Qacha’s Nek, May. 07 — In the small village of Maieaneng in Mafeteng, where poverty often limits dreams before they even begin, a young Mosotho girl quietly held onto hope.
She studied without textbooks, cared for younger siblings while still a learner herself, and at one point nearly abandoned school altogether because life had simply become too difficult.
Today, that same girl, ’Malineo Seboholi has made history as the first Mosotho to receive the prestigious Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellowship, one of Africa’s most competitive and respected leadership programmes.
Her journey is not only a personal triumph, but a powerful story of resilience, faith, sacrifice, and the transformative power of education.
Born ’Masekepe Ntšinyi, Seboholi is the third of seven children raised by her mother, Mrs. ’Mamakalang and her late father, Mr. Khotso. Her mother worked as a domestic worker in South Africa to support the family, while back home, young Seboholi fought to keep her dreams alive.
She attended Kopanong Primary LEC School before proceeding to Johnson Baker Secondary School after passing Standard 7 with a first class. But secondary school came with painful struggles.
“I recall not having textbooks throughout Form A to C,” she said in an interview with the Agency on Thursday.
Despite excelling academically, poverty constantly threatened to derail her future. After writing her Form C examinations, she did not immediately know her results because her family could not afford to buy the results booklet from the Education Office.
“I only heard an alarming excitement in my village,” she recalled. “Apparently, one of the villagers heard from the next village (Thabaneng) that I passed with Merit.”
The hardships deepened as she balanced school with caring for her two younger siblings who were still in primary school. Eventually, the pressure became unbearable.
“One day I decided to quit school due to struggles,” she said.
But just as hope seemed lost, compassion intervened.
Seboholi approached her then principal, Mr. Mzamane Nhlapo, to inform him of her decision to leave school. Instead of accepting her decision, he listened to her struggles and changed the course of her life.
“He then decided to assist me, and even took me into his house where I stayed until I wrote my COSC,” she said.
That act of kindness became a turning point.
Seboholi passed her COSC examinations with second class and later enrolled at the National University of Lesotho, where she completed a BA in Economics in 2004. From 2006, she worked in various government ministries and capacities, steadily building a career in public service.
Yet even after years in government, her hunger for growth never faded.
In 2020, after spending 16 years away from formal education, she made the bold decision to return to university. She pursued her Masters, MPhil in Industrial Policy at the University of Johannesburg under a United Nations-sponsored scholarship through IDEP.
“This opened immense doors of opportunities in my life,” she said.
Her professional journey continued to evolve. In 2023, she requested redeployment from Chief Economic Planner to Manager Regional Trade, a decision she believes was spiritually guided.
“This is a pivot that I believe was guided by the Holy Spirit because as a Christian, being led by the Holy Spirit is very important,” she explained.
A year later, she was promoted to her current position, Director Trade.
Now, her selection as the first Mosotho recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Fellowship has placed her among a new generation of African leaders shaping governance and development across the continent.
“Personally, this means a lot to me because my growth as a leader is going to be enhanced,” she said. “It also reinforces continued determination that with hard work and dedication, I can reach full potential to accomplish my God-given purpose.”
For Lesotho, she says, the achievement proves that Basotho can compete and contribute meaningfully at continental and global levels.
“This confirms that Lesotho has what it takes to participate and contribute meaningfully in the multilateral organizations,” she said.
Interestingly, it was her daughter, Lineo, who encouraged her to apply for the fellowship.
“In her words, she said, Mom, please apply for this because when I look at it, I see you in it,” Seboholi recalled.
“I looked at it and realized that she was right…I am the person that believe Africa has what it takes to develop, particularly through industrialization and all that is needed is decisive and united leadership,” she said.
So, among the three supported organizations, she said the International Trade Centre (ITC)’s work programme aligns very well with this vision, especially through its support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including women-owned businesses, to integrate into global trade.
She also highlighted her passion for women empowerment, noting that she is among the founding members and Chairperson of Makaota Ladies, established in 2018.
Through the fellowship, Mrs. Seboholi hopes to gain knowledge, exposure, and networks that will help Lesotho’s MSMEs participate meaningfully in regional and global trade, saying “there is a need to build productive capacity and close information gap among our MSMEs. ITC market intelligence tools are used worldwide to assist business to make informed decisions in international trade.”
Second, for Africa, as a Mo Ibrahim Fellow, she automatically becomes a member of the Now Generation Network (NGN), a community of like-minded fellows committed to good governance and development across the continent.
“I will actively participate in this network to ensure that other African aspiring young leaders are capacitated,” she said.
For young Basotho looking at her journey and wondering whether their dreams are possible, Seboholi offers a message rooted in hope and perseverance.
“Where you come from can never determine your destination,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of resilience, lifelong learning, and courage in pursuing opportunities.
“There is a saying that the day you stop learning, is the day you stop growing,” she said. Quoting Leonard Ravenhill, she added: “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of that opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Lesotho’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Ntšiuoa Sekete, described Seboholi’s achievement as a proud moment for the country.
“Her achievement is not only a personal success, but a moment of national pride and inspiration,” she said adding “This achievement reflects the immense potential of Basotho youth to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s leadership and development. It must inspire us to invest more boldly in our young people and create pathways for excellence.”
She said Lesotho celebrates this moment as a testament to the country’s growing footprint in continental leadership and a call to empower the next generation.
Her story is more than a record of academic and professional achievement; it is a testament to what becomes possible when perseverance is met with opportunity.
It closes with a reminder that journeys shaped by hardship can still lead to influence, impact, and purpose. Through her historic achievement, Seboholi now stands not only as part of Lesotho’s presence on the continental stage, but as part of a growing generation redefining what leadership from small beginnings can look like.
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