26 Oct 2026

Joshua Mbaki Mbaiwa, a 22-year-old from Tutume, who grew up in Selebi Phikwe, has been crowned Mr Botswana during a pageant held on October 24.

Douglas Keokgale was named first runner-up and Tshiamo Koma second runner-up.

Held under the theme: Redefining Modern Manhood, the competition sought to encourage conversations about masculinity and the expectations placed on men in contemporary society.

Overwhelmed with joy following his victory, Mbaiwa described his win as the culmination of a challenging journey that began with a desire to enter the competition.

“I am lost for words. I don not even know what to say. I am full of happiness,” he said.

He said joining the competition had not been easy, recalling the challenges he faced before securing a place among the contestants. Despite the difficulties, he described the experience as enjoyable.

Beyond the title, Mbaiwa intended to use his platform to promote positive masculinity among young men through his project.

The initiative challenges traditional expectations that men should remain silent about their struggles, suppress their emotions and carry life’s burdens without showing vulnerability.

Mbaiwa said such expectations placed unnecessary pressure on men, warning that discouraging them from expressing their feelings could have unintended consequences.

“Being a real man is being resilient, disciplined, a man of dignity and integrity,” he said.

Through his project, he hopes to raise awareness about healthier expressions of masculinity, encouraging young men to understand that manhood should be defined by responsibility and character rather than dominance and control.

He also emphasised the importance of investing in young people, noting that the environments in which children grew up played a role in shaping the adults they become.

“For us to have a future like that, we have to teach our young ones, invest in them, so that the environment we create around our children determines what they become in the future,” he said.

Mbaiwa’s project aligns with the competition’s broader theme by promoting accountability, respect, discipline and integrity as key attributes of modern manhood.

His victory provides a platform to advance this message and engage young men in conversations about their roles and responsibilities in society. ENDS