Glowing tributes for outgoing Accountant General

The accounting fraternity bid an emotional farewell to Accountant General ‘Malehlohonolo Mahase at a ceremony held in Maseru yesterday, marking the end of an era defined by excellence, integrity, and visionary leadership in Lesotho’s public finance management.

The event, hosted by Cadre Accountants, drew senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, colleagues, and peers from the accounting profession, all of whom paid glowing tributes to Mahase’s outstanding service and leadership.

In her address at the farewell ceremony, the acting Accountant General Hlompho Matsoso described Mahase as a “pillar of strength” who elevated Lesotho’s accounting profession to international recognition.

“She held everything together and worked tirelessly to put accountants from Lesotho on the map. She leaves us with the knowledge and skills to be calm when things get tough. It is now our duty to carry her baton forward,” Matsoso said.

“She was young when she took over, but she knew her work and handled every challenge with calm professionalism. She stabilised the system during upgrades and ensured operations ran smoothly.

“Accountants are often disliked for insisting on accountability, but with her, we walked that path proudly. She put Lesotho on the international map and helped us host the AAAG conference with excellence,” he added.

Matsoso concluded his remarks by saying; “Mahase has shown us what leadership rooted in service looks like. We owe it to her legacy to sustain the standards she set and continue building an accountable financial future for Lesotho.”

On her part, Director of Finance Expenditure and Acting Deputy Accountant General – Expenditure, Retšepile Mosenene, commended Mahase’s leadership and ability to inspire her team.

“She led a very demanding department, yet she made the Treasury feel like home. We found warmth, understanding, and respect, even from our international counterparts,” Mosenene said.

“When she arrived, the office was in chaos, filled with piles of pink papers. But she brought order, gave us direction, and moulded us into professionals. She has left a legacy we will uphold with pride.”

In her address, the outgoing Mahase reflected on the challenges and milestones that defined her tenure in office.

“When I was appointed, I did not think I had the experience or maturity for the role. But when God wants to use you, He qualifies you,” she said.

“I arrived in October 2019, right in the middle of the teachers’ protests and the ‘no work, no pay’ standoff. On my very first day, I was summoned to Parliament to explain why teachers had not been paid. Fortunately, I had already done my research.”

She went on to recount some of the defining moments of her six-year tenure that comprised two consecutive three-year terms.

“The following year brought Covid-19, then the IFMIS system crash. The next year, we dealt with a fraud case involving M50 million, and later, the M6.1 billion saga. But through it all, you made me shine. You supported me day and night. When God wants to use you, He gives you strength, wisdom, and people who stand by you.”

Mahase also expressed pride in Lesotho’s rising prominence within the continental accounting community.

“Lesotho is now well known internationally because of your hard work. Our country leads among African Accountant Generals, and we are respected across the continent. Keep up the great work. We used to read the newspapers every Friday and say, ‘We have not appeared in the papers, it means God is still protecting us,’” she said.

Appointed as Accountant General in 2019, Mahase’s tenure was marked by transformative reforms, innovation, and strengthened accountability within the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

She also served on several key national boards, including the National Health Training Centre, the Public Officers’ Defined Contribution Pension Fund, Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital, and the National Drug Services Organisation.

Beyond national service, she represented Lesotho in the Eastern and Southern Association of Accountants General (ESSAG), where she served on the board, and made history as the founding Chairperson of the African Association of Accountants General (AAAG), a position she held until October 2025.

Born on 22 March 1987 in Mokhotlong, Mahase’s academic and professional journey has been characterised by determination and excellence. She attended St. James Primary and High Schools, where she achieved national recognition by ranking seventh in the 2003 Form E examinations.

She later pursued her accounting studies at the Centre for Accounting Studies (CAS) between 2004 and 2009, qualifying as a Certified Accounting Technician, General Accountant, and Chartered Accountant. She is currently completing an MBA with the University of the Free State in South Africa.

Her professional career began at Moores Rowland in 2006, where she rose to the position of Audit Manager before joining the Lesotho Institute of Accountants (LIA) in 2009. At LIA, she advanced to become Chief Executive Officer from 2014 to 2017. She also lectured part-time at CAS, teaching ACCA, CIPFA, and CIMA programmes.

Mahase later founded Tirong Chartered Accountants, a firm dedicated to nurturing local accounting talent and promoting ethical financial management in the corporate sector. Her international outlook and commitment to integrity earned her selection as a Mandela Washington Fellow at Georgia State University in the United States, a testament to her exemplary leadership.

Seabata Mahao

Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.