…family mourns his passing
Hopolang Mokhopi
PROMINENT lawyer and statesman, Advocate Haae Edward Phoofolo KC, has passed away at the age of 78 after battling multiple health complications.
His wife, Ntšebo ’Mantai Phoofolo, confirmed that the former interim Prime Minister passed on in the early hours of yesterday morning.
She explained that Adv Phoofolo first began feeling unwell on Wednesday, 6 August, but continued with his daily routine. By Saturday, however, his condition deteriorated, prompting the family to rush him to Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted for a week.
“At the hospital, doctors informed us that blood tests suggested he had cancer, and they intended to discharge him on Wednesday so that he could seek further treatment at Sankatana Oncology Centre. Instead, he was discharged on Sunday,” Ms Phoofolo recalled.
After spending two days at home, his health worsened again on Tuesday, and the family rushed him to Lehlakeng Private Hospital, where Dr Thabane provided emergency care.
“Dr Thabane’s assessment revealed that his health issues stemmed from a swollen heart, affected lungs, and possible kidney failure, all of which were life-threatening,” Ms Phoofolo said.
Tragically, despite efforts to save him, Adv Phoofolo was confirmed dead at 03:30 am. His wife, who had planned to visit him at the hospital that morning, was met instead with the devastating news of his passing.
Adv Phoofolo is survived by his wife of 45 years, three sons, daughters-in-law, four siblings, and several grandchildren. The couple married on 13 October 1979.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Born in 1947 in Ladybrand, South Africa, to an Anglican clergyman, Adv Phoofolo went on to become one of Lesotho’s most respected legal and political figures.
He obtained his joint LLB degree from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland and the University of Edinburgh in 1974. He later earned a Master’s degree in banking and money management from Adelphi University in New York in 1977.
That same year, he was admitted to the Lesotho Bar, serving as attorney, conveyancer and notary public in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. His early public service included a role as legal advisor to the Lesotho National Development Bank, before being appointed Commissioner of Financial Institutions in the Ministry of Finance in 1978.
In 1981, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Central Bank of Lesotho, later becoming its Deputy Governor in 1983.
Between 1986 and 2012, Adv Phoofolo built a formidable career as a lawyer and consultant, gaining recognition as a staunch human rights advocate. His close ties to the monarchy saw him being appointed Interim Prime Minister of Lesotho by King Letsie III in August 1994, a position he held for one month.
In 2012, he successfully contested the Maseru Central constituency under the All Basotho Convention (ABC) and was later appointed Minister of Justice, Human Rights, Correctional Service and Law and Constitutional Affairs, where he pledged to reform the country’s justice system.
In 2017, he became Attorney General of Lesotho, a role he held until his retirement in 2021.
Adv Phoofolo leaves behind a lasting legacy as a respected lawyer, politician, and statesman whose service spanned more than four decades.
