Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa (born 13 August 1945[1]) is a Lesotho politician who was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho from 2007 to 2015. He served in the Cabinet beginning in July 2001, first as Minister of Finance, then as Foreign Minister, Minister of Education, and starting in March 2007 as Foreign Minister again.

Mohlabi Tsekoa

Life and career

Tsekoa served in the Ministry of Education as Deputy Principal Secretary from 1984 to 1986 and as Principal Secretary from 1986 to 1989. In 1989, he became High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ambassador to Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. He left these posts in 1996, when he became Government Secretary and Head of the Public Service.[1]

After serving as Government Secretary for five years, Tsekoa was appointed to the Senate and sworn in on June 14, 2001.[2] He was then named Minister of Finance on July 5, 2001[3] and sworn in on July 6.[4] As the LCD candidate for Senqu constituency, in Mokhotlong District, in the May 2002 parliamentary election, he won with 55.8% of the vote; this was Tsekoa's first election.[5] He was moved from his position as Finance Minister to that of Minister of Foreign Affairs in June 2002.[6] He became Minister of Education in November 2004[7] and served in that position until March 2, 2007, when he became Foreign Minister again.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Profile at Lesotho government site Archived 2007-09-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "New Senators Appointed" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Summary of Events in Lesotho - 2nd quarter 2001, trc.org.ls.
  3. ^ "Lesotho PM axes two cabinet ministers", IOL, July 5, 2001.
  4. ^ "Cabinet Reshuffle Results in New Blood" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Summary of Events in Lesotho - 3rd quarter 2001, trc.org.ls.
  5. ^ "Individual Constituency Results Range from Clear Victories to Minority Votes" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Summary of Events in Lesotho - 2nd quarter 2002, trc.org.ls.
  6. ^ "Parliamentarians and Members of New Cabinet Sworn In" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, Summary of Events in Lesotho - 2nd quarter 2002, trc.org.ls.
  7. ^ "Changes in Cabinet: Two Assistant Ministers Get Promoted" Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, lesotho.gov.ls, November 18, 2004.
  8. ^ "Lesotho’s new cabinet comprises former ministers"[permanent dead link], African Press Agency, March 3, 2007.
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