Africa-Press – Lesotho. Tributes continue to pour for the late Mokhotlong Principal Chief Mathealira Seeiso as mourners paid homage to him. The deceased was described as an upright Chief during the Requiem Mass on Wednesday
at Our Lady of Victories Church in Maseru. The deceased is His Majesty King Letsie III’s uncle and younger brother to the latter’s father, the late King Moshoeshoe II.
Speaking at his memorial service, his friend Pius Masupha, who met him in 1962 at Christ the King High School, said Principal Chief Seeiso moulded him into a “man who
is not afraid of others”. Masupha said he was a family-oriented person. For his part, the Speaker of the National Assembly Sephiri Motanyane said the deceased
was the only Principal Chief who was incarcerated at the maximum-security prison in 1970. Chief Seeiso was around that period referred to as one of the “dangerous” chiefs in
Lesotho. Motanyane said when he was imprisoned, it was for him not to see when King Moshoeshoe II, his brother was whisked away to England. “In Lesotho, we beget each other; we are siblings.
Let us learn how to respect each other,” he said. The Speaker of the National Assembly further described him as a “true” Chief. Mamello Morrison who worked with him while he was a Minister of Interior and
Chieftainship in 1986 remembered him as a person with eloquent speech. Some of the highlights which she said the deceased was instrumental at addressing include
addressing the disputes around the demarcated boundaries. Morrison also said she was resourceful in facilitating the committing of some of the Principal Chiefs to rehabilitation centres due to heavy drinking.
She further said he oversaw the rural development projects which she said should be revived. Prominent Veterinarian and also a member of Council of State, Dr Mohlalefi Moteane said
“we lost a pillar of strength”. Dr Moteane recalled a period in the early ’60s where Chief Seeiso was sent to
Israel to learn of good governance before Lesotho was ushered into independence. Similar sentiments were also echoed by a prominent diplomat Joe Mollo who said he was
entrusted to “tough” national assignments, citing his tour of duty to intervene in the fights of Basotho at the South African mines. Former member of Lesotho Military Council, Chief Sekhobe Letsie described Chief Seeiso
as a “sweet” person. He said the deceased had “radiance” urging the Principal Chiefs to emulate him. The deceased was also described as passionate about Sesotho culture and
history. Meanwhile his son, Lerotholi Seeiso took over the reins and was inaugurated as the Principal Chief of Mokhotlong in 2020 as the deceased was unable to attend due
to fragile health and stepped down. Chief Seeiso’s remains will be laid to rest in Mokhotlong on Saturday, January 8. He was appointed to Senate in 1985.
Chief Seeiso was born in 1944 in Matsieng. He is the son of the late Paramount Chief Seeiso Griffiths and ‘Mabereng née Sekhothali. Principal Chief Seeiso met his death on December 30, 2021.
He is survived by his wife, Mofumahali ‘Malerotholi, son and daughter, ‘Mabatho and Lerotholi was among the attendants were His Majesty King Letsie III, Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro, Principal Chiefs and cabinet Ministers.
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