Elias Phisoana Ramaema
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Major-General Elias Phisoana Ramaema (10 November 1933 – 11 December 2015) was Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of Lesotho (
Head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, ...
) from 2 May 1991 to 2 April 1993. Born at Mapoteng,
Berea District : ''For the city mentioned in the Bible, see Berea (Bible).'' Berea is a district of Lesotho. In the west, Berea borders on the Free State Province of South Africa. Domestically, it borders on the following districts: Leribe District in the nort ...
, Ramaema completed his high school education at Roma College in 1956. He worked as a migrant laborer at the President Steyn gold mine in
Welkom Welkom () is the second-largest city in the Free State province of South Africa, located about northeast of Bloemfontein which is the provincial capital. Welkom is also known as Circle City, City Within A Garden, Mvela and Matjhabeng. The ci ...
between 1957 and 1958. After failing to secure employment he returned home and joined the Basutoland Mounted Police the following year. After the country's independence, he was transferred to the newly formed paramilitary Police Mobile Unit, which later became
Lesotho Defence Force The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) is the military of the Southern African Kingdom of Lesotho, which consists of about 2,000 personnel and is tasked with maintaining internal security, territorial integrity, and defending the constitution of Lesoth ...
. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and received specialized training in South Africa. As one of the six members of the Military Council, he oversaw the Ministries of Planning, Finance, Public Service, and Labour and Manpower Development. Government sources also described him as a mediator in conflicts between the Military Council and King
Moshoeshoe II Moshoeshoe II (2 May 1938 – 15 January 1996), previously known as Constantine Bereng Seeiso, was the Paramount Chief of Basutoland, succeeding paramount chief Seeiso from 1960 until the country gained full independence from Britain in 1966. ...
and General Justin Lekhanya's right-hand man. His greatest accomplishment was overseeing Lesotho's transformation back to civilian rule, which he revoked the Order No. 4, the Suspension of Political Activities Order and dropped the draft constitution clause that would have enshrined a military presence in the cabinet. He also presided over constitutional negotiations and permitted parliamentary elections that resulted in his
peaceful transition of power A peaceful transition or transfer of power is a concept important to democratic governments in which the leadership of a government peacefully hands over control of government to a newly-elected leadership. This may be after elections or during t ...
to the newly democratically elected government of Ntsu Mokhehle. After stepping down as prime minister, he retired from the military and engaged in private and public ventures which included serving in parliamentary committees as well as the special advisory to the High Court of Lesotho. He died in 2015 at the age of 82.


References

Prime Ministers of Lesotho 1933 births 2015 deaths {{Africa-mil-bio-stub