Justin Lekhanya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Justin Lekhanya
|
|
|---|---|
| 1st Chairman of the Military Council | |
| In office 24 January 1986 – 2 May 1991 |
|
| Monarch | Moshoeshoe II Letsie III |
| Preceded by | Leabua Jonathan |
| Succeeded by | Elias Phisoana Ramaema |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Justin Metsing Lekhanya
7 April 1938 Thaba-Tseka, Basutoland (now Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho) |
| Died | 20 January 2021 (aged 82) Maseru, Lesotho |
| Political party | None (military officer) |
| Other political affiliations |
Basotho National Party |
| Occupation | Soldier, politician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Lesotho Defence Force |
| Rank | General |
General Justin Metsing Lekhanya (born 7 April 1938 – died 20 January 2021) was a military leader and politician from Lesotho. He served as the Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Military Council, which meant he was the head of government for Lesotho. He held this important role from January 1986 to May 1991.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Justin Lekhanya was born in a place called Thaba-Tseka in 1938. He went to Roman Catholic schools for his primary and secondary education.
After finishing school, he worked for a short time as a mine worker in South Africa. In 1960, he joined the Basutoland Mounted Police. He quickly showed leadership skills.
By 1965, he became the only officer from Lesotho to lead a special police unit. This unit was called the Police Mobile Unit (PMU). He received more training in police academies in South Africa and Rhodesia in the early 1970s.
In 1975, he became a Major General and took command of the PMU. He also helped change the PMU into what is now known as the Lesotho Defence Force.
Leading Lesotho: The Military Council
Lekhanya was the commander of the army when he took control of the government in 1986. He removed Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan in a military coup. A coup is when the military takes power from the government by force.
After becoming leader, Lekhanya wanted to make relations better with South Africa. The previous prime minister, Jonathan, had supported a group called the African National Congress, which caused problems with South Africa.
At first, Lekhanya gave more power to Lesotho's king, Moshoeshoe II. However, they later had disagreements. In 1990, Lekhanya removed the king from power in another military coup. The king was later able to return to his throne in 1995.
Lekhanya himself was removed from power in a military coup in 1991.
After Power: In Opposition
After being removed from power, Lekhanya did not retire from politics. He decided to run for election in 1993 in the Mantsonyane area. He ran as a candidate for the Basotho National Party (BNP) but did not win.
Later, Lekhanya became the leader of the BNP, which was an opposition party. He believed that the party had faced unfair treatment in several elections. He was elected as the BNP Party Leader in March 1999 and was re-elected in 2001.
In the parliamentary election in May 2002, Lekhanya ran again for the Mant'sonyane area. He lost to Masuthang Taole from the ruling party. However, he was still able to join the National Assembly through a system called proportional representation. This system allows parties to get seats based on their total votes.
In December 2010, Lekhanya was voted out as the leader of the BNP party.
Justin Lekhanya passed away on 20 January 2021, at Makoanyane Military Hospital in Maseru, Lesotho.
See also
In Spanish: Metsing Lekhanya para niños
