Mathabiso Lepono

Mathabiso Angeline Lepono (born 1942) be Mosotho politician. She serve long time as minister of gender, youth den sports under Lesotho ein prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

 Early life den education 
Mathabiso Angeline Lepono born for 1942 insyd Thibella, one village wey dey Maseru District for Lesotho.

Sake of apartheid law, ein mommie wey be domestic worker no fit stay plus am, so she grow up dey live plus different relatives all over South Africa — from Klerksdorp go Orlando. Some of de foster homes wey she stay for dem no treat am well.

She go school for Blessed Martin de Porres for South Africa. After she finish elementary school for 1957, she return Lesotho plus ein mommie. As she come back Lesotho, she get work as office assistant for one hospital. Ein bosses register am for St. Stephen's High School for Mohale's Hoek, den one of dem plus one of ein teachers take dem own money support ein education. Na dis time she first enter politics, as she join Basutoland African Congress as youth member.

Even though dem offer am scholarship to go study abroad for 1966, she choose make she stay for Lesotho make she marry Ntate Lepono. She try continue ein education for Lesotho but money palava hold am back.

 Political career 
Lepono enter politics as member of Lesotho Congress for Democracy party, wey she later lead dem women’s league.

She first join cabinet under longtime prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili for 1999, as Minister of Environment, Gender den Youth Affairs. Insyd 2002, she beg make dem move am from de environment portfolio, den she come be Minister of Gender, Youth den Sports.

As gender minister, she lead de passing of de Legal Capacity of Married Persons Act for 2006, wey comot men dem power over dem wives inside marriage den give married women more rights. She sana oversee de 2003 Sexual Offences Act, wey make marital rape become crime plus other new provisions.

By 2011, Lepono na one of de seven women ministers insyd de cabinet, plus 'Mamphono Khaketla, Mannete Ramali, Maphoka Motoboli, Mphu Keneileo Ramatlapeng, Mpeo Mahase-Moiloa, den Pontso Suzan Matumelo Sekatle.

Early 2012, she lef de party plus Mosisili make dem form Democratic Congress. She later no gree contest for de 2012 Lesotho general election, so she comot from political office dat year.

For over ten years, till she retire for 2012, she be elected member of Lesotho ein National Assembly, represent Likhoele constituency for Mafeteng District.

As politician, Lepono dey known for ein strong way of talk plus de emotional way she dey react to political conflict. Even after she comot from office, she still dey involved for Democratic Congress politics.

 References 

Category:1942 births
Category:Human
Category:Lesotho people
Category:Women government ministers of Lesotho
Category:Lesotho Congress for Democracy politicians
Category:Democratic Congress politicians
Category:Members of de National Assembly (Lesotho)
Category:People wey komot Maseru District