Precious Gondwe: founder of the Pan African game changers

At 35, Precious Masuku Gondwe is a Botswana-based lawyer and businesswoman who was named in the Top 30 Most Influential Female Lawyers in Africa by the Courtroom Mail in 2020.

The Courtroom Mail, according to globalafricanetwork.com, is a publication for lawyers that is well recognised and respected across the African continent.

Every year the Courtroom Mail calls for nominations for their list.

The website says nominees are categorised as superheroes who are distinguished lawyers above the age of 50 seen as role models and heroes.

It also recognises lawyers with exceptional achievements in different capacities, influencers and young lawyers showing leadership and challenging stereotypes and disruptors .

The other category is for lawyers introducing innovations to the legal profession.

Precious comes from Nkhota-kota and describes her late father as a typical Malawian man, who though strict, was very loving.

“I remember what he always said to us growing up; ‘limbikirani sukulu mawa idzakhala atate wanu ndi amayi anu’ [work hard in school, it will e your future father and mother].

“It’s been five years since my father passed and these words ring true among his many teachings. He was a wealthy man in thought and in plan. Everything he did and achieved was as a result of forward thinking, planning and hard work. I can only continue where he left off,” she explains.

Precious adds that to her, this is what made her who she is.

And indeed, the lawyer is no ordinary woman, judging from her accolades so far.

Over the past 10 years, she has proved to fellow women that with hard work, it is possible to excel as a woman and make a name for oneself.

The Zimbabwe-born counsel has gained recognition as one of the prominent legal practitioners in Southern Africa.

Precious was recognised as one of the 2020 top five Southern African Women in Leadership (SAWIL).

She was also awarded and named in the SAWL Top 10 Category of Trailblazers.

In the same year, she received a humanitarian award by the Young Boss Media New York.

And in 2021, she got the Pan African Leader and Social Entrepreneur of the year Award by The Vessels Awards.

Born in Bulawayo, Precious was raised in Botswana where she had her early education.

She later proceeded to study law at University of South Africa in Pretoria.

Upon graduation, the young woman started her career in 2012 at Lerumo Mogobe Legal Practitioners in Botswana before founding her own firm Precious & Partners in the same country in 2018.

Precious, who says she comes from a humble and poor background, is also the founder of the Pan African Game Changers (PAGC), which is raising youthful leaders at grassroots level to pioneer change in their own communities.

PAGC is aimed at mobilising, mentoring and uplifting young African women and men in the different parts of the world, mainly Africa, into beneficiary affiliate groups.

It supports them emotionally and spiritually, providing them with basic human needs, as well as emotional and financial support, among other things.

The initiative was also formed with the objective of developing future female leaders through peer education and mentoring, increasing opportunities of professional and personal development by providing support services.

PAGC also builds the capacity of young African females so they are empowered to uplift others in different spheres of influence.

In addition, the organisation supports the women in their individual projects towards poverty alleviation.

Since 2018, PAGC has contributed a lot to the communities including, sponsoring at least 15 members in Africa with tertiary tuition fees, university living allowances and medical expenses.

They also sponsored members with rental payments during the Covid-19 pandemic; and made donations to a charity for orphaned women and children in Tanzania.

The initiative has also donated to several charities in South Africa through pad drives and feed a child in collaboration with Shoprite.

And during the Heritage Day, they reached out to an old age home where toiletries and basic food hampers were given.

In 2022, Precious set up PAGC Tanzania, Namibia and Ghana with up to 80 women becoming a part of the initiative over the last six months.

Precious cites that it is the philanthropic and humanitarian work that has earned her several accolades.

However, she says the most important achievement for her are the various platforms she has created for women to thrive.

“My activism work and my Pan African approach to African issues and solutions have more or less earned me the space at the table. It is unbelievable if you ask me, because the intention was never to win awards, but to simply empower others,” she says.

Her legal practice is the backbone of all of these initiatives by raising capital and providing employment.

However, it is the birth of PAGC and her online clothing store, Precious Allure that have somehow shone the light on her as an individual, as well as the Precious & Partners Legal Practice which has equally earned her some awards.

All in all, she attributes her success to God, a loving and supportive family.

“This is the only viable and lasting secret to success and keeping a close inner circle of friends who support me always,” she says.

Going forward, the successful female lawyer says she is currently in the process of franchising Precious & Partners through Precious Global Inc.

“We are already registered in South Africa and are in the process of doing the same in Malawi. We have work to do, including the United Kingdom,” Precious says.

Successful as she might be as a lawyer, it is not what she dreamed of becoming when she was younger.

“I wanted to be a doctor, but my father and sister talked me out of it. I have now become the doctor of the people through law. I am still dealing with people’s issues, so it really wasn’t too far off. I still want to study medicine one day though. I qualify!” she beams.

To her younger self she says: “Do not fear, no one has the full script and rule book to what must become of you, but God. Just do things right, stay focused and push harder. The Lord shall surely bless the work of your hands.”

Precious is married to Richard Gondwe.