Tebelelo Seretse

Tebelelo Mazile Seretse was the first woman to serve as ambassador to the United States from Botswana (effective February 14, 2011). While a member of Parliament from 1999 - 2004, she had three Cabinet level positions: Acting Minister of Presidential Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry, Wildlife and Tourism and Minister of Works, Transport and Communications.

Early life Seretse graduated from Morgan State University with a BA in Economics and a BA in Accounting before earning a MA from the University of Cincinnati and an LL.B. law degree from the University of Botswana.

Political career Seretse served as a Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2004, and during that time served in three Cabinet-level positions. She served as Acting Minister of Presidential Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry, Wildlife and Tourism and then Minister of Works, Transport and Communications. This came after a high-profile split in the BDP when former President Ian Khama left the party to join the Botswana Patriotic Front. Following her late husband's death, she got into a legal dispute with his second wife over control of two of Tholego's companies, which she claimed she was unlawfully removed from and was null and void.