'Mamphono Khaketla | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 5, 1960 |
| Parent(s) | Bennett Makalo Khaketla Ntšeliseng 'Masechele Khaketla |
| Education | National University of Lesotho 1980 |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin 1991 |
| Occupation | Mathematician |
'Mamphono Khaketla (born 5 March 1960) is a Lesotho mathematician and senator who served as Minister of Finance from March 2015 to June 2017.
Khaketla was born in Maseru on 5 March 1960 to Bennett Makalo and Caroline Ntseliseng ’Masechele Khaketla. [1] Her father was a novelist, journalist, politician and former minister, as well as the major shareholder of Mohlabani Property Company, and left her a sizeable estate. [2] [3] Her mother was a teacher and author, one of the first women published in Lesotho. [4] [5]
Khaketla did her primary and secondary schooling Maseru, before receiving a Bachelor of Education from the National University of Lesotho in 1980. [4] She has a master's degree in education and a PhD in mathematics education from the University of Wisconsin (1991). [4] Her thesis was titled "An analysis of the Lesotho Junior Certificate Mathematics Examination and its impact on instructions". [1]
Khaketla was a lecturer in mathematics at the National Teacher Training College from 1981 until 1995 and became assistant director of the college. [4] She worked at the Institute of Development Management in Lesotho and Botswana from 1996 until 2001 before becoming the director of the Centre for Accounting Studies.
Khaketla was appointed as a senator by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili in 2002 and served as Minister of Communications, Science and Technology from 2002 until 2004. [4] At the 2007 election, she lost her seat but was elected to the National Assembly as one of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy members on a party list for proportional representation submitted by the National Independence Party. [4] She served as Minister of Education and Training from 2007 until 2012. In 2011, Khaketla was one of seven women ministers in the Cabinet, alongside: Mannete Ramali, Maphoka Motoboli, Mathabiso Lepono, Mphu Keneileo Ramatlapeng, Mpeo Mahase-Moiloa and Pontso Suzan Matumelo Sekatle. [6] On 30 March 2015 she was appointed Minister of Finance.
In November 2015, she presided over the 102nd session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Council of Ministers. [7]
In July 2016, Khaketla was accused of soliciting a bribe for a major government contract in a case that was before the courts. She denied the allegation. [8] [9]