10 Aug 2026

For author Penny Mogami, her newly launched memoir Like a Dream is the product of years of reflection and faith.

Speaking after the book launch in Gaborone on Saturday, Mogami said turning 50 gave her the opportunity to look back on her life, her faith and her long-held dream of becoming an author.  

Like a Dream is a deeply personal account inspired by her experiences, including fleeing from South Africa to Botswana, and her belief that God guided her journey.

“I felt compelled to document my story in the hope of encouraging young people struggling to see a positive future,” Mogami said. 

She described the book as speaking directly to people weighed down by their past, guilt or feelings of inadequacy. “Your life counts for something, your life has a purpose. Discover your purpose and pursue it despite uncertainty,” she said.

Mogami also cautioned against comparing life paths, noting that everyone’s journey is unique.  

“My journey is not like yours, my journey will be different from yours,” she said, adding that faith has been the foundation for navigating life’s challenges.

Assistant Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Maipelo Mophuting-Dikoloti, commended Mogami for turning her personal journey into a story of faith, hope and resilience.Speaking at the launch, Mophuting-Dikoloti said putting one’s life and experiences before the public required courage and the occasion was not only about celebrating an achievement but also recognising the journey behind the book.

For the assistant minister, the title Like a Dream captures those moments when people look back and realize they have reached places they once only imagined.  

“There are moments in life when we pause and we look at where we are quietly and we say to ourselves, surely this must be God,” she said.

Mophuting-Dikoloti also highlighted the pressures carried by women who care for families, work and serve others, often while needing support themselves.

“Sometimes in caring for everyone else, we forget that our own experiences and our own voices also matter,” she said. She added that her own faith had been a source of restoration and strength during difficult seasons.

She said Like a Dream reminded readers that a journey is about more than reaching a destination, it is also about the lessons, faith and strength gained along the way.

The Assistant Minister expressed hope that the book would encourage young people and others going through difficult periods to believe that seemingly impossible dreams can become reality.  

“Dreams require more than wishing. Perseverance, faith and resilience are necessary to pursue them,”she said. ENDS