Mathibeli Mokhothu

Mathibeli Edwin Mokhothu (born 20 March 1977) is a Mosotho educator and politician who has served as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, as well as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, since 2020. A member of the Democratic Congress, he is the party's leader and previous deputy leader. He was formerly the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly before the party formed part of a coalition with the All Basotho Convention in May 2020. From 2015 to 2017, he served as the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation. Mokhothu is the MP for the Qhoali No. 68 constituency.

The Right Honourable

Mathibeli Mokhothu

MP
Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho
Assumed office
21 May 2020
Prime MinisterMoeketsi Majoro
Preceded byMonyane Moleleki
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
Assumed office
21 May 2020
Prime MinisterMoeketsi Majoro
Preceded byMonyane Moleleki
Leader of the Democratic Congress
Assumed office
28 January 2019
DeputyMotlalentoa Letsosa
Preceded byPakalitha Mosisili
Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation
In office
31 March 2015 – 16 June 2017
Prime MinisterPakalitha Mosisili
Preceded byMorena T J Maseribane
Succeeded byMahali Phamotse
Personal details
Born
Mathibeli Edwin Mokhothu

(1977-03-20) 20 March 1977
Thaba-Chitja Ha-Potso, Quthing District, Lesotho
NationalityMosotho
Political partyDemocratic Congress
Alma materLesotho College of Education
National University of Lesotho
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education

Mathibeli Edwin Mokhothu was born on 20 March 1977 in Thaba-Chitja Ha-Potso, Quthing District. His father was a miner. He studied at both the Lesotho College of Education and the National University of Lesotho.[1]

Political career

Mokhothu started his political career by joining the Lesotho Congress for Democracy and later joined the Democratic Congress. He was first elected to the National Assembly for the Qhoali No. 68 constituency in the 2012 general election.[1] He was re-elected in the 2015 general election as the Democratic Congress emerged as the largest party without a majority. Democratic Congress leader Pakalitha Mosisili formed a coalition and became Prime Minister again. He appointed Mokhothu as the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation.[1]

Mokhothu became deputy leader of the Democratic Congress in December 2016. The coalition government collapsed in 2017 and a subsequent general election was held. The incumbent government was voted out and succeeded by a coalition led by the All Basotho Convention. Mosisili announced his retirement from politics in November 2018.[2] An elective conference was held in January 2019, in which Mokhothu was elected the leader. He received 1,681 votes versus 84 for his opponent Tlohang Sekhamane. He consequently became the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.[3][4]

In May 2020, All Basotho Convention leader Tom Thabane resigned as Prime Minister after his coalition partners withdrew their support. Finance minister Moeketsi Majoro was appointed his successor and formed a government that included the Democratic Congress and other parties. Mokhothu was selected as both the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.[5]

References
  1. Kalati, Mikia (1 April 2015). "New sports minister promises 'new era'". The Lesotho Times. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  2. Mohloboli, ’Marafaele (16 November 2018). "Mosisili formally quits". The Lesotho Times. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  3. Mohloboli, ’Marafaele (5 February 2019). "Mokhothu trounces Sekhamane". The Lesotho Times. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. Radebe, Rapelang (28 January 2019). "Mokhothu to lead Democratic Congress in Lesotho". SABC News. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  5. Ngatane, 'Marafaele (21 May 2020). "Lesotho PM Majoro taps DC's Mokhothu as his deputy". EWN. Maseru. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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