Major-General Elias Phisoana Ramaema (10 November 1933 – 11 December 2015)[1] was Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of Lesotho (head of government) from 2 May 1991 to 2 April 1993.[2][3]
Born at Mapoteng, Berea District, Ramaema completed his high school education at Roma College in 1956. He worked as a migrant laborer at the President Steyn gold mine in Welkom between 1957 and 1958. After failing to secure employment he returned home and joined the Basutoland Mounted Police the following year. After the country's independence, he was transferred to the newly formed paramilitary Police Mobile Unit, which later became Lesotho Defence Force. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and received specialized training in South Africa. As one of the six members of the Military Council, he oversaw the Ministries of Planning, Finance, Public Service, and Labour and Manpower Development. Government sources also described him as a mediator in conflicts between the Military Council and King Moshoeshoe II and General Justin Lekhanya's right-hand man.
His greatest accomplishment was overseeing Lesotho's transformation back to civilian rule, which he revoked the Order No. 4, the Suspension of Political Activities Order and dropped the draft constitution clause that would have enshrined a military presence in the cabinet. He also presided over constitutional negotiations and permitted parliamentary elections that resulted in his peaceful transition of power to the newly democratically elected government of Ntsu Mokhehle.[4]
After stepping down as prime minister, he retired from the military and engaged in private and public ventures which included serving in parliamentary committees as well as the special advisory to the High Court of Lesotho. He died in 2015 at the age of 82.[5]
Referencesedit
^Ramaema, Col. Elias. Europa Publications Limited. 1990. ISBN9780946653584. Retrieved 23 March 2014. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^"PROVISIONAL VERBATIM RECORD OF THE 22nd MEETING" (PDF). disarmament.un.org. United Nations. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
^Lestimes (24 December 2015). "Govt lavishes praise on late military ruler".
^Historical Dictionary of Lesotho (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press. 13 June 2013. pp. 448–449. ISBN9780810879829.
^"Minister praises late commander". Lesotho Times. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
elias, phisoana, ramaema, major, general, november, 1933, december, 2015, chairman, military, council, council, ministers, lesotho, head, government, from, 1991, april, 1993, general2nd, chairman, military, councilin, office, 1991, april, 1993monarchletsie, ii. Major General Elias Phisoana Ramaema 10 November 1933 11 December 2015 1 was Chairman of the Military Council and Council of Ministers of Lesotho head of government from 2 May 1991 to 2 April 1993 2 3 GeneralElias Phisoana Ramaema2nd Chairman of the Military CouncilIn office 2 May 1991 2 April 1993MonarchLetsie IIIPreceded byJustin LekhanyaSucceeded byNtsu Mokhehle As Prime Minister of Lesotho Personal detailsBornElias Phisoana Ramaema 1933 11 10 10 November 1933Mapoteng Basutoland now Mapoteng Lesotho Died11 December 2015 2015 12 11 aged 82 Maseru LesothoPolitical partyNone military officer OccupationSoldierMilitary serviceBranch service Lesotho Defence ForceRankMajor General Born at Mapoteng Berea District Ramaema completed his high school education at Roma College in 1956 He worked as a migrant laborer at the President Steyn gold mine in Welkom between 1957 and 1958 After failing to secure employment he returned home and joined the Basutoland Mounted Police the following year After the country s independence he was transferred to the newly formed paramilitary Police Mobile Unit which later became Lesotho Defence Force He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and received specialized training in South Africa As one of the six members of the Military Council he oversaw the Ministries of Planning Finance Public Service and Labour and Manpower Development Government sources also described him as a mediator in conflicts between the Military Council and King Moshoeshoe II and General Justin Lekhanya s right hand man His greatest accomplishment was overseeing Lesotho s transformation back to civilian rule which he revoked the Order No 4 the Suspension of Political Activities Order and dropped the draft constitution clause that would have enshrined a military presence in the cabinet He also presided over constitutional negotiations and permitted parliamentary elections that resulted in his peaceful transition of power to the newly democratically elected government of Ntsu Mokhehle 4 After stepping down as prime minister he retired from the military and engaged in private and public ventures which included serving in parliamentary committees as well as the special advisory to the High Court of Lesotho He died in 2015 at the age of 82 5 References edit Ramaema Col Elias Europa Publications Limited 1990 ISBN 9780946653584 Retrieved 23 March 2014 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help PROVISIONAL VERBATIM RECORD OF THE 22nd MEETING PDF disarmament un org United Nations Retrieved 11 November 2010 Lestimes 24 December 2015 Govt lavishes praise on late military ruler Historical Dictionary of Lesotho 2nd ed Scarecrow Press 13 June 2013 pp 448 449 ISBN 9780810879829 Minister praises late commander Lesotho Times Retrieved 24 December 2015 Political offices Preceded byJustin Lekhanya Chairman of the Military Council1991 1993 Succeeded byNtsu Mokhehleas Prime Minister of Lesotho nbsp nbsp This article about a politician from Lesotho is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This biographical article related to an African military person is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elias Phisoana Ramaema amp oldid 1221997590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
