/ 6 June 2001

THREE LESOTHO MINISTERS AXED

LESOTHO Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili fired three ministers on Thursday ahead of elections due in the first quarter of next year and demoted Deputy Prime Minister Kelebone Maope, moving him from the finance ministry to law, justice and human rights. Out are Law, Justice and Human Rights Minister Shakhane Mokhehle; Health Minister Tefo Mabote and Labour and Employment Minister Nots’i Molopo, who is bedridden. Mohlabi Tsekoa, who until last month was government secretary, takes over the finance and economic planning ministry from the deputy prime minister, and Ponts’o Sekatle, a former lecturer at the National University of Lesotho, becomes health minister. Clement Machakela, a member of parliament, becomes minister of labour and employment. – AFP