market Initiative, the Sovereign Nature and Climate Finance Working Group, the African Green Hydrogen Alliance, and the African Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation. These initiatives embody his vision of a resilient future, where sustainable development is at the heart of priorities for Africa and emerging countries.
Member of various boards of directors
Bogolo Kenewendo also holds strategic positions on various boards in both the private and philanthropic sectors. She is notably Chairman of the Board of Bank Gaborone and an independent board member of the Africa Free Trade Area Adjustment Fund Corporation and the Africa Center for Economic Transformation.
Alongside her business commitments, she has also played a key role in a number of international initiatives. To this end, she has served on the G7 Advisory Council on Gender Equality, UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, and the UN Advisory Group on Gender Architecture. She is also an influential member of the Financing for Development Group.
As a member of the World Economic Forum, she sits on the Trade Advisory Group and the Global Future Council on Global Public Goods in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In recognition of her leadership, she was awarded the title of Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She is also a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for global development and poverty reduction.
She is regularly ranked among Africa’s most influential personalities by numerous international publications. In 2022, she was recognized by the prestigious Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, shaping the future and defining the next generation of leaders.
