Maseru, March 08 — The Assistant Chief of State (ACOS) Military Health Services (MHS) in the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Brigadier ‘Matumelo Ramoqopo was appointed as the first female Major General effective from March 01 this year.
During the event, LDF Commander Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela gave the newly promoted Major General directives on her new appointment on Tuesday (yesterday) at Ratjomose Barracks in the presence of LDF senior officers and staff who witnessed this auspicious occasion.
Lieutenant General Letsoela said the newly appointed Maj.Gen is the first woman who has military merits complemented by academic merits.
He said she worked hard under different working circumstances and thus deserved the promotion, urging her to keep up the good work and serve the nation.
Speaking at the event, Maj. Gen. Ramoqopo expressed gratitude for being appointed as the first female Major General in the history of LDF, pledging to restore hope among women as everything is possible with God.
“I was not interested in joining the army when I grew up but was forced by my brother,” she said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Ramoqopo graduated from the National Health Training College (NHTC) and Queen Elizabeth II nursing school. Her credentials include Diploma in Anaesthesia and General Nursing both from NHTC and Queen II respectively.
She joined the army in 1986 after which she attended and successfully completed various courses.
In a distinguished military career exceeding three decades, Maj. Gen. Ramoqopo was appointed as the ACOS military health service in 2016. She was also a midwife and Anaesthetist nurse before she was appointed as the Director Military Health Service for a period of five years.
