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Sam Matekane
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Sam Matekane
Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane (born 15 March 1958) is a Mosotho businessman and politician who is the current Prime Minister of Lesotho since 2022. 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. 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.
Born on 15 March 1958, Matekane is the seventh of fourteen siblings. He was born in Mantšonyane, then called British Basutoland, now Lesotho.
He attended Bocheletsane Primary School in Basutoland before enrolling at Mabathoana High School in Maseru, where he completed a junior certificate after three years of secondary education. After obtaining his junior certificate, Matekane left school and pursued a business career. Growing up in a rural village, he balanced school with responsibilities such as herding livestock and working in the fields. Like other children in his community, he was expected to contribute to household duties, which at times led to missed school days.
Matekane is the founder and CEO of the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC), which was established in 1986 as a construction equipment sales business. 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 company's growth was largely supported through government tenders, which have since had their legitimacy questioned, as allegations concerning favouritism and political corruption have come forward.
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. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he bought testing equipment, vaccines and other medical necessities and donated them. He has made donations amounting to M8 million in Police Uniforms, and M2 million in Equipment for the Lesotho Defense Force.
In March 2022, several months before the 2022 Lesotho general election, Matekane founded a party called Revolution for Prosperity (RFP). 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.[citation needed]
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Sam Matekane
Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane (born 15 March 1958) is a Mosotho businessman and politician who is the current Prime Minister of Lesotho since 2022. 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. 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.
Born on 15 March 1958, Matekane is the seventh of fourteen siblings. He was born in Mantšonyane, then called British Basutoland, now Lesotho.
He attended Bocheletsane Primary School in Basutoland before enrolling at Mabathoana High School in Maseru, where he completed a junior certificate after three years of secondary education. After obtaining his junior certificate, Matekane left school and pursued a business career. Growing up in a rural village, he balanced school with responsibilities such as herding livestock and working in the fields. Like other children in his community, he was expected to contribute to household duties, which at times led to missed school days.
Matekane is the founder and CEO of the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC), which was established in 1986 as a construction equipment sales business. 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 company's growth was largely supported through government tenders, which have since had their legitimacy questioned, as allegations concerning favouritism and political corruption have come forward.
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. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he bought testing equipment, vaccines and other medical necessities and donated them. He has made donations amounting to M8 million in Police Uniforms, and M2 million in Equipment for the Lesotho Defense Force.
In March 2022, several months before the 2022 Lesotho general election, Matekane founded a party called Revolution for Prosperity (RFP). 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.[citation needed]
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