Rethabile Pitso
LEROTHOLI Polytechnic (LP) marked its 120-year anniversary with a grand Gala Dinner where the institution showcased its extraordinary evolution from a humble artisan training centre into a leading hub of technical education.
The glamorous event was held at Avani Maseru on Thursday with patrons dressed to kill.
Guests were taken on a vivid journey through the school’s history, celebrating the enduring legacy of its founder, Chief Lekena Lerotholi, whose vision for educating Basotho children continues to shape the nation more than a century later.
Central to this history, academic historian and former LP Board member, Professor Tefetso Mothibe, delivered a compelling account of the young Chief Lerotholi, who, around the 1900s, faced colonial resistance — including from the Boers of South Africa — as he fought against limitations imposed on the development of the Basotho nation.
Lerotholi, born to King Letsie I, one of the sons of the founding father of the Basotho nation, King Moshoeshoe I, succeeded his deceased father to become Paramount Chief of Likhoele in the Mafeteng district.
According to Prof Mothibe, Lerotholi’s upbringing, beginning with his birth in 1836, spanned three decades of profound transformation that shaped Basotho society and later influenced his nation-building decisions.
“Chief Lerotholi was born and grew up in a period spanning approximately three decades of the 19th century. That era was transformational because of the changes that occurred within Basotho society,” Prof Mothibe said.
He explained that this era saw the emergence of a class of small independent Basotho commodity producers around mission stations as a result of missionary activities, a group later known as Majakane. It was also a time of intensified Boer aggression, resulting in conflicts between Basotho and the Boers over land. Additionally, the British had begun incorporating Basotho commodity producers into a capitalist economy, ultimately leading to colonisation.
The collapse of Cape colonial rule coincided with Lerotholi’s inauguration as chief. He proved to be a formidable leader, guiding Basotho to victory in two defining conflicts — the Gun War and the Seqiti War — both fought against the Boers.
“It was the Basotho’s successful resistance in the Gun War that secured the independence Lesotho enjoys today.”
Quoting Marie, he emphasised: “But for the Gun War 100 years ago, in which the Basotho successfully resisted the Cape Government’s attempt to disarm them, which induced the British to assume direct responsibility for Basutoland, it is likely that the history of Lesotho would have been different. It might well have joined the Transkei, Bophuthatswana and Venda in the trap of nationalism and the achievement of an abortive independence.
“So the Gun War was, in essence, a war for independence for this nation,” he added.
Following this victory, Lerotholi’s chieftainship was formally recognised by the British. This paved the way for developments that solidified his authority and enabled him to establish diplomatic structures that became the foundation of modern Basotho laws.
“Lerotholi presided over a Basotho advisory body known as the National Council, inaugurated on 6 July 1903. We call that the first parliament. In reality, that Council was the King’s Council. It created a council of laws composed of Paramount Chief Lerotholi, all principal chiefs, and more than 100 appointed members. The council codified 18 laws governing Basotho custom — today known as the Laws of Lerotholi.”
Prof Mothibe added that under colonial rule, educational development depended on resources and the presence of European settlers. Basutoland had no settlers — only missionaries whose schools offered only primary education, which the colonial administration felt was sufficient.
“As one colonial official remarked in the late 1890s, Basotho were only good to serve the South African government as labourers in diamond and gold mines, farms, railway works and domestic services. To provide them with higher education would be a mistake.”
He said it was during this period that Chief Lerotholi’s dream of an industrial school became a reality.
“Colonial records show that he conceived the idea before the Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902. To bring it to life, he led a nationwide fundraising campaign known as Sethaba-thaba, through which every Mosotho household contributed.
“He decided that the school should be located in Maseru — the site of today’s Lerotholi Polytechnic,” Prof Mothibe said.
In his remarks, LP Rector Prof Tlali Sepiriti, praised the visionary leadership of Chief Lerotholi:
“He imagined an institution that would empower Basotho to build, create and innovate — an institution that would serve both the mind and the hands. That dream came to life in 1905 with the establishment of the Basutoland Industrial School, the first of its kind in the country.
“At a time when our nation was still finding its footing, our founders already understood something profound: that education is the foundation of self-reliance and economic progress,” Prof Sepiriti said.
He traced the institution’s growth from its artisan roots into a modern technical training centre. From carving bullets and crafting saddles, LP expanded into plumbing, auto mechanics, electrical installation and more.
“The institution helped produce skilled craftsmen who built some of Lesotho’s first modern structures. Its graduates became the backbone of public works and private industries, constructing schools, churches and clinics across the country. These early craftsmen didn’t just lay bricks — they laid the foundations of national pride,” he said.
He said by the 1970s, the school had evolved from a vocational centre into a technical institute, introducing programmes in engineering and management sciences.
“This marked the birth of modern technical training in Lesotho, shifting from manual craft to engineering and applied sciences.
“A major milestone was reached in 1991 when the institution officially became Lerotholi Polytechnic. In 1997, it gained autonomy through the Lerotholi Polytechnic Act, enabling it to chart its own strategic direction.
“Today, LP continues to expand its academic offerings to meet modern needs. Recently, it introduced degree programmes aligned with national development priorities, including the newly accredited Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering and the Bachelor of Architecture.
“These programmes represent a new era for Lerotholi Polytechnic — an era of academic advancement, innovation and alignment with global standards,” Prof Sepiriti said.