Tefo Mapesela
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Tefo Mapesela | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mapesela in 2018 | |
| Member of the National Assembly of Lesotho | |
| Assumed office 17 April 2023 | |
| Constituency | Proportional Representation |
| In office 2015 – 7 October 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Tlohang Sekhamane |
| Succeeded by | Adontsi Letsema |
| Constituency | Mokhotlong No. 79 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Food Security | |
| In office 21 May 2020 – 14 April 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Moeketsi Majoro |
| Preceded by | Litšoane Litšoane[1] |
| Succeeded by | Likopo Mahase[2] |
| Minister of Defence and National Security | |
| In office 17 December 2018 – April 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Tom Thabane |
| Preceded by | Sentje Lebona[3] |
| Succeeded by | Prince Maliehe |
| Minister of Trade and Industry | |
| In office 23 June 2017 – 17 December 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Tom Thabane |
| Preceded by | Joshua Setipa[4] |
| Succeeded by | Habofanoe Lehana |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 April 1974 Mapeleng, Mokhotlong District, Lesotho |
| Party | Basotho Patriotic Party (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations | All Basotho Convention (Until 2021) |
| Alma mater | Centre for Accounting Studies |
Tefo Mapesela (born 25 April 1974) is a Mosotho accountant and politician who serves as the leader of the Basotho Patriotic Party. He has been a proportional representation member of the National Assembly since April 2023, after previously serving as the legislator for Mokhotlong No. 79 constituency from 2015 until 2022. A former member of the All Basotho Convention, Mapesela served as the Minister of Trade and Industry from 2017 until 2018, as the Minister of Defence and National Security from 2018 to 2020 and as the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security between 2020 and 2021.
Mapesela was born on 25 April 1974 in the village of Mapela. He was raised by his grandparents. He was a livestock herder until he went to St James High High School in Mokhotlong. After finishing school, he trained as an accountant at the Centre for Accounting Studies. Mapesela then proceeded to work at Nedbank Lesotho, the Ministry of Gender, Sports and Environment and Lesotho Funeral Services before moving to the United Kingdom in 2003 to join his wife. He returned to Lesotho in 2005.[5]