Pontso Sekatle

Pontso S. M. Sekatle (born 26 May 1957) is a politician and academic in Lesotho. Sekatle lectured at the National University of Lesotho from 1984 to 2001. [ [http://www.localgovt.gov.ls/TheMinistry_The%20minister.php Lesotho Ministry of Local Government web site] .] In June 2001, she was appointed to the Senate of Lesotho, [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.012.htm#New%20Senators%20Appointed "New Senators Appointed"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 8, Number 2, Second Quarter 2001, trc.org.ls.] and on July 6 2001 she became Minister of Health and Social Welfare. [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.013.htm#Cabinet%20Reshuffle%20Results%20in%20New%20Blood "Cabinet Reshuffle Results in New Blood"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 8, Number 3, Third Quarter 2001, trc.org.ls.] In the May 2002 parliamentary election, which was her first election, she stood as the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) candidate in the Qacha's Nek constituency, previously held by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili (who contested the Tsoelike constituency instead), and won 72.4% of the vote. [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.022.htm#Individual%20Constituency%20Results%20Range%20from%20Clear%20Victories%20to%20Minority%20Votes "Individual Constituency Results Range from Clear Victories to Minority Votes"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 9, Number 2, Second Quarter 2002, trc.org.ls.] Following this election, in June 2002 she was moved from her position as Minister of Health to that of Minister of Local Government. [ [http://www.trc.org.ls/events/events20.022.htm "Parliamentarians and Members of New Cabinet Sworn In"] , Summary of Events in Lesotho, Volume 9, Number 2, Second Quarter 2002, trc.org.ls.] Following the February 2007 parliamentary election, she remained in the latter position in the government of March 2007. Her husband, Semano Sekatle, is also a member of the government, currently serving as Minister of Public Service. [ [http://www.apanews.net/spip.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=22612 "Lesotho’s new cabinet comprises former ministers"] , African Press Agency, March 3, 2007.]

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