Moeketsi Majoro (born 3 November 1961) is a Mosotho economist and politician who served as the sixth prime minister of Lesotho from May 2020 to October 2022. He was previously the minister of Finance in the cabinet of Tom Thabane from 2017 to 2020. Majoro has been representing the Thetsane Constituency No. 33 in the National Assembly since his election in 2017. He was formerly a senator and the minister of Development Planning from 2013 to 2015. Majoro is a member of the All Basotho Convention (ABC).
Moeketsi Majoro | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Majoro in 2022 | |
| 5th Prime Minister of Lesotho | |
| In office 20 May 2020 – 28 October 2022 | |
| Monarch | Letsie III |
| Deputy | Mathibeli Mokhothu |
| Preceded by | Tom Thabane |
| Succeeded by | Sam Matekane |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 23 June 2017 – 19 May 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Tom Thabane |
| Preceded by | 'Mamphono Khaketla |
| Succeeded by | Thabo Sofonea |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 November 1961 Tsikoane, Leribe District, Basutoland (now Lesotho) |
| Nationality |  Mosotho |
| Political party | All Basotho Convention |
| Spouse | 'Masekoalane Majoro |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Washington State University (MS, PhD) National University of Lesotho (BA) |
Early life and education
editMoeketsi Majoro was born on 3 November 1961 in Tsikoane, Leribe District, in Basutoland. He obtained a BA degree in Economics from the National University of Lesotho and achieved both a PhD in Natural Resource Economics and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the Washington State University.[1]
Career
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Majoro was a lecturer in economics at the National University of Lesotho between 1991 and 2000. He joined the finance ministry as a fiscal analyst in 2000 and worked in the position before he was promoted to be the principal secretary in 2004. He served the Africa Group 1 Constituency of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as both Executive Director and Alternate Executive Director between 2008 and 2012.[1]
In January 2013, Majoro was appointed Minister of Development Planning by Prime Minister Tom Thabane. He had earlier been appointed as a Senator. The government was voted out in the 2015 general election. In the 2017 general election, he was elected the MP for the Thetsane Constituency No. 33. Thabane returned as Prime Minister and appointed him the Minister of Finance.[1]
In 2020, Thabane came under pressure to resign due to his alleged involvement in his ex-wife's murder. On 22 March 2020, the ABC Group in the National Assembly elected Majoro as Thabane's successor with 26 out of 46 votes.[2][3]
Premiership
editOn 12 May 2020, Majoro was announced as the incoming Prime Minister after Thabane had lost his majority in the legislature.[4] Thabane announced his resignation on 18 May with it taking effect the next day.[5] Majoro was sworn in as Prime Minister on 20 May.[6][7][8] He announced his cabinet the following day, which included Democratic Congress leader Mathibeli Mokhothu as his deputy. It consists of mostly ABC and DC MPs with other opposition party leaders serving in the cabinet.[9][10] Majoro made his first international trip as Prime Minister on 12 June to South Africa and met with President Cyril Ramaphosa.[11]
Personal life
editMajoro is married to 'Masekoalane 'Mamusa Rankhelepe. The couple have two children.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Honourable Dr Moeketsi Majoro". www.gov.ls. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Much needs to be done before I can take over: Majoro". Lesotho Times. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Mohloboli, ’Marafaele (4 April 2020). "Majoro ready to take over". Lesotho Times. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ Ngatane, Nthakoana (12 May 2020). "Lesotho Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro nominated as new prime minister". EWN. Maseru. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Thomas Thabane resigns as Lesotho prime minister". BBC News. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "New Lesotho PM to be sworn in". eNCA News. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Moeketsi Majoro to be sworn in as Lesotho PM on Wednesday". EWN. Johannesburg. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
- ^ "Lesotho's new Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro sworn in". SowetanLIVE. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ "Lesotho PM Majoro taps DC's Mokhothu as his deputy". EWN. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "NEW CABINET SWORN IN". www.gov.ls. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ Ngatane, Nthakoana (12 June 2020). "Lesotho PM Majoro arrives in Pretoria for courtesy visit to Ramaphosa". Eyewitness News. Johannesburg. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Moeketsi Majoro at a glance". Lesotho Times. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
