12 Facts About Justin Lekhanya

General Justin Metsing Lekhanya was the Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Military Council of Lesotho from 24 January 1986 to 2 May 1991.

Justin Lekhanya became the only Mosotho officer heading a paramilitary Police Mobile Unit platoon soon after its formation in 1965.

Justin Lekhanya oversaw its transformation into the Lesotho Paramilitary Force, later known as Lesotho Defence Force.

Justin Lekhanya was commander of the army when he overthrew Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan in a 1986 military coup following revelations that he had been the victim of a hoax by two Pan-Africanist Congress military commanders exiled from South Africa, Potlako Leballo and Bernard Leeman.

Justin Lekhanya immediately sought to improve relations with South Africa, which were strained due to Jonathan's support of the African National Congress.

Justin Lekhanya gave more power to Lesotho's king at first, but later came into dispute with him, and he deposed the king in another military coup in 1990.

The king was eventually restored in 1995, and Justin Lekhanya was overthrown in a 1991 military coup.

Justin Lekhanya then became leader of the Basotho National Party, an opposition party, replacing Retselisitsoe Sekhonyana, which had only a few seats in the parliament and, according to Justin Lekhanya, was the victim of fraud in several elections.

Justin Lekhanya was elected to the National Assembly through proportional representation.

On 31 May 2006, Justin Lekhanya was temporarily suspended from the National Assembly in connection with alleged intimidation of the Speaker of the National Assembly, which the BNP leadership was said to have condoned and abetted, according to a motion of the National Assembly and a subsequent report from the Committee of Privileges.

In December 2010, Justin Lekhanya was ousted as the party leader after a supermajority on a vote of no confidence on him.

On 20 January 2021, Justin Lekhanya died at Makoanyane Military Hospital in Maseru.