Bogolo Kenewendo, an economist, made international news five years ago when he was appointed trade minister of Botswana at the age of 31, making him one of, if not the youngest, government ministers in history.
But in an interview with the BBC Focus on Africa podcast she has spoken about the sexual harassment and discrimination that she faced.
Looking back at her 19 months in the job she spoke about how she “survived the environment”.
“When you’re a young woman in such a space there are a lot of innuendos – how you got the job – but even those who you work with, fighting off sexual advances or even harassment in some cases.
“There was a severe case that happened and I reported it to my principals and there was action,” she told the BBC’s Audrey Brown without going into more details.
She added that as a result she felt empowered to bring bills to parliament that dealt with the protection of women and children.