H.E. NTLHOI ALICE MOTSAMAI

Her Excellency Ntlhoi Motsamai is the Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho since March 2015. She is the first woman in the country to have held the office. Ms. Motsamai worked as a teacher before entering politics.

Born in 1963 in the village of Ha Pafoli, she attended Eagle’s Peak High School and then went on to study at the National University of Lesotho, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and majoring in biology and chemistry.

After her graduation, she began teaching at St. John’s High School in Mafeteng, a city in Lesotho. She later returned to the National University to complete a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, simultaneously working in the office of the dean.

Motsamai entered politics in 1996, when she was elected deputy speaker of the National Assembly. In 1999 and at age 36, she was elected as the Speaker, becoming the youngest speaker to hold the office in Africa.