Bongiwe Zihlangu
MASERU — The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) was the biggest beneficiary with nine key ministerial posts in a cabinet announced by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane on Friday.
The LCD got the key posts of finance, local government, education, public service and employment and labour, among others.
The All Basotho Convention (ABC), which is the biggest partner in the coalition government, walked away with 10 ministerial posts taking the key posts of defence, police, national security, development planning, agriculture and mining.
The Basotho National Party (BNP) got one position.
The ministries of defence, police and national security now fall under Thabane.
ABC’s Molobeli Soulo and Mophato Monyake, were both appointed ministers in the prime minister’s office.
LCD leader Mothetjoa Metsing was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs while LCD MP Dr Leketekete Ketso got the plum and prestigious post of Finance Minister.
Ketso replaced the LCD’s Dr Timothy Thahane who was shipped to the Ministry of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs.
The LCD’s Makabelo Mosothoane got the key post of Education Minister.
Professor Moletsane Maboee, the ABC deputy leader and former National University of Lesotho (NUL) Pro-Vice Chancellor, was appointed Minister of Development Planning while the LCD’s deputy leader Motloheloa Phooko was appointed Minister of Public Service.
Phooko, a former minister in the prime minister’s office, was among three cabinet ministers who were fired by former prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili in February following a bitter stand-off in the former ruling party.
‘Mamahele Radebe, the ABC women’s league president, was appointed the new Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture while the LCD secretary general Keketso Rants’o was appointed the Minister of Public Works and Transport.
Prominent human rights lawyer, Haae Phoofolo, who won the Maseru constituency under the ABC banner, is the new Minister of Justice, Human Rights, Correctional Services, Law and Constitutional Affairs.
The LCD’s deputy secretary general Ts’eliso Mokhosi is the new Minister of Communications, Science and Technology while Khotso Matla was appointed the Minister of Forestry and Land Reclamation.
The ABC’s Temeki Tšolo, who beat former deputy prime minister Lesao Lehohla for the Mafeteng constituency seat, was appointed the new Minister of Trade and Industry.
Former traffic commissioner, Tlali Khasu, is the new Minister of Trade.
Thabane is still to announce the appointments for the ministries of health, home affairs and foreign affairs.
The deputy ministers are expected to be announced this week.
Below we list the full Cabinet:
1. Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, of Police and National Security — Thomas Thabane
2. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship — Mothetjoa Metsing
3. Minister of Gender, Youth, Sport and Recreation — Thesele ‘Maseribane
4. Minister of Development Planning — Prof Maboee Moletsane
5. Minister of Public Service — Dr Motloheloa Phooko
6. Minister of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs — Dr Timothy Thahane
7. Minister of Finance — Dr Leketekete Ketso
8. Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture — Mamahele Radebe
9. Minister of Public Works and Transport — Keketso Rantso
10. Minister of Justice, Human Rights, Correctional Service, Law and Constitutional Affairs — Haae Phoofolo
11. Minister of Communications, Science and Technology — Tšeliso Mokhosi
12. Minister of Forestry and Land Reclamation — Khotso Matla
13. Minister of Trade and Industry — Temeki Tšolo
14. Minister of Mining — Tlali Khasu
15. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security — Litšoane Litšoane
16. Minister of Education and Training — Makabelo Mosothoane
17. Minister of Social Development — Matebatso Doti
18. Minister of Employment and Labour — Lebesa Maloi
19. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office — Molobeli Soulo
20. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office — Mophato Monyake
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