Linah Mohohlo
Linah Kelebogile Mohohlo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | June 2, 2021 (aged 69) Gaborone, Botswana |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, academic administrator |
| Known for | First female Governor of the Bank of Botswana; first female Chancellor of the University of Botswana |
Linah Kelebogile Mohohlo (13 February 1952 – 2 June 2021) was a prominent figure in Botswana’s banking sector and higher education. She made history as the first woman to hold the position of Governor at the Bank of Botswana, a role she fulfilled from 1999 until 2016. Subsequently, she became the first female Chancellor of the University of Botswana, serving from 2017 to 2021.
Mohohlo contributed to the Commission for Africa and was actively involved with the Africa Progress Panel (APP), an organization dedicated to promoting fair and sustainable development throughout the African continent.
Education
Born on 13 February 1952, Mohohlo obtained a diploma in accounting and business from the University of Botswana. She further advanced her studies with a bachelor's degree in economics from George Washington University and a master's degree specializing in finance and investment from University of Exeter. Additionally, she completed an executive management course at Yale University.
Career
Mohohlo’s career at the Bank of Botswana spanned over two decades before her appointment as Governor in 1999, a position she held until 2016. Prior to that, she gained extensive experience in various departments including Board Secretariat, Human Resources, Research, and Financial Markets. Her expertise also led her to serve as a Special Appointee with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and represent Botswana as Governor on the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) from 2000 to 2002, where she represented a group of 21 Sub-Saharan African nations.
She played a key role in Botswana’s first Economic and Advisory Council and held board memberships with significant corporations both within Botswana and internationally. In 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan designated her as an Eminent Person tasked with evaluating the UN’s New Agenda for Africa’s Development. Mohohlo was also part of the Commission for Africa, led by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, which produced the influential Our Common Interest report in 2005. Her involvement extended to contributing to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Committee on Financial Services for the Poor and participating on the Investment Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. In addition, she co-chaired the 2011 World Economic Forum meeting focused on Africa held in Cape Town.
As an active member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), Mohohlo championed sustainable growth initiatives across Africa. The APP’s yearly publications tackled pressing economic challenges; for instance, their 2012 report emphasized Jobs, Justice, and Equity, while the 2013 publication concentrated on developments in oil, gas, and mining industries.
In May 2015, she was named by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to join the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing, providing guidance on funding mechanisms ahead of the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. In 2021, she became a member of the World Health Organization's Council on the Economics of Health For All, chaired by economist Mariana Mazzucato.
In July 2017, Mohohlo took on the role of Non-Executive Director at Tlou Energy Limited, a company listed on AIM and ASX that develops coal bed methane power projects across Botswana and southern Africa.
Throughout her career, Mohohlo authored numerous articles and book chapters addressing topics such as economics, finance, reserves management, and governance.
Awards and recognition
- Financial Times Magazine, The Banker, honored Mohohlo as the “Central Bank Governor of the Year (2001)” for the Africa and Middle East region.
- She was awarded the “Social Responsibility Award” by Zenith Bank and earned the title of Banking Regulator of the Year in 2008 from both Intercontinental Bank and Fidelity Bank.
Death
On 2 June 2021, Mohohlo passed away at the age of 69 in Gaborone due to complications related to COVID-19 amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana.
Publications
- Linah K Mohohlo: Speech on liquidity conditions in Botswana’s banking sector, Gaborone, 26 March 2015.
- Linah K Mohohlo: Address on the impact of information technology on domestic economic growth and regional integration, SWIFT 2013 Africa Regional Conference, Gaborone, 22 May 2013.
- Linah K Mohohlo: Keynote address on the development and diversification of Botswana’s banking industry, Bank of India (Botswana) Limited launch, Gaborone, 9 August 2013.
- Linah K Mohohlo: Launch speech for the 2010 Monetary Policy Statement, Gaborone, 25 February 2010.
- Linah K Mohohlo: Remarks at the unveiling of Botswana’s Monetary Policy Statement for 2012, Gaborone, 20 February 2012.
- Mohohlo, L. K. (2015). Opening remarks at the Africa Academy of Management Conference. Africa Journal of Management, 1(1), 89-93.
- Mohohlo, L. K. (2008). Monetary Policy Statement-2008. Bank of Botswana.
External links
- 1952 births
- 2021 deaths
- Commission for Africa members
- Governors of the Bank of Botswana
- 21st-century Botswana businesswomen
- 21st-century Botswana businesspeople
- University of Botswana alumni
- George Washington University alumni
- Alumni of the University of Exeter
- Yale University alumni
- Academic staff of the University of Botswana
- Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana
- Women bankers