The Right Honourable
Sam Matekane
MP
Matekane in 2022
6th Prime Minister of Lesotho
Assumed office
28 October 2022
MonarchLetsie III
DeputyNthomeng Majara
Preceded byMoeketsi Majoro
Leader of the Revolution for Prosperity
Assumed office
22 March 2022
Preceded byParty Founder
Member of the National Assembly
for Mantsonyane
Assumed office
25 October 2022
Personal details
Born
Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane

(1958-03-15) 15 March 1958
Mantšonyane, Thaba-Tseka District, Basutoland (now Lesotho)
CitizenshipLesotho
NationalityLesotho Mosotho
Political partyRevolution for Prosperity (2022–present)
Relations3 known wives
Children7
EducationForm C (Year 10)

Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane (born 15 March 1958) is a Mosotho businessman and politician who is the current Prime Minister of Lesotho. Prior to running, he was considered to be the richest person in the country. Matekane made his fortune in diamond mining, as well as through government issued construction contracts.[1] He founded his company, Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) in 1986.

In March 2022, Matekane held a press conference at his hotel, and formed the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party. Matekane self-funded a political campaign with a heavy social media presence and won the 2022 Lesotho General Election.

Through MGC, Matekane has funded several projects in the country. Matekane funded the construction of a football stadium, a school, and a convention center and a cost-sharing owner-farmer scheme farm in his village of Mantšonyane.[2] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he bought testing equipment, vaccines and other medical necessities and donated them.[3] He has made donations amounting to M8 million in Police Uniforms,[4] and M2 million in Equipment for the Lesotho Defense Force.[5]

Early life

Born on March 15, 1958, Matekane is the seventh of fourteen siblings.[6] He was born in Mantšonyane, then called British Basutoland, now Lesotho.[7]

Matekane attended primary school and completed Form C (Year 10).[8] For a short time, he became a heard boy and then moved to Maseru with distant relatives for studies. After completing Form C, he was sent to be an apprentice as a mechanic in South Africa. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship, he worked in the South African Mines. He returned to Maseru in his early 20s, where he sold wool and mohair, along with other goods, until forming his company.

Business

Matekane is the founder and CEO of the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC), which was established in 1986 as a construction equipment sales business.[9] The business purchased old and damaged vehicles from the government, repaired and resold it back to the government. The Group has since expanded into fields such as mining, aviation, property development, as well as farming and has opened a hotel.

The companies growth was largely supported through government tenders, which have since had their legitimacy questioned, as allegations concerning favouritism and political corruption have come forward.[1]

As Prime Minister

2022 election and inauguration

In March 2022, several months before the 2022 Lesotho general election, Matekane founded a party called Revolution for Prosperity (RFP).[10] He positioned himself as the "protector" of the country's business community, the "messianic" leader that would bring stability to Lesotho politics, and the "sole businessman" in the country that could end "corruption" and bring Lesotho back from the recession it has been experiencing since 2017. Matekane said he would "Make Lesotho Great Again" by any means necessary.

During his electoral campaign, Matekane accused his opponents of no longer serving Lesotho's best interests. His perceived outsider status status helped his party win the election.[11] Matekane's RFP party finished five seats shy of an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Lacking a simple majority to rule alone, Matekane formed a coalition government with two smaller parties, the Alliance of Democrats and Movement for Economic Change.[12]

After his electoral win, Matekane outlined a 20-point plan to fight corruption and the M6.1billion Government Deficit within his first 100 days in office.[13] He planned to reverse the economic recession via austerity and job creation from international investors, and achieve what would normally be achieved in 20 years in his first term in office.[14]

Criminal activity

The relationship between the civil government and the police ostensibly improved under Matekane,[15] however the government has also been criticized for a worsening homicide situation.[16][17]

In response to the murder of journalist and radio presenter Ralikonelo Joki, his government introduced a nationwide curfew on May 16, 2023, banning residents from leaving their homes between 10pm and 04am.[18] This curfew has been criticized for its strictness and concerns have been raised over its effectiveness.[19]

Economic policy

In June 2023, Matekane launched the Entrepreneurship Hub and Seed Financing Facility, an initiative aiming to build 15 Entrepreneurship Support Organizations and incubate 500 start-ups, as well as engage with the diaspora. The total budget of the facility is $52.5M USD, with $45M as a soft loan and $7.5M as a grant, both from the World Bank.[20]

Foreign relations

31 Basotho miners working illegally in South Africa were killed in an explosion in May 2023.[21] Matekane has worked to reduce the prevalence of illegal cross-border mining, including by implementing an agreement signed by his predecessor in November 2021. In attending the launch of a binational commission on the issue, he said that the launch "ushers in a new beginning in the relationship between SA and Lesotho."[22][23]

In September 2023, Matekane spoke before the United Nations in favor of more support to least developed countries and stated his hope to export electricity and water to South Africa.[24][25]

Political issues

2023.

Reportedly, Matekane had to finance his own inauguration due to a lack of public funds.[26]

Matekane's cabinet included only 15 people, versus 36 in the previous cabinet. Three women were appointed, making up 20% of the cabinet. The previous cabinet included five women, but they made up only 14% of the cabinet. According to Afrobarometer, 73% of Basotho believe that the government should be doing more to promote women's rights and opportunities.[27]

Matekane has thus far failed to pass the 11th Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which originated from the SADC-mediated national dialogue on reform in 2018–19. All political parties have ostensibly pledged to support the bill, however Matekane's government sought to divide it into three parts in early 2023, which was not supported by the opposition, who believed the governing parties were seeking to stack the civil service with its own supporters first.[17]

On October 30, 2023, Matekane faced a vote of no confidence. His government sought to dispute the constitutional amendment that allowed the vote to go ahead.[28] Lesotho's military intervened against the vote of no confidence,[29] leading to opposition claims of a coup plot.[30] In the end, the Basotho Action Party joined Matekane's coalition and he was not removed.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 "I made Matekane rich: Moleleki". The Post. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sports". Matekane Group of Companies. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Inauguration of covid-19 Mitigation structures, Paray Mission Hospital". Christian Health Association of Lesotho. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Mocheko, Masentle (9 March 2022). "Matekane Donates M8 Million Worth Of Police Uniform". Public Eye. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Moleko, Mafa (18 March 2022). "Matekane injects M2million to LDF". Newsday. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "Diamond millionaire hopes to rock Lesotho vote". France 24. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sam Matekane Biography: Net Worth And Age". SaferAfrica Group. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Sam Matekane – Ho lekane!". Sam Matekane. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Senoko, Neo (9 August 2021). "Matekane wins Forbes award". Public Eye. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Lesotho businessman shakes up political scene ahead of vote". Macau Business. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "Millionaire businessman turns tables to win Lesotho polls". Africanews. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Lesotho tycoon forges coalition after poll breakthrough". France 24. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Speech By The Right Honourable The Prime Minister, Hon Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane At His Inauguration As The 10th Prime Minister Of The Kingdom Of Lesotho, Held At Setsoto Stadium On 28th October 2022 Maseru". Government of Lesotho. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Lesotho Elections l Revolution for Prosperity party host final rally. SABC News. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  15. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Lesotho government challenged to clear outstanding human rights cases from previous regime". News24. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Kolane, Neo (16 February 2023). "Govt on the ropes". the Reporter. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  17. 1 2 ISSAfrica.org (26 May 2023). "Back to square one: political infighting again stalls Lesotho reforms". ISS Africa. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Curfew in Lesotho to tackle gun crime after journalist killed". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "Lesotho imposes nationwide curfew in attempt to curb violent crime". AP News. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  20. ↑ apofeed (23 June 2023). "Lesotho: Prime Minister Launches Entrepreneurship Hub". African Business. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "South Africa says 31 illegal miners believed killed in explosion in May, only now coming to light". ABC News. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Resolution to Basotho's illegal mining issue under way: Ramaphosa". sabcnews.com. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  23. ↑ Khoza, Amanda (29 September 2023). "SA and Lesotho join forces to fight illegal mining". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "Lesotho PM calls UN for more support for least developed countries - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". 24 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Lesotho - Prime Minister Addresses General Debate, 78th Session". media.un.org. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Basotho Have High Hopes After Matekane Win, Coalition Deal". allAfrica.com. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  27. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Lesotho appoints three female cabinet members, but Basotho want more gender parity in govt - study". News24. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "Lesotho's Prime Minister Faces Uncertainty Amid Constitutional Challenge". Africanews. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Lesotho's military warns opposition not to go ahead with no-confidence motion in PM". News24. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  30. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Lesotho's opposition coalition warns SADC of a potential coup". News24. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  31. ↑ Ndebele, Lenin. "Lesotho PM Matekane survives no-confidence vote after gaining new coalition partner". News24. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
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