Rights activist, conservationist, poet and singer
Lesego Nswahu Nchunga is an attorney, activist, poet, singer and songwriter. She studied law at the University of Botswana and describes law as an art form in itself: “the art of telling the story of the truth in such a manner that justice is not compromised.”
Nchunga recently completed litigation on the successful case for the registration of the Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana group (LEGABIBO).
She has been practicing law for the last four years with Dow & Associates and became a partner in January 2015. She also sat as second chair to Dr Unity Dow at the High Court in 2014 and to prominent lawyer Dick Bayford, at the Court of Appeal in 2016.
Her focus has been on human rights advocacy and litigation and advocacy; and laws of persons, including family law, matrimonial law, custody and maintenance, domestic violence and universal partnerships. Nchunga has also dabbled in the fields of corporate governance, commercial law, civil litigation, and currently, criminal law.
In August 2016, Nchunga started working as the Botswana legal advisor for Minority Rights Group, an international organisation that raises awareness of minority rights issues based on research and publication.
Her focus will be on tribal minorities in Botswana.
She also does pro bono contract assessment for artists to curb their exploitation.In 2014, Nchunga’s work as a human and women’s rights advocate saw her become an Urban Morgan Institute scholar resident in Cincinnati, Ohio in the US, working at a domestic violence clinic.
She has also worked extensively with Women Against Rape (War-Maun) and Metlhaetsile Centre for Gender Justice, assisting over 125 women with divorces, custody and land-related matters, maintenance and protection orders.
As a conservationist, Nchunga worked with the Southern African Regional Programme and the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (Okacom) through theatre and poetry, workshopping scripts and educating the communities who live by the river on their rights and other issues, working in Maun, Rundu (Namibia) and Kalai (Angola).
Between July and August 2016, Nchunga became the first Motswana woman to cross the Okavango Delta, travelling by mokoro (dug-out canoe) from Seronga to Maun in 14 days, living in the wilderness, and in hippo- and crocodile-infested water, in an effort to re-imagine the 1 000th world heritage site on a creative crossing expedition travelling with a group of 15 men.
In art circles, Nchunga is known as “Leshie love song”. She describes her sound as “jazzy blues poetic music.”
Email: [email protected]