MASERU, Aug. 27 — Princess Senate Mohato Seeiso is emerging as an increasingly prominent voice in Lesotho’s development agenda with her public role expanding from championing the rights of children and girls to advancing equality, sustainable development and Basotho cultural identity.
The eldest child of Their Majesties King Letsie III and Queen ’Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Princess Senate was on Thursday unveiled as the UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador for Equality and Sustainable Development, a role that places her at the intersection of advocacy, development and national identity.
Her appointment comes at a significant moment for Lesotho, as the country commemorates its 60th Independence anniversary.
Accepting the appointment, Princess Senate said that she viewed the honour not simply as a title but as a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of equality, sustainable development and the wellbeing of Basotho.
“I accept this role not merely as a distinction, but as a solemn commitment to contribute in whatever way I can to the advancement of a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable society,” she said.
Princess Senate’s journey in public advocacy began while she was still in her teens, when she visited schools and communities across Lesotho to speak to young girls about the dangers of early child marriage.
“I was still in my teens when I first began walking into classrooms across Lesotho to talk to young girls about early child marriage,” she said.
Those engagements exposed her to girls as young as 13, 14 and 15 who were being forced to make life-changing decisions about marriage before they had an opportunity to imagine different futures. Her advocacy later expanded through her patronage of the Coalition on the Rights of the Child, deepening her understanding of the relationship between protecting children and building a prosperous nation.
“The rights of the child and the development of a nation are not separate conversations. They are the same conversation,” she said.
In 2017, Princess Senate was appointed National Champion for Ending Child Marriage, further establishing her as a public voice on issues affecting children and young people.
Her latest UNDP role now broadens that platform to encompass equality, youth empowerment, women’s economic participation and sustainable development. Princess Senate said her understanding of public service had also been shaped by watching her parents serve Basotho in different spheres.
She cited Queen ’Masenate’s longstanding advocacy against HIV and AIDS and stigma, as well as King Letsie III’s engagement on international platforms on issues including hunger and nutrition security. She said their example had demonstrated that public service was ultimately about improving the lives of people.
Turning the SDGs into a lived reality, Princess Senate said that the Sustainable Development Goals should not be regarded as distant international commitments, but as goals directly connected to the daily experiences of Basotho. She said her exposure to UNDP programmes in different parts of the country had enabled her to witness first-hand how development interventions were reaching villages, mountain communities and remote areas.
“I accept this appointment with immense pride, but also with an understanding that there is work to be done,” she said.
She pledged to use her public platform and experience in advocacy to support efforts aimed at empowering young people, advancing equality and promoting sustainable development across Lesotho.
For a country facing economic pressures, unemployment and the challenge of creating opportunities for its youthful population, the ambassadorial role could provide a powerful platform for translating development priorities into messages that resonate with ordinary citizens.
Speaking at this event on behalf of the government of Lesotho, the Deputy Prime Minister Justice Nthomeng Majara said Princess Senate’s appointment came at a critical time and should be viewed as part of the broader effort to accelerate structural changes affecting women and girls.
She indicated that African Women’s Month should not only be a period for celebrating the resilience and contribution of women, but should also encourage action to remove barriers preventing women and girls from fully participating in national development.
“Women and girls are not in this world by accident, but it is by design to strike a balance and help our fellow men to develop and to build our communities, our societies, our countries and the globe,” Justice Majara said.
She noted that the Sustainable Development Goals were directly linked to issues experienced by Basotho, including access to education, decent employment, essential services, human rights and resilient communities.
Justice Majara highlighted that achieving these objectives required more than government policies and programmes, stressing the importance of public engagement, national ownership and credible voices capable of inspiring communities to take action.
UNDP sees ‘hope, courage and purpose’
On the other hand the, UNDP Resident Representative to Lesotho Dr Jacqueline Olweya said that Princess Senate’s appointment is not merely the conferment of a prestigious title but an opportunity to carry “hope, courage and purpose” from the ceremony into schools, villages, businesses and communities.
She mentioned that the selection process was rigorous and assessed both the strengths Princess Senate could bring to the position and the responsibilities attached to it.
“It’s not because of the two royals that I’ve mentioned there, but it’s because of the role that she continues to play in the kingdom,” Dr Olweya said.
Dr. Olweya said the appointment reflected UNDP’s belief in the ability of trusted public figures to help turn development goals from policy documents into issues that communities can understand and embrace.
She cited UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors and advocates such as Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Nigerian musician Yemi Alade and Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba as examples of prominent figures who have used their platforms to promote development causes.
Princess Senate now joins that global network, with a mandate tailored to Lesotho’s own development priorities. Beyond her UNDP responsibilities, Princess Senate’s anticipated role as a Culture Ambassador adds another dimension to her growing public portfolio.
The role offers an opportunity to promote Basotho culture, traditions and heritage while encouraging young people to understand and value the identity passed down through generations but culture is increasingly more than an element of heritage preservation. It can also serve as a driver of tourism, national unity, creativity and economic opportunity.
For Lesotho, the promotion of traditional arts, fashion, crafts, music and heritage tourism could create opportunities for young people while strengthening national pride and preserving the country’s distinctive identity. This places Princess Senate in a unique space where culture meets development, and identity meets opportunity.
Her appointment comes as young Basotho increasingly seek meaningful opportunities to participate in shaping the country’s future. The challenge, therefore, is not simply to explain the Sustainable Development Goals but to show young people how those goals connect to their everyday lives from education and employment to entrepreneurship, gender equality, environmental protection and dignity.
The vision articulated at the appointment ceremony was of a Lesotho where every girl can dream without fear, every young person can find opportunity, communities can live with dignity and every Mosotho can see themselves in the country’s future.
As Princess Senate takes on her new responsibilities, her public journey is evolving beyond royal representation into a broader platform for advocacy and national service.
For a Kingdom preparing to celebrate six decades of independence while confronting the demands of a rapidly changing world, Princess Senate’s emerging role could become an important bridge between Lesotho’s heritage, the aspirations of today’s generation and the sustainable future the country seeks to build.
Ends/NT
