Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi

Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi is a Botswana journalist and politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana from 2014 until December 2018.^[1] She was appointed to the National Assembly of Botswana in 1999 as one of the four specially selected members and was re-elected in the 2004 general elections.^[2]

Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
In office 31 October 2014 – 19 December 2018
President	Ian Khama Mokgweetsi Masisi
Preceded by	Phandu Skelemani
Succeeded by	Unity Dow
Personal details
Born	(1951-05-31) 31 May 1951 (age 73)
Political party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Central Michigan University

Venson-Moitoi was the Minister of Works, Transport and Communications from 2001 to 2002 and Minister of Trade, Industry, Wildlife and Tourism from 2002 to 2004.^[3][4] She was appointed the Minister of Communications, Science, and Technology in 2004.^[5] In the 2009 cabinet, Venson-Moitoi was appointed Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, and later she was appointed Minister of Education.

On 17 December 2018, Venson-Moitoi announced that she would contest the party presidency. President Mokgweetsi Masisi sacked her from Cabinet the following day.

Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi while she was Administrative Secretary of Ngwato Land Board, 1975

On 5 April 2019 she wrote a letter to Secretary General of the Botswana Democratic Party stating that she was withdrawing from the presidential election, alleging that the election was "rigged from the beginning."^[6] The previous day, the High Court had ruled against her request to have the elective congress postponed, agreed with opposition lawyers that she had not proved if her citizenship was by birth or descent.^[6] Her candidacy had been supported by former President Ian Khama, who slammed the ruling party, accusing them of "cheating, intolerance and intimidation."^[7]

Personal Life

Dr Venson-Moitoi was born on the 13th of May 1951 in Botswana.^[8] She is married to Prince Moitoi^[9] and they have two children.^[10]

References

1. "Botswana". www.berlinglobal.org. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
2. "Parley elects special MPs". Botswana Press Agency (BOPA). Archived from the original on 21 March 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
3. "Venson is new minister of works". Botswana Press Agency (BOPA). Archived from the original on 10 February 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
4. "Mogae reshuffles cabinet". Botswana Press Agency (BOPA). Archived from the original on 6 March 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
5. "Mogae appoints cabinet -Ten new faces - Five women". Botswana Press Agency (BOPA). Archived from the original on 10 February 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2007.
6. "Botswana: Venson-Moitoi Withdraws From Race". Daily News. All Africa. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
7. Sguazzin, Antony; Box, Pauline (5 April 2019). "Khama Slams Botswana Ruling Party Amid Leadership Dispute". Bloomberg. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
8. "Botswana". www.berlinglobal.org. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
9. Admin (24 January 2019). "Venson- Moitoi's spouse ready to be 'first gentleman'". Botswana Gazette. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
10. Magazine, Botswana Youth (27 January 2017). "10 Things You Should Know About Botswana's AU Chairperson Aspirant, Dr Pelonomi Venson- Moitoi". Botswana Youth Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2024.

External links

• Profile on Ministry of Communications, Science, and Technology homepage

Political offices
Preceded by Phandu Skelemani	Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 2014–2018	Succeeded by Unity Dow