Name Dorcas Makgato-Malesu | ||
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Dorcas Makgato was born in Serowe, Botswana. She grew up in the capital city Gaborone. Since she was a little girl Makgato dreamed of being a leader. She was shaped by her experiences as a Cub Scout and Girl Guide with the Girl Scouts in her native country. Her ambitions led her to become the youngest serving Minister in the Botswana Cabinet. Also she was part of the young hopeful’s that marked the 10th Bicentennial of Botswana’s Independence with a march past for the first President way back in 1976.
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Education
She attended Sheffield University in the UK where graduated with BSC Hons in General Management in Catering Systems.
Career
Makgato was the Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Export and Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) where she identified barriers to investment and lobbied the Botwsana Government to make changes for an improved investment climate, involving greater engagement and interaction with critical stakeholders and the private sector. Furthermore, she used her role as the authority’s CEO to overhaul the organisation’s working structures and improve its practices which led the company to become one of Africa’s most admired investment promotion authorities.
Before joining BEDIA Dorcas Makgato worked for Barloworld. She was also the Executive Director of the Nashua Franchise and was responsible for the strategic direction and performance of the company. Lastly, before joining Barloworld she was Head of the Commercial and Human Resource Divisions of the National Airline, Air Botswana.
Her past experiences have been helpful in Makgato’s current role in the trade and industry ministry. One of her main goals is to strive to make Botswana an attractive place to do business in a global scale. She hopes to use her position to help the country pursue sustainable industries and trade. Since assuming the ministry position in 2010, she has strengthen the relations between Botswana and its neighbouring countries in southern and eastern Africa, while introducing initiatives to reinforce Botswana's identity in the diamond industry and that of the country as a whole.
She is currently the Minister of Health and former Minister of Trade and Industry.