Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, Private Bag A156, Maseru, 100, Lesotho
[email protected], [email protected], +(266) 22-31-51-97(W)
I am currently fully engaged in another
quasi-diplomatic position as ChiefDelegate of Lesotho on the Lesotho
Highlands
Water
Commission
(LHWC). LHWC is a bi-national
(Lesotho-South Africa) supervisory
body, which oversees the construction,
maintenance and operation of a multibillion Rand dam and hydropower in
the Lesotho Highland Project (LHWP).
I lead the Lesotho Delegate team. On
August 11 2011, South Africa and
Lesotho signed a Phase II Agreement
for the implementation of the LHWP,
negotiated by my team. The project’s main focus is construction of dams in Lesotho mountain areas,
for supply of clean water to the industrial regions of South Africa. Hydro-power development is also
an integral part of this construction.
The picture above depicts the members of the Lesotho highlands Water Commission (April 2011)
In my last substantive position in the United Nations, I was the Deputy Special Representative of
the Secretary General (DSRSG) with the rank of Assistant Secretary General. I had assumed duty at
the Asmara Headquarters of United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) in
September 2006. As DSRSG, I was responsible for the implementation of the mandate given to
UNMEE by the UN Security Council, with Eritrea as my area of operation. I remain on the United
Nations LEADERSHIP DATABASE, awaiting possible United Nations deployment, when I am
available for a suitable position.
For my UNMEE position, I was initially only delegated responsibility over all Humanitarian Affairs.
It consisted of Human Rights, the Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), Mine Action, Conduct and
Discipline, HIV/AIDS, issues of Gender and of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in the mission area.
Soon after my arrival in Asmara, I was also appointed the Political Focal point in Eritrea. I became
responsible for the over-all management of UNMEE in Asmara Head Quarters. The content of the
UNMEE Security Council Reports, were mainly from Eritrea, due to the level of activities of the
Mission. I became Officer-in-Charge, during the liquidation period of UNMEE (October 2008 to
February 2009).
Before my appointment to UNMEE, I had been a Consultant with UNICEF, in Addis Ababa. My
assignment was mainly to lead a team of UNICEF experts in preparing an input document on Child
Survival to the African Union, and lobby for its adoption. This resulted in an AU document
presented at the African Union Summit held in Sirte, Libya in July 2005. The AU adopted a
“Decision on accelerating action for child survival and development in Africa to meet the
MDGs”.
Prior to joining the United Nations as a staff member, I had been a Lesotho Career diplomat, my
last position was as the Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United Nations (2001 to 2005).
While serving in that capacity, I got to serve as the President of the UNICEF Executive Board in
2004. In 2003, I served as Vice-President of the Board, representing the African region. During my
board presidency, I got UNICEF to focus on the HIV/AIDS pandemic on children as well as
mothers, to help meet the Millennium Development Goals. In 2002, I also represented Southern
Africa as an Alternate Council Member at the Global Environment Facility. While serving in New
York, I was also co-accredited as Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba.
Presentation of
credential to Secretary
General of the United
Nations-Kofi Annan
My diplomatic career with the government of Lesotho spanning more than a decade, began in 1994
when I was appointed Lesotho’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, to open the
embassy. I am particularly credited with reopening Lesotho’s Embassy in Beijing and forging very
close Sino-Lesotho ties. While in Beijing, I was co-accredited to, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand. I also signed the protocol to
establish diplomatic relations between Lesotho with the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam. I served
in China until 1999. After China, I was transferred to Washington DC as Lesotho’s Ambassador to
the United States. My tour of duty in Washington DC lasted two years (1999-2001), during which
period I was also co-accredited as Ambassador to the Republic of Mexico.
Academically, I hold a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Ottawa, Canada, an MS. in Physics
from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics from the University
of Botswana Lesotho and Swaziland. Prior to taking up diplomacy, I was also a respected academic
and physicist, and was an Associate Professor of Physics and Head of Department at the National
University of Lesotho (NUL), where I marshalled the expansion of the Physics Department. At
NUL, I served in the university Senate as well as in Council from 1991 to 1994. During my tenure at
NUL, I also collaborated as a Researcher with colleagues at the University of Alberta and the
University of Delaware. I served as Research Associate at the University of Western Ontario in
Canada, and as Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Ottawa. During my academic
and research career I published many scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. I am a member of
the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP), which recognizes me as a Professional Physicist (P.
Phys.). I am a life member of the American Physical Society (APS).
In addition to purely academic qualifications, I obtained an Advanced Certificate in Conflict
Management at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM) of
the University of Maryland in 2000. I was an Academic Associate of the CIDCM, where I have
given several lectures and seminars. I also hold a Certificate of Participation in the Course for Senior
UN Mission Leaders (2006) from the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, in Ottawa, Canada.
In summary, when I served in UNMEE;
 The part of the mission I was in charge of had more that 400 civilian staff of different
nationalities, and a military section of about 1700 persons, with a budget of more than $100
million
 In UN missions, inspections and monitoring are very regular, and management has to take it
as part and parcel of their administration
 Running a mission based in two countries, in conflict requires good diplomatic skills,
leadership and conflict management skills.
When in London, Ontario I find it fulfilling to engage in community work. I always get engaged in
voluntary work in the REFUGEE ASSISTANCE Committee of the Colborne Street United
Church, London, Ontario, Canada.
I am married, with four children.