NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO
STATEMENT ON THE TERMINATION OF THE FIXED-TERM CONTRACT OF THE PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Council of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) wishes to inform the University community and all stakeholders that the fixed-term contract of Associate Professor, Kananelo Mosito, the suspended Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC), has been terminated. This decision has been taken with a view to safeguard the institution’s governance and stability.
Termination of the Fixed-Term Contract
At its meeting held yesterday, 2 August 2026, the Council of the NUL terminated the fixed term contract of the suspended Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Associate Professor Kananelo Mosito. This decision takes effect today, 03 August, 2026 as Council has dispensed with the required notice period. It is worth-noting that this decision relates to his fixed-term contract only. It does not affect his currently dormant permanent and pensionable contract as a member of the teaching and research staff cohort in the Faculty of Law.
This action was not taken lightly. It was informed by the clear recognition that the effective functioning of the University demands a unified, undisputed, and lawful governance architecture and a cohesive executive leadership. The Council, as the supreme governing body of the University, determined that recent conduct of the suspended PVC has fundamentally impaired the trust and confidence essential to the senior executive management. The decision was necessitated by the need to restore institutional stability, preserve the integrity of governance structures, and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of the University’s overall mandate of teaching, learning, research, and community development.
The Authority of Council
Section 10(1) of the National University of Lesotho Act, 1992 (as amended), vests the governance and strategic direction of the University in the Council. This authority is not discretionary. It is the constitutional foundation upon which the NUL’s institutional architecture is anchored.
The Council has a fiduciary duty to protect the University’s interests. The Council is tasked to ensure that the affairs of the University are conducted in accordance with the law and the University’s governing instruments. In fulfilling this duty, the Council remains the sole body vested with the authority to make executive appointments, recognize leadership, and determine the governance framework of the University.
No officer or employee, however senior, possesses the authority to create their own mandate, unilaterally assume executive office, or require University officials to recognize such self-declared authority.
Such conduct does not only destabilize the University, but it also has the net effect of creating multiple and contested centers of power. The assumption of executive powers by an individual without the lawful recognition of Council is invalid and without legal effect.
A Message to the University Community
We understand that recent events may have caused uncertainty and concern. We wish to reassure all staff, students, and stakeholders that the University remains fully operational. Our commitment to academic excellence and institutional integrity is unwavering. The Council and Management are focused on maintaining a stable and conducive environment for teaching, learning, research and community development.
It is imperative that all employees and officers of the University understand that a situation of self-help—where an employee purports to be the judge, jury and executor of their own legal rights is both untenable and undesirable. No staff or officer of the University shall declare themselves to hold an office on their own accord. Such situations are neither permissible nor recognised within the normative and institutional framework of NUL. The law provides established and agreed processes, including mediation, arbitration, and judicial relief, for resolving employment disputes. Unilateral declarations and executive directives issued in defiance of Council’s authority are fundamentally incompatible with the duties and obligations expected of any employee, particularly senior officers.
Conduct and Employee Obligations
All employees are reminded that their contracts of employment require fidelity to the University. They require respect for lawful authority. They require adherence to agreed dispute-resolution mechanisms. The University will not tolerate conduct that seeks to bypass its lawful structures, undermine its governance, or threaten the stability of the institution. Such actions are inconsistent with the employment relationship and will not be countenanced.
The Council is determined to protect not only its own authority but the very integrity of the University’s governance system. We remain committed to the rule of law, due process, and the principles of fairness. We call upon all members of the University community to continue their work in a spirit of cooperation, professionalism, and respect for the institutional structures that serve us all.
Conclusion
The National University of Lesotho is a proud institution with a distinguished history dating back to 1945. Last year NUL proudly commemorated its 80th Anniversary reaffirming its status as the premier higher education institution in the country. Its future depends on the collective commitment of all its members to uphold its values and respect its lawful governance. The Council remains resolute in its duty to lead the University through this transitional period and to ensure that it emerges stronger, more cohesive and more stable.
We thank the University community and all stakeholders for their patience, understanding, and continued dedication.
Issued by:
Council of the National University of Lesotho
Date: 03 August, 2026
Summary
- The Council of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) wishes to inform the University community and all stakeholders that the fixed-term contract of Associate Professor, Kananelo Mosito, the suspended Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC), has been terminated.
- The Council is tasked to ensure that the affairs of the University are conducted in accordance with the law and the University’s governing instruments.
- It is imperative that all employees and officers of the University understand that a situation of self-help—where an employee purports to be the judge, jury and executor of their own legal rights is both untenable and undesirable.
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