Pakalitha Mosisili facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pakalitha Mosisili
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Mosisili in 2009
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| 3rd Prime Minister of Lesotho | |
| In office 17 March 2015 – 16 June 2017 |
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| Monarch | Letsie III |
| Preceded by | Thomas Motsoahae Thabane |
| Succeeded by | Tom Thabane |
| In office 29 May 1998 – 8 June 2012 |
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| Monarch | Letsie III |
| Preceded by | Ntsu Mokhehle |
| Succeeded by | Tom Thabane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1945 Waterfall, Basutoland (now Lesotho) |
| Political party | Basotho Congress Party (1967–1997) Congress for Democracy (1997–2012) Democratic Congress (2012–2019) |
| Spouse | Mathato Mosisili |
| Children | maile mosisili |
| Education | University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (BA) University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA) University of South Africa (BA) Simon Fraser University (MEd) |
Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili (born March 14, 1945) is a former politician from Lesotho. He served as the Prime Minister of Lesotho two times. His first term was from May 1998 to June 2012, and his second term was from March 2015 to June 2017.
Mosisili led the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party to big wins in the 1998, 2002, and 2007 elections. During his time as Prime Minister, he was also in charge of the country's defense. After a special election in February 2015, he formed a government with several parties working together. He officially became Prime Minister again on March 17, 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pakalitha Mosisili was born in Waterfall, Qacha's Nek on March 14, 1945. He went to Eagle's Peak High School and finished in 1965. He also attended primary schools in Tebellong, Souru, and Tsoelike.
He then went to the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in July 1970. After graduating, he was involved in political activities and was held for a time, but was released in November of the next year. He was a member of the Basotho Congress Party.
In 1976, he earned his Master of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in the United States. He also completed a Bachelor of Arts honors program through distance education from the University of South Africa. In 1982, he received a Master of Education degree from Simon Fraser University in Canada.
Political Journey
Becoming a Minister
In 1993, Mosisili was elected to parliament from the Qacha's Nek area. He then became the Minister of Education. In April 1994, he and three other ministers were briefly taken by soldiers. Another minister, Deputy Prime Minister Selometsi Baholo, sadly passed away during this event.
In January 1995, Mosisili became Deputy Prime Minister while still serving as Minister of Education. Later, in July 1995, he was named Minister of Home Affairs and Local Government, still as Deputy Prime Minister.
Leading a New Party
A new political party, the LCD, was formed in 1997. This happened when some members left the Basutoland Congress Party. The Prime Minister at the time, Ntsu Mokhehle, led the new party. In February 1998, Mosisili was chosen to lead the LCD after Mokhehle decided to step down due to health reasons.
Challenges and Support
After his party won the 1998 election, there were disagreements about the results. This led to protests from other political parties. The situation became difficult, and Mosisili asked for help from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is a group of countries in the region.
To help restore peace, a joint force from South Africa and Botswana entered Lesotho in September 1998. Their goal was to help the elected government.
More Elections and Changes
New elections were held in May 2002, and Mosisili's party won again. He was elected from the Tsoelike area. In October 2006, Tom Thabane left the LCD and started a new party called the All Basotho Convention (ABC). Many other members of parliament joined him.
Because of this, Mosisili suggested to King Letsie III that parliament should be closed, and new elections held. This happened in November 2006, and the new election was set for February 2007. The LCD party won this election, getting 61 seats.
An Attack on His Home
In April 2009, there was an attack on Mosisili's home. He was unharmed, and police stopped the attackers.
Returning to Power and Retirement
After a special election on February 28, 2015, Mosisili was able to form a government with different parties working together. However, in March 2017, he lost a vote in parliament. This meant an early election was likely. Mosisili then advised King Letsie III to close Parliament, and the King did so.
The election was held on June 3, 2017. Tom Thabane and his ABC party won. Mosisili resigned as Prime Minister on June 8, but continued to serve for a short time. Tom Thabane officially became Prime Minister on June 16.
In November 2018, Mosisili announced that he was retiring from politics. In January 2019, Mathibeli Mokhothu was chosen as the new leader of the Democratic Congress party.
Personal Life
Pakalitha Mosisili is married to Mathato Mosisili.
See also
In Spanish: Pakalitha Mosisili para niños
- South African intervention in Lesotho
- Politics of Lesotho
