Icons of Botswana

TSHEPISO MOSEKI
Correspondent | Monday May 7, 2012 00:00

To become a person of stature and attract admiration takes a lot of hard work and diligence. No one knows this better than Constance Mompei who has progressed from being a personal secretary to advisor on parliamentary affairs in the Office of the President.By this measure, she truly is the consummate achiever, proving that what you put in your work is what you get out of it. Mompei is married with three children; two daughters who currently live and work in South Africa and a son who lives in Gaborone. She did her primary education in Kanye at Logonono Primary School from 1957 to 1963.

The school, which is near her Kgotla, was renamed Motsatsing Primary School after her late grandfather. She then proceeded to St. Joseph's College for her secondary education, which she completed in 1968. The following year she acquired a government sponsorship to read for a Diploma in Secretarial Studies for two years in Lusaka, Zambia. Upon completion she came back to Botswana to work for the government.

'I was then fortunate enough to be appointed the first Motswana personal secretary to the first Motswana Attorney General (AG), Moleleki Mokama. This was a great honour because Mokama had localised that position from  Alan Tilbury. Being the personal secretary of the AG at that time meant one had to be conversant with the intricacies of that challenging position. It was a hectic yet exciting time because the discovery of diamonds and other minerals had ushered in a period of heightened economic, financial and social development in Botswana,' she says.Mompei's eyes light up from behind her glasses as she recounts those early years of Botswana's development.The AG, as the principal advisor to the government, had a daunting responsibility of giving advice and assistance on all local and international legal matters facing the country, including drafting all the necessary bills, statutory instruments and legal opinions. As pioneers in the office, it also meant that his personal secretary had to be 'constantly on her toes!' 

She served in that capacity for eight years, and because she did such a grand job, she managed to meet the late Lady Ruth Khama. She was chosen as Lady-in-Waiting to the First Lady, following the departure of two previous Ladies-in-Waiting, namely S Pilane and the late V Sinombe. This was not without controversy. People believed that she was being favoured because of her family connections- her father being the late Dr M.L.A Kgasa, pioneering educationist and lexicographer. But the controversy only made her stronger and more determined to get the job done. Mompei explains that although Lady Khama had a private secretary, her assignment was to focus more on the international social aspect of the First Lady's life.  She travelled widely with Lady Ruth Khama, visiting places like Geneva, UK, India, New York, Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho, to cite but a few.  She credits her career achievements to her long service to the late AG and also her formidable connections with the late First Lady.Mompei's quest for education and service continued as she was promoted to senior administration officer.She was then sent to the Botswana Institute of Administration and Commerce in 1979 to pursue a course in administration. 

In 1982 she was admitted to the University of Botswana to pursue a degree in Public Administration and Political Science. When she completed her studies in 1985 she went back to government enclave where she was appointed  principal administration officer in the Ministry of Finance. She was put in charge of the ministerial budget. In 1986 she was transferred to the Department of Taxes, where she was in charge of the administration of the department, including manpower estimates. It was another first for a Motswana woman. She took over from an expatriate, Gibson. Four years later, she was transferred to the National Assembly as deputy clerk of the National Assembly from December 1989 to May 1995, becoming the first Motswana woman to enter the corridors of power at that high level.

Her direct responsibilities, among others, included ensuring that both infrastructural and manpower plans and policies of the National Assembly are implemented and achieved. Apart from the general role of deputising the clerk of the National Assembly, she was appointed the secretary of the House of Chiefs.  That job, among others, entailed planning and processing meetings of the House of Chiefs. This meant that every such meeting had to be suggested by the Chairman of the House, whilst the approval of such meeting had to be made by the country's vice president as the leader of that house.   The challenges that went with that responsibility required a balanced mix of firmness, courtesy and respect.

'The situation that I sometimes found myself in was not envious at all. For instance, how do you tell a small delegation of dikgosi that they cannot undertake an overseas trip, when they know that funds are available for them to do just that? Under that situation, as a political scientist, I had to tap into my 'diplomatic' skills to ensure that the affected dikgosi give up the idea of going overseas, whilst ensuring that cordial relationships are maintained without me losing credibility,' she says. She put all her capabilities into her work, proving that indeed, the best man for the job is a woman.

In June 1995, she was promoted and again became the first Motswana woman to take complete charge as the clerk of the national and accounting officer of parliament. Under her strong and courageous leadership, she ensured that both infrastructural and human resources are advanced simultaneously. For instance, the new and prestigious chamber with a sitting capacity of over 70 members of parliament and a modern recording facility was opened in August 1996. It was at that time that the parliament was branded Our Parliament Our Pride. That project could not be regarded as complete, without an equally matching residential complex for MPs hence the subsequent opening of the Parliamentary Village with a reception area, a workshop and recreational facilities such as swimming pools and tennis courts. The human resource needs of the staff of parliament didn't escape Mompei's visionary thinking. She intensified training programs for the staff by sending them to countries like Australia, Canada and UK to train as editors. 

It is worth mentioning that parliament rose to the occasion in 2000 when the speaker and his officials successfully hosted an international Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference in Kasane. The recognition of her silent achievements was far from over when she was transferred to the OP in April 2003 to become the first counsellor for parliamentary affairs. The main thrust of the job was to advice the executive on all parliamentary business, and be a custodian  of all assented bills.  She also coordinated the Botswana observer missions to countries like Zimbabwe and Zambia and took part in the last but one general elections in Zambia..She held that position until she retired from the public service in August 2008.