Diamond magnate Sam Matekane takes over as Lesotho's prime minister

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Sam Matekane officially became Lesotho’s new prime minister on Friday, vowing to make the small southern African state “great again.”

The millionaire diamond magnate’s inauguration in the capital Maseru was attended by several regional leaders, including the presidents of South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana.

Matekane is a newcomer to politics, having formed his Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party just six months before Lesotho headed to the polls in early October.

The RFP won 56 out of 120 parliamentary seats and has formed a coalition government with two other parties.

In his address, Matekane pledged to boost foreign direct investment in the country, saying he has already planned several measures to achieve that objective.

The 64-year-old was last year named the richest person in Lesotho, a landlocked country of around 2 million people that is completely encircled by South Africa and ranks among the world’s poorest.

Matekane has succeeded Moeketsi Majoro, who served as prime minister from May 2020, when Tom Thabane resigned after being accused of involvement in his ex-wife’s murder.