List of prime ministers of Lesotho

This is a list of prime ministers of Lesotho since the post was created in 1965. The prime minister is the leader of the government in Lesotho, a small country surrounded by South Africa.

So far, seven people have served as prime minister. Three of them served two times, with a break in between each term.

The current prime minister is Sam Matekane, who began his role on 28 October 2022. He is responsible for leading the country and making important decisions for its future.

List of officeholders

Several political groups have held power in Lesotho, including the Basotho National Party, Basutoland Congress Party, Lesotho Congress for Democracy, Democratic Congress, All Basotho Convention, and Revolution for Prosperity. There have also been times when the Military or someone acting alone took charge.

The leaders of Lesotho have come from different backgrounds, and some have served more than once.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party	Monarch(s) (Reign)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Sekhonyana Nehemia Maseribane (1918–1986)	1965	6 May 1965	7 July 1965	62 days	BNP	Elizabeth II (1965–1966)
2		Leabua Jonathan (1914–1987)	1970 (annulled) 1985	7 July 1965	20 January 1986 (deposed)	20 years, 197 days	BNP	Moshoeshoe II (1966–1990)
—		Justin Metsing Lekhanya (1938–2021)	—	24 January 1986	2 May 1991 (deposed)	5 years, 98 days	Military
								Letsie III (1990–1995)
—		Elias Phisoana Ramaema (1933–2015)	—	2 May 1991	2 April 1993	1 year, 335 days	Military
3		Ntsu Mokhehle (1918–1999)	1993	2 April 1993	17 August 1994 (deposed)	1 year, 137 days	BCP
—		Hae Phoofolo (1947–2025)	—	17 August 1994	14 September 1994	28 days	Independent
		Ntsu Mokhehle (1918–1999)	—	14 September 1994	29 May 1998	3 years, 257 days	BCP (until 1997)
(3)								Moshoeshoe II (1995–1996)
								Letsie III (since 1996)
							LCD
4		Pakalitha Mosisili (born 1945)	1998 2002 2007	29 May 1998	8 June 2012	14 years, 10 days	LCD (until 2011)
							DC
5		Tom Thabane (born 1939)	2012	8 June 2012	17 March 2015	2 years, 282 days	ABC
(4)		Pakalitha Mosisili (born 1945)	2015	17 March 2015	16 June 2017	2 years, 91 days	DC
(5)		Tom Thabane (born 1939)	2017	16 June 2017	19 May 2020	2 years, 339 days	ABC
6		Moeketsi Majoro (born 1961)	—	20 May 2020	28 October 2022	2 years, 161 days	ABC
7		Sam Matekane (born 1958)	2022	28 October 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 205 days	RFP

Timeline

Since 1965, seven people have served as Prime Minister of Lesotho. Three of them served twice at different times. In addition to these, there was one Acting Prime Minister and two Chairmen of the Military Council.