Lesotho’s First Transgender Political Candidate Sparks Hope for Inclusive Leadership

RETHABILE MOHONO 

Maseru – Sheriff Mothopeng has made history as the first openly transgender man to be nominated as a candidate under Lesotho’s ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party — a milestone that has paved the way for greater visibility and inclusion of the transgender and broader LGBTIQ+ community in politics and leadership, both nationally and internationally.

Although they finished second during the RFP’s primary elections for the Thaba-Putsoa constituency, Mothopeng’s participation continues to inspire hope and encourage members of marginalised communities to take part in politics and national decision-making to promote inclusivity.

Mothopeng said their participation marked a significant shift in the political landscape. “We have seen a rising interest from community members to actively and openly run for office, and that has led to a growing movement from both Asia and Africa on mentorship and fundraising for LGBTIQ+ members who wish to run for office,” they said.

They explained that his visibility inspired others within the LGBTIQ+ community to see politics as a space where they too belong. At a national level, Mothopeng said their candidacy was a wake-up call for meaningful inclusion and representation of all people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

“The community needs to demand accountability from political parties that have, as part of their committees, representatives for youth, women, and men, but none for people with disabilities and minority groups. True democracy requires everyone to be represented from the branch level to the national level,” they said.

However, their political journey was not without challenges. “I think it is worth mentioning the challenges I experienced throughout this journey — from the primary elections campaign to the constituency. The level of transphobia, death threats, misogyny, and sexism among fellow male candidates,” they said.

Mothopeng recalled how they were repeatedly summoned to the party’s headquarters to address disputes raised by disgruntled members.

“It cost time, petrol, and peace of mind. But I refused to back down. There were even moments when I was encouraged to step aside because some within the leadership doubted my electability. I was told I would not win, but those numbers were a reflection of what I was and am capable of, had we not fallen victim to the court order that saw our removal from the party candidacy list two weeks before Election Day,” they said.

Despite these obstacles, Mothopeng said they remained committed to serving his community. “The sad part about politics — we will, however, contribute to its success to fight unemployment, strive for quality service delivery, and equality and equity within our nation.”

Reflecting on the 2022 general elections, they noted: “Of all the constituencies that RFP lost, Thaba-Putsoa was lost to DC by a narrow margin of 204 votes, making it the constituency with the highest votes lost by RFP. These results were an indication of the hard work, trust, and dedication we had built. Unfortunately, that investment went in vain for reasons known and unknown to the party leadership.”

Mothopeng said they still enjoys strong support from the community and intends to honour their promises. “I remain deeply committed to representing the less-served communities that are always taken advantage of by those who get to power for personal gain, and no matter how difficult it is made to be, I remain a loyal servant to my people.”

Recently, they were invited as a special guest at a reward and farewell celebration at their former primary school — located within their constituency — in recognition of their continued support to the community.

“Though my current job has taken me outside the country most of the time, I continue to support and invest in my community. My work now under Global Equality Caucus involves collaborating with Members of Parliament across East Africa and Commonwealth countries on projects focused on accountability, equity, and equality — an experience that I hope to bring back home,” they said.

Mothopeng believes that their candidacy brought positive change, showing that members of the LGBTIQ+ community are capable of shaping policies and leading change.

“For as long as I can remember, LGBTIQ+ communities have been doing advocacy work at all levels, and it is time to sit at the table of decision-making. We have, for the longest time, heard policymakers saying, ‘these issues are new’ when approached with recommendations based on research, when the truth is, it is they who are new to understanding people’s lived realities,” they said.

Looking ahead, Mothopeng confirmed plans to contest again in the 2027 elections. “We are preparing for the 2027 elections. The lessons learned from the previous campaign have strengthened my resolve. I still feel a deep responsibility toward my constituency and those who believed in me,” they said.

“Running for office was more than a personal achievement; it was a collective milestone for the LGBTIQ+ community. For the first time, it was clear that we are not just advocates working from the outside, but leaders capable of shaping policies and decisions at the highest level. Our communities have always been here — knowledgeable, organised, and ready to lead. My candidacy helped prove that inclusion is possible, and that our presence in politics is not symbolic but necessary.”

Members of the LGBTIQ+ community said they see Mothopeng as a symbol of hope for the future of transgender people in Lesotho.

“Through Mothopeng, we see a lot of change within the LGBTIQ+ community. It was the first time we saw a bold transgender individual standing up to represent our community.”

Speaking to The People’s Matrix, a local organisation that advocates for LGBTIQ+ rights, Managing Director Tampose Mothopeng said Sheriff’s involvement in the last primary elections was a historical and empowering experience for the LGBTIQ+ community, particularly for transgender representation among politicians.

“It is also important to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that Sheriff was not alone in this experience; other gay men and lesbian women had preceded him and engaged both before and during his time,” Tampose said, adding that their courage and commitment to enter political spaces — often in the face of stigma and discrimination — set the stage for increased inclusion and visibility in our democracy.

“We do, in fact, celebrate all of them for the contributions they made toward transcending barriers to representation and visibility for the LGBTIQ+ community,” said Tampose.

Tampose said Matrix finds these collaborative efforts to be a giant leap towards equality and inclusion.

“The involvement by Sheriff and others showed that being a leader and actively participating in civic society is not based on gender identity or sexual orientation, but on one’s passion and commitment to serve,” he said.

“Since then, we have seen positive movement in conversations about inclusivity within political institutions, but there is still a lot that needs to be worked out. We believe that conscious mentorship, political education, and safeguarding mechanisms are necessary to ensure trans and queer individuals feel safe, empowered, and confident to participate in politics,” Tampose said, emphasising that empowerment through visibility, policy advocacy for change, and representation through inclusion remain at the heart of their work. “We look forward to many more LGBTIQ+ individuals self-assuredly taking up leadership roles.”