Mohloai Mpesi
IT was all smiles and emotional tributes as accountants gathered at the Avani Maseru last Saturday to bid farewell to the outgoing Accountant General, ’Malehlohonolo Mahase, during a colourful gala dinner.
Ms Mahase assumed the office of Accountant General in 2019 after she was appointed by the then Minister of Finance, Dr Moeketsi Majoro, who would later become Prime Minister in 2020.
When her initial three-year term expired in 2022, it was extended by another three years lapsing this month.
Colleagues from various ministries described Ms Mahase as a calm, diligent, and inspiring leader who has transformed the Treasury Department.
Born on 22 March 1987 in Mokhotlong, Ms Mahase attended St James primary and high schools in her formative years. She passed Form C with Merit and attained seventh position nationally in the 2003 Form E examinations.
Between 2004 and 2009, she studied at the Centre for Accounting Studies (CAS), earning the qualifications of Certified Accounting Technician, General Accountant, and Chartered Accountant.
She is currently pursuing an MBA with the University of the Free State in South Africa.
Ms Mahase’s career began as a part-time lecturer at CAS between 2007 and 2008, and again from 2017 to 2018, where she taught ACCA, CIPFA, and CIMA programmes. She also worked with Moores Rowland as an auditor from 2006 until 2009, and at the time of her departure she was Audit Manager.
In 2009, she joined the Lesotho Institute of Accountants, where she rose to the position of Chief Executive Officer, serving from 2014 to 2017. She later founded Tirong Chartered Accountants, where she continues to serve as Managing Partner.
In 2019, she was appointed Accountant General of Lesotho.
During her tenure, she served on several boards, including at the National Health Training Centre, the Public Officers’ Defined Contribution Pension Fund, Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital, and the National Drug Services Organisation.
She represented Lesotho on the Eastern and Southern Africa Association of Accountants General (ESAAG) and served as founding Chairperson of the African Association of Accountants General (AAAG) until October 2025. She is also a Mandela Washington Fellow from Georgia State University, USA.
Reflecting on her journey, Ms Mahase recalled the challenges and triumphs that marked her tenure.
“When I was appointed, I didn’t 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 during the teachers’ protests and the ‘no work, no pay’ standoff. My first day included being summoned to Parliament to explain why teachers hadn’t been paid. Luckily, I had already done my research.”
She went on to recount the difficult years that followed:
“The following year was COVID-19; then came the IFMIS system crash. The next year, we faced 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.”
Ms Mahase expressed pride in Lesotho’s growing reputation within the continent’s accounting community.
“Lesotho is well known internationally because of you. Our country leads African Accountant Generals — they respect us. Continue that great work. We used to read the newspapers every Friday and say, ‘We haven’t appeared in the papers; it means God is still protecting us’.”
Substantive Director of Finance Expenditure and Acting Deputy Accountant General–Expenditure, Retšepile Mosenene, praised Ms Mahase’s leadership.
“She headed a very demanding department, but she made the Treasury feel like home. We found warmth, understanding, and respect — even from our counterparts abroad,” Ms Mosenene said.
“When she arrived, the office was chaotic, filled with piles of pink papers. But she set the record straight and gave us direction. She moulded us and left a legacy we’ll uphold as accounting professionals.”
Acting Accountant General – Revenue, Hlompho Matsoso, echoed the same sentiments.
“She was young when she took over, but she knew her work and handled challenges with calm professionalism. She stabilised the system during upgrades and made sure things ran smoothly,” Matsoso said.
“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 ease.”
Representing district offices, Tšitso Ntsekele from the Quthing Finance Office thanked Ms Mahase for her inclusive leadership.
“For the longest time, district offices felt neglected, but Ms Mahase changed that. She made sure we were known and appreciated. I’ll never forget when she visited Quthing and told me, ‘Ntsekele, if this is how you work by uniting your team, you’re doing well’. That encouraged me deeply,” he said.
He described her as “kind, hardworking, and peaceful,” urging her to continue embodying those values in her future endeavours.
