JUSTICE LEHOHLA SWORN IN AS CHIEF JUSTICE

The new Chief Justice,  Justice Mahapela Lehohla was sworn in at the  Royal Palace Hall in Maseru on Tuesday17 September,2002. At the swearing in ceremony officiated by Justice Baptista Molai, the Registrar of the High Court, Ms Lisebo Chaka Makhooane, appealed to the government to increase the number of Judges of the High Court, whose shortage has resulted in a backlog of cases. She explained that, there are only eight Judges who are not enough to preside over the multitudes of cases that are being received by the High Court, on a monthly basis. She added that, the problem of shortage of Judges has resulted in the public's prolonged outcry, over the incompetence of the court.

Chief Justice designate, Justice Mahapela Lehohla takes oath before assuming office at the Highest Judicial Chambers in the country (pic. M.Kheleli)

Justice Lehohla joined the High Court in 1972, and worked as an Assistant Registrar from that year, to 1976. Between 1972 and 1973, he was appointed as Magistrate  while from 1976 to 1986, he became a Registrar of the High Court and Court of Appeal. From 1976 to 1979, Justice Lehohla was appointed a Maseru Resident Magistrate, while from 1979 to 1986, he worked as a Senior Resident
Magistrate of the Maseru district. From 1986 to 1988 he became an Acting Judge of the Lesotho High Court, while from 1988 he was confirmed as a Judge at High Court.

Among other duties, the new Chief Justice was appointed a member of the University Council of the National University of Lesotho (NUL), from 1990 to 1993, while on April 15, 1991 he was appointed as a Chairman of the administration of Appeals Board of Eastern and Southern Africa. In 1991 Justice Lehohla was appointed a Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lesotho Conservation and Preservation Trust (LCPT), in 1993 he became a Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry and Affiliated Co-operatives, and in 1994 a Chairman of the commission of enquiry that was established by the late King Moshoeshoe II.     

In 1994 he became a Vice Chairman of a Board of Governors of SOS Children's Village of Lesotho, and was lastly appointed as President of the Courts, including a Martial Appeals Court. His Academic qualification includes an LLB degree that he persued at the then University of Bechuanaland, Basutoland, and Swaziland, presently known as NUL, from 1964 to 1969. The new Chief Justice replaces Chief Justice Lebona Kheola, who retired recently due to ill health.

17 September,2002