…returns to law as practising Advocate
Hopolang Mokhopi
FORMER Maseru Senior Resident Magistrate, Peter Murenzi, has returned to the legal profession, months after being forced into retirement from the Judiciary.
Now practising as an Advocate, Adv Murenzi made his return to the courtroom last week when he appeared before the Maseru Magistrates Court representing Basotho National Party (BNP) leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe.
Mr Mofomobe was appearing in connection with a M5 billion drug manufacturing and possession case involving three Chinese nationals and another Mosotho man.
Adv Murenzi successfully applied for Mr Mofomobe to be granted bail on similar conditions to those imposed on the four accused who had been charged earlier in June.
Mr Mofomobe was released on M5000 bail and M50 000 surety.
In an interview with the Lesotho Times this week, Adv Murenzi confirmed that he had opted to return to private practice.
He said he was first admitted as an Advocate in 2000 but he had opted to work for the State since then. After his retirement from the judiciary, he and subsequently applied and obtained his practising certificate in June this year, enabling him to begin work.
“I was admitted back as a practising lawyer in June 2026. I am yet to start being busy this August. And I don’t have a new journey to discuss with you at the moment…..I will share details of my practice with you in due course…,” Adv Murenzi said.
He said the only thing he could confirm at this stage was that he had retired from the judiciary and joined private practice.
He added that he had not yet decided whether to specialise in criminal or civil matters, saying he would consider both depending on his clients’ needs.
“I am not yet attached to any speciality. I am a person who has a specialisation with a postgraduate degree, which I’m not disclosing to you now. But for the time being, as a practising lawyer, I’m a jack of all trades. I will follow my client’s instructions.
“Because I have a wealth of experience on the bench (as a magistrate), ranging across all aspects of jurisdiction within the courts, I cannot reject a client because of the area of law,” he said.
Adv Murenzi said his decision to return to legal practice was largely prompted by his compulsory retirement, which brought his judicial career to an abrupt end.
“I had dreamed of retiring as a judge. So, by virtue of being a lawyer, I took the other available option in my profession.
“You wouldn’t expect me to go to Masimong (the fields) when I have a practising certificate. If my career or my goal is the protection of rights, protection of human rights, you can protect human rights either as a judge or as defence counsel, or even as a prosecutor. Because either way, you are guided by facts and the law. It is just one face of the same coin,” he said.
Background
Adv Murenzi’s return to private practice follows his compulsory retirement from the judiciary after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) adopted a disciplinary panel’s recommendation that he be removed from office.
At its 329th sitting, held in August last year, the JSC endorsed High Court Judge Realeboha Mathaba’s recommendation that then Magistrate Murenzi be retired after finding him guilty of unlawfully releasing murder suspects on bail. The JSC ordered that he be removed from office through compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
Magistrate Murenzi had been suspended since February 2025 following allegations surrounding the release of five inmates from Maseru Central Correctional Institution. He, Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) officer, Ralekoti Mokhahlane, and prosecutor, Matias Chopho, were alleged to have conspired to secure their release. Mr Mokhahlane resigned from LCS while Adv Chopho remains a prosecutor and never underwent and disciplinary proceedings.
The disciplinary proceedings followed an investigation ordered by then Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane into cases involving allegedly questionable bail rulings.
Among those released were Hei “Lekaota” Nketsi and Moeketsi Rantheba, who were facing charges related to an alleged conspiracy to kill state witness in the case relating to the murder of radio personality, Ralikonelo “Leqhashasha” Joki. The two were later re-arrested.
Magistrate Murenzi later confirmed that he had ordered the release of the five accused in two separate matters, but denied wrongdoing, maintaining that he had merely exercised his legal discretion as the magistrate on call.
The disciplinary proceedings were presided over by Justice Mathaba from May 2025, with High Court and Court of Appeal Registrar, Adv ’Mathato Sekoai, prosecuting and Court of Appeal Assistant Registrar Adv Mosito Rabotsoa representing Magistrate Murenzi.
Advocate Murenzi insists he never did anything wrong. He could have challenged Judge Mathaba’s findings in court but he seems to have decided that private practice – where he will now be guaranteed of better remuneration – was a more viable option.
