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CATCHING UP WITH FORMER NUL STAFF

and Human Rights project. I which I was later appointed as from this early misadventure, my
followed it up only to find out head. My teaching subjects turned time in the Faculty of Law was a
that the project had not come out to be Private International happy and rewarding one. I had
through, instead it was suggested Law (Conflict of Laws), and, most the fortune of being taken under
that I might be interested in a remarkably, Basotho Customary the wing by Professor Nasila
teaching position which had just Law. Teaching Basotho Customary Rembe as Associate Editor of
been advertised at the National Law was quite an experience. the Lesotho Law Journal, a role I
University of Lesotho Faculty of Although I had an excellent book greatly cherished. I also benefitted
Law. Although the position was for written by one Professor Sebastian from the presence of the late
a Lecturer in Law, the University Poulter on the subject, making Ntate Moses Owori, as excellent a
had an Institute of Labour Studies, head or tail of Basotho names and human being and teacher as one
I was encouraged to apply and so intricate traditional ways was quite could come across.
I did. a challenge. I barely got on top on
it. Whatever my lapses then, I had I was privileged to teach some
And so, my NUL experience always been a confident ‘pair of excellent students, including such
began. I was appointed and safe hands’, being able to master leading figures as the late General
arrived there in late 1988. I knew my brief as I found it, but, for once Maaparankoe Mahao who was
very little about Lesotho other than in my life, I found myself close tragically taken too young, and
the Makololo historical connection to being declared incompetent. the current Labour Commissioner
the Kingdom had with the Balozi None other than someone who Mrs ‘Mamohale Matsoso. There
people of Western Zambia, and, later became my star student and were, indeed, some very good
as I was later to find out, that friend, now Professor Kananelo students some of whom I was
Lesotho was outside the tropics Mosito, led the revolt. Fortunately later to encounter as a teacher
and was bitterly cold in winter. My for me the combined persuasive and supervisor at the University
experience teaching Law was even powers of Dean Umesh Kumar of Cape Town, notably Kananelo
more confounding, I had expected and, my old teacher, the late Bill Mosito. Other NUL graduates
to teach Labour or Human Rights, McClain gave me another chance. who came after my time that I
areas in which I had proven have been privileged to teach
pretensions, but that was not I also benefitted from the advice and closely get to know include
to be. In fact, I did not have any of Sam Rugege whom I was to Advocate Mothepa Ndumo. Not
contact with Human Rights let meet again in Cape Town, before only Mothepa but others, such
alone Labour Law as a teacher. he returned to Rwanda to become as Advocate Rethabile Sakoane,
The only incidental connection Deputy Chief Justice and later Chief and, not least, the current Dean
I had with Labour Law was my Justice, positions he discharged of the Faculty of Law, Professor
formal appointment as Director with distinction for some sixteen Mtende Mhango, whom I briefly
of the Institute of Labour Studies years, I have been fortunate to taught in Cape Town have helped
which I could not take up as I had continue to be in contact with him to sustain my privileged links
accepted a
position at the “Despite my rocky beginning as Basotho Customary Law teacher,
University of it is the students that I most remember.”
Cape Town in
1992, just before my appointment and his wife Elizabeth. I was also with the National University of
was confirmed. later to learn that Professor Nqosa Lesotho and I greatly treasure
Mahao who became a close these connections.
My teaching came to be mainly friend, kindly gave Mosito and
in the Private Law Department to
his peers some talking to. Apart

Issue 2022 FOL Quarterly 61