Matekane shakes up cabinet

Drops two ministers in major reshuffle

MOTSAMAI MOKOTJO

MASERU – In a bold and largely unexplained exercise of executive power, Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane on Wednesday carried out a sweeping cabinet reshuffle that saw two prominent ministers dismissed, several key portfolios reassigned and the structure of major government departments fundamentally broken apart.

The changes, which took immediate effect following the formal approval of King Letsie III, were announced by the Office of the Government Secretary late Wednesday afternoon.

While the prime minister has remained publicly silent on his motivations, the scope of the overhaul has sent shockwaves through Maseru’s political establishment and raised urgent questions about performance, internal party loyalty, and the future strategic direction of the administration.

Government spokesperson, Boitelo Rabale, speaking to Public Eye, offered a rare but notably candid admission – he does not fully understand why the changes were made.

“I can’t even ask him what was the rationale, but he did it,” Rabale said, adding that the prime minister was fully within his constitutional rights to restructure his executive team as he sees fit.

“He is entitled to make changes to ensure his vision for the country is realised.”

The most dramatic element of Wednesday’s announcement was the outright dismissal of two sitting ministers – Mokhethi Shelile and Letsema Adontši. Neither has been offered an alternative position within the government, a clear signal that their removal was not part of a routine rotation but rather a decisive break.

Political analysts are already speculating whether poor performance benchmarks or behind‑closed‑doors political realignments led to their sudden ejection from the executive branch.

At the same time, several familiar faces have been moved into new, often sensitive, roles. Former Health Minister Selibe Mochoboroane has been shifted to lead the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition.

On the surface, this appears to be a vote of confidence: agriculture remains the backbone of Lesotho’s economy and a central pillar of Matekane’s developmental agenda.

Yet the move also pulls Mochoboroane away from the volatile and resource‑intensive health sector, a change that some observers say may reflect frustration with unresolved challenges in public healthcare delivery.

Perhaps the most significant structural change involves the unbundling of the former super‑ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police. Previously a sprawling portfolio held by Lebona Lephema, the department has now been surgically split into two distinct entities.

The newly created Ministry of Home Affairs and Police will be led by Voeswa Tsheka, while the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship falls under Nkhethoa Seetsa. Seetsa has, however, reportedly formally declined his appointment as Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship.

Seetsa notified His Majesty of his decision, prompting the government to begin legal processes to formalise the refusal. He will not take the oath of office as scheduled tomorrow.

No reason has been given for the late change.

Lephema himself has been reassigned to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development – a move that appears designed to align his professional background with the government’s industrial ambitions.

The fragmentation of the super‑ministry suggests that the previous arrangement was viewed by the prime minister as too unwieldy to manage effectively. It may also signal a desire for more direct oversight of security and administrative functions through separate, dedicated appointees.

In another major shift, Lejone Mpotjoane has been moved from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations to take charge of the newly created Ministry of Energy and Mining. Given Lesotho’s vast potential in renewable energy and its existing mining interests, this places a trusted hand in a sector ripe for international investment.

His successor at Foreign Affairs is Limpho Tau, who moves directly from the Prime Minister’s Office. That rotation is widely seen as an effort to inject fresh energy into Lesotho’s diplomatic engagements and to ensure closer alignment with the central office’s priorities.

Rounding out the changes, ‘Mamokete Ntšekhe has been appointed as Minister of Health, replacing Mochoboroane. ‘Makatleho Motsoasele joins as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, while Thabo Mofosi transitions from Agriculture to lead the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

The new ministers and reassigned officials are expected to be sworn in today, Thursday, April 30, at the Royal Palace. Legal notices numbers 39, 40, and 41 of 2026 provide the official framework for the removals and appointments.

Yet for all the official paperwork, the underlying political narrative remains one of consolidation and quiet transition. Matekane, a businessman turned politician, has reshaped his front bench with the precision of a corporate restructuring — blending structural reorganisation with personnel turnover.

Whether this approach will deliver the efficiency he appears to crave, or instead create new bureaucratic friction between the newly divided ministries, is still an open question.

For now, the administration moves forward under a cloud of executive mystery. The prime minister’s silent rationale, kept from the public and even some of his own spokespeople, remains the primary architect of Lesotho’s new political reality.

What is clear is that Matekane is not afraid to break old structures – or let go of senior figures – in pursuit of a vision he has yet to fully explain.