Honourable Dr. Phenyo Butale was appointed as the Minister of International Relations, on 11th November 2024. He is a seasoned policy maker who has served as a Member of Parliament for five years (2014-2019). In this capacity, Dr. Butale played a constructive role contributing to the national development agenda particularly through Committees that he served in such as, the ICT and Communication Committee, which among others, advances efforts aimed at building Botswana’s digital economy. He also held other Parliamentary portfolios, including being the Head of the Botswana delegation to the Pan African Parliament (PAP). During his tour at PAP, Dr. Butale led a number of delegations to various countries across the continent, to lobby for ratification of the Malabo Protocol that gives the PAP legislative powers. The Minister also led PAP delegations to the African Union Permanent Representative Council (PRC) to present and defend the Parliament’s budget.

Following his first term in office, Honourable Butale embarked on International Consultancy work that saw him work closely with international bodies such as the Africa Forum which is a Council for Former African Heads of States. In this role, he attended and participated in international meetings, including the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Conference of Parties

(COP) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), among others.

In addition to his legislative work, Dr. Butale is an accomplished media practitioner with over ten years’ experience working in the media field. Accordingly, he served as a Journalist with Botswana Television and Radio Botswana, where among others, he produced and presented national programs such as Around the World, which covers current geopolitical issues. Furthermore, while working in the media sector, he held various key leadership positions, including the post of National Director with the Media Institute of Southern Africa – Botswana Chapter (2011-2012). In this capacity, he played an instrumental role leading campaigns for the promulgation of laws that promote access to information.

The Honourable Minister has also worked with non-governmental organisations such the Freedom of Expression Institute – FXI, where he held the post of Executive Director (2013-2014). As a Pan-African scholar, he has contributed to research and publications on various Pan-African related issues. He has also participated in professional development programmes in the United States, in the fields of Communication and Governance. Honourable Butale holds a Doctorate Degree in English Literature from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and is fluent in Setswana, English and French.