LESOTHO DEFENCE FORCE COMMAND

He received his flying wings after qualifying on Harvard (T-6A) and thereafter proceeded to Multi-Engine Flying School for an Operational Conversion Course in Bloemspruit Air Force Base in Bloemfontein; and became a full-time operational Dakota Pilot for subsequent type rating on service Casa 212 and Cessna 182Q aircrafts respectively.

His staff assignments included Flight Safety Officer and was further enrolled for a two-year diploma part-time learning program on Aircraft Accident Investigations under auspices of Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA).

He assumed Command at the critical time of uncertainty, resulting from upsurge insecurity and culminating instability within the LDF. His enduring leadership skills and firmness in command, administration and control of subordinate Headquarters and units promoted coercion and teamwork within Officers Corps and Rank and File inclusively for betterment of stability and military progression in democratic dispensation.

He worked tirelessly to restore supremacy of the civilian authority over military as the servant of the state in democratic environment. By so doing he has brought back public acceptance of the LDF as the accountable and military professional state power-base institution entrusted to protect and defend the country and its people hence the motto "TŠEPO EA SECHABA".

During the year(s) 2019/2020, The General faced upheavals of instable democratic situation where he demonstrated exceptional and outstanding military professionalism when civil-military relations were restrained. Despite challenges The General managed to firmly commit to furthering the required standards of democracy and safeguard of Constitution against numerous forms of violation.

The Gen due to his outstanding performance, has been bestowed some prominent medal awards including "Military Medal for Gallantry", "Military Medal for Brave Deeds", "Military Medal for Meritorious Service" to name among others.

The Gen is Married to Mrs Matoloko Letsoela with two sons; Mr Kata and Toloko.

The General is an alumnus of Jaji Command and Staff College, Nigeria and also a graduate of the Kamwala Command and Staff College, Zambia.

In 2003 to 2005 the General was one of the five SADC Military expert formulating the guidelines for the establishment of the SADC Brigade. In 2007 to 2008, he was deployed with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) until it was replaced by United Nations and African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on December 31, 2007. During his tenure in Darfur, he was appointed Chief of Operations and brought with him an enormous amount of experience in serving in the most challenging area.

He participated in a number of regional exercises notably a peacekeeping Exercise Golfino held in Lohoatla Republic of South Africa in 2009. The General's instructional assignments include tenures at the LDF Military Intelligence School.

In a distinguished military career spanning over three decades, and prior assuming an appointment as the Director of Operations Training and Planning his staff experience includes tenanting the appointment of Staff Officer 1 (SO1). Among other appointments the general became the Director Military Intelligence and the Director Logistics.

General Matobakele has been bestowed some distinguished military awards including the "Military Medal for Meritorious Service", the "United Nations Medal", "African Union Medal"; both in recognition for his role as an Observer and a "Thirty years Military Service Medal".

Like other LDF Top Brass, he rose through the ranks until he attained the rank of Major General in 2018 and subsequently appointed to the post of Chief of Staff Administration (Policy Management and Human Resources Affairs). Maj Gen Motoa served on numerous positions in his Military career which include but not limited to, 12 Battalion Second in Command, 12 Battalion Commander, Director Logistics, Director Operations, Director Logistics, Commandant Training Wing, Director HR, Assistant Chief of Staff HR and Chief of Staff. He has the present post since 2018. It is fundamentally important to mention that, during his early years of his career, the Gen was an instructor at LDF Training Wing.

The Gen has attended several courses, military exercises and seminars locally, regionally, continentally and internationally. Holding the rank of Lieutenant, the Gen attended the Defence Attache Course and First Aid Course both of which were held locally. Moreover, Gen Motoa attended a seminar on Law of Armed Conflict, Civil and Military Relations seminar and Role of Law in Disciplined Military Operations seminar.

In 1999, Gen Motoa took part in Southern African Development Communities (SADC) Peace – Keeping Exercise named Blue Crane which was held in the Republic of South Africa. In the same vein, in 2005, the Gen partook in another exercise called Exercise Thokgamo, held in the Republic of Botswana. In 1996, the Gen attended a Platoon Commanders Course in Botswana, whilst on the African continent, he attended Junior Staff Course in Nigeria, back in 2000. In 2011, the Gen attended Next Generation of African Military Leaders Course still in Nigeria

In 2000, the Gen attended a High Command Course in the Peoples' Republic of China. In 2002, he was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for Distinguished and Dedicated Support during Operation Qeto/Sadien by LDF and South African National Defence Force (SANDF). In 2018, Gen Motoa was awarded a Certificate on Higher Defence and Strategic Studies following completion of the course in the United States of America (USA). The General's service decorations are Military Medal for Meritorious Service (MMMS), Military Service Medal (MSM) for 10, 20 and 30 years and Medal for Instructors.

The General was given an opportunity by the LDF to acquire knowledge and skills in the military by pursuing different courses. While he was a Junior Officer, he completed Course 701 G19/9801 in South Africa, 1998, Counter Crime Unit (CCU) course in 1999, Officers Computer Cadre Serial 01 of 2002 in Lesotho, and Army Junior Command and Staff Course in 2001 in Jaji, Nigeria. He did Special Forces Course Serial 02 of 2001 which he completed in 2002 in Lesotho, and the Legal Cadre Serial 08 of 2003 in Lesotho.

He did basic and advance, including instructors' airborne courses in China in 2004. He then completed the Parachuting Course in September 2005, in Botswana, which was the version of the Southern hemisphere region. Furthermore, in 2006 he completed Command and Staff Course in Zambia. In 2008 the General completed the SADC Brigade Peace Support Course in Zimbabwe.

He did the following courses at the rank of Colonel; Maritime Security and Safety, Strategic Concept Development in Tanzania, 2010, Program on Terrorism and Security Studies (PTSS) conducted by the US in Germany from which the field study was conducted in Israel in 2010, and Special Operations in Counter Terrorism Course in Florida, in the US in 2011.

When he was at the rank of Brigadier in 2012, undertook Senior Mission Leaders Course in Ghana. He then completed AU Evaluators and Assessors Course in Botswana, and lastly completed Executive National Senior Programme course in South Africa in 2013. Major General Mokaloba was not only limited to military courses to broaden his knowledge and skills, he also participated in different ways in military exercises. His contribution in the exercises was as follows; mentoring and facilitating at the SADC RPTC, on Integrated Mission Planning Course. He was nominated by the AU to lead a scenario team during planning and execution of the continental exercise, Ex AA II FTX (AU EX). He was also nominated to play a central part of coordinating events of the same exercise.

While he was studying in the UK he participated in Amphibias Operations Exercise in Cyprus. He was part of controllers during SADC Peace Support Operations called Exercise Thokgamo held in Botswana. He was the Exercise Director in an exercise held in Lesotho called Exercise Maluti, the bilateral between Lesotho and Botswana Special Forces. He was the Deputy Overall Director during exercise Sekaka held in Kalahari Desert in Botswana, which was also a bilateral between LDF SF and BDF SF. He was an observer during Hostage Release and Rescue in Exercise Good Honor held in South Africa in preparation for the 2010 World Cup. In Exercise Stalward held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2011 he was Deputy of Director for SADC Special Forces.

Furthermore, he chaired and co-chaired Special Forces Forums in Lesotho and South Africa for years. He chaired two conferences running simultaneously in Lesotho, whereby one was for the SADC special forces exercise, while the other one was a seminar for Team Leaders and SADC Special Forces training of trainers facilitated by five American special forces expects. He was also appointed as an Overall Commander for SADC Special Forces in Exercise Highlander in 2012, and lastly, he was appointed as the SADC Force Commander for a multidimensional Exercise called Ex Umodzi, CPX held in Malawi in 2018.

The General has worked in many different LDF units while he was also climbing the tree of army ranks. He worked in military intelligence before he was commissioned in 2005. After he was commissioned he became an instructor at LDF Training Wing. He was the Operations and Training Officer at Counter Crime Unit (CCU). He was once the 13 Infantry Battalion Commander while he was also the Commander of Special Forces which he commanded for about 10 years.

When he was at the rank of Brigadier he was appointed as the Brigade Commander for more than 5 years. He was also appointed as the Inspector General at the rank of Major General and later appointed as the Chief of Logistics Command and Support Services which is his present appointment. The General in his deployment as an Observer twice in Madagascar has been appointed as the Mentor and lead facilitator on multi-dimensional Peace Support Operations at SADC RPTC in Zimbabwe.

He was awarded several medals for his accomplishments during his service, such as Military Medal for Gallantry (MMG), Military Medal for brave Deeds (MMD), Military Medal for Meritorious Service (MMMS), Military Medal for Instructors (MMI), and Military Service Medal for 20 years (MSM).

Major General Ramoqōpō is the first high ranking woman officer in the Lesotho Defence Force. She was commissioned in 2000 into the Military Health Services.



The General is an alumna of Nanjing Army Command and Staff College, China pursuing Senior Command & Staff Course. She is also an alumna of the Zimbabwe Command and Staff College pursuing Junior Command & Staff Course, Harare in the Republic of Zimbabwe and Army Medical Department in the USA where she attended Medical Logistics Management for Officers and Strategic Course for Future African Leaders in 2002 and 2008 respectively.



The General further attended varied courses both nationally and internationally including: International Humanitarian Law and Defence Attaché Course in Lesotho in 1999 and 2015 respectively, Peacekeeping Course for Staff Officers and Peacekeeping course for Battalion Cdrs in Zimbabwe 2012 and 2013 respectively and Legal Cadre, Lesotho in 2005 among others.

The General is a graduate of the National Health Training College and Queen Elizabeth II Nursing School. Her credentials include a Diploma in General Nursing at Queen Elizabeth II School of Nursing in 1990, a Diploma in Midwifery, National Health Training College in 1991 and a Diploma in Nursing Anaesthesia in 1997. In a distinguished military career exceeding three decades the General has been appointed the Assistant Chief of Staff-Military Health Services in 2016. Prior to becoming a Director MHS for five years from 2010 to 2015, she became a Nurse Midwife and a Nurse Anesthetist. The General's executive duties include serving as Defence Attache in an AU Mission in Addis Ababa Ethiopia from 2016 to 2017.

The General's decorations include Military Medal for Meritorious Service (MMMS) and Military Service Medal (MSM) (10, 20 & 30 years). She was also awarded Best Non-ZDF student award by Zimbabwe Command & Staff College in 2007, Best Woman Achiever in LDF Award by Moafrica FM in 2011 and Best Woman Achiever Award by St Felix Church in 2018.