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Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

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The Honourable Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi is the 8th Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana. She took office on the 31st October 2014. Born on the 13th May 1951 in Botswana, she is married with two children. Her areas of specialty lie in Public Service Management and Administrative Systems Analysis and design.

She has a Diploma in Local Government from the Institute of Public Service in Connecticut, USA. She holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, USA. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in Social Development based on a review of her work and writing on government and governance.

Dr Venson-Moitoi started her career as a journalist for a private publication in 1970 until 1973 when she joined the ranks of the Public Service. Her service lasted for 20 years between 1973 and 1993 in which she held various positions, the last as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing.

Post Public Service, Dr Venson-Moitoi pursued other interests in the private Sector in line with areas of her specialization. Among others she took the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Kalahari Conservation Society from 1993 to 1994. She followed that with tenure as Head of the Institute for Local Government (INLOGOV) in Cape Town, South Africa from 1994 to 1998 and also carried out private Consultancy work in Local Government. During the same period she did short projects for UNDP in Zimbabwe and Gambia as well as GIZ in South Africa.

As a long time member of the Botswana Democratic Party, she served in various capacities within the party before she was elected as Specially Elected Member of Parliament in 1999. Her political career has seen her win subsequent elections and continually holding various Cabinet portfolios in Works, Transport and Communications, Trade and Industry, Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Science and Technology as well as Education and Skills Development.