Staff Faculty: Social Sciences

Dr. Mahlakeng Khosi Mahlakeng was appointed as a junior Lecturer in the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of the Free State. And from 2018, he was appointed as a Lecturer in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies at the National University of Lesotho. He is a member of the Southern African Centre for Collaboration on Peace and Security (SACCPS) where he writes on political and economic developments in Lesotho (saccps.org). He is also a Research Fellow at the University of the Free State, in the Department of Political Studies and Governance. He specializes in International Relations, with a specific interest in Hydropolitics and Hydrodiplomacy in African transboundary river basins.

Dr. Seroala Tšoeu-Ntokoane teaches Development Management, Comparative Public Administration, Political Development, Social Science Research, Public Enterprises, Public Policy Process and Public Policy Analysis. Her research interests include: Political Constitutionalism and Progressive Legal Advocacy, Public Policy Analysis and Public Service Reform, Corporate Governance, Public Opinion Surveys and Political Communication. She is has published research articles in Lesotho Social Science Review, Lesotho Law Journal, Gender Place and Culture: Journal of Feminist Geography, African Journal Governance and Development, African Studies Quarterly. She is FSS representative to FHS Board since 2016. She is an External Examiner for Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management for Public Policy and Social Science Research since 2006. Member of an Editorial Board, Journal of African and Asian Local Government Studies since 2017. Reviewer, THEORIA since 2015. Member: NUL adhoc committee on Assessment Policy (2017) and NUL Gender Committee since 2019.

Dr. Tlohang Letsie is a senior lecturer and the Head of Department. He graduated with a PhD from the International Center of Non-violence (ICON), Durban University of Technology after completing lower degrees at the University of the Western Cape, Rhodes University and National University of Lesotho. He is in teaching Political Science courses. He has carried out research and published various articles with particular reference to Lesotho. He has acted as an external examiner for theses for the University of Johannesburg and University of South Africa. He is an Honorary Research Associate with ICON. He regularly provides consulting services to both local and international organisations. Research Elections Political Conflict Demilitarization Publications Demilitarising a small African country: rationale, necessary conditions and financing. 2019. Economics of Peace and Security Journal. Volume 14, Number 1, 2019. Pages 39-45. Case for demilitarization of Lesotho. 2018. African Security Review. Volume 27, Issue 3-4. May 2019. Pages 291-307. Lesotho’s February 2015 Snap Elections: A Prescription that Never Cured the Sickness. Journal of African Elections. Volume 14, Issue 2, 2015. Pages 81-109 The role of Christian churches in political conflict in Lesotho. African Security Review. Volume 24, Issue 1. February 2015. Pages 75-88 Political and Civic Engagement: A chapter in Lesotho National Human Development Report 2014: Leveraging the Power of the Youth for Development. UNDP Lesotho 2014. Pages 76-87 The 2012 General elections in Lesotho: A Step towards the Consolidation of Democracy. Journal of African Elections. Volume 12. Issue 1, 2013. Pages 65-83 What Causes Election-related Conflict within Democracies: Case Study of Lesotho: Lesotho Social Sciences Review. Volume 15. Nos. 1 & 2. December 2011. Pages 98-112

He joined the NUL in 2002, as a Teaching Assistant and rose to his current rank of Associate Professor. He was Head of Department of PAS from the 1st September 2011 to 31st December, 2016 and Dean Faculty of Social Sciences from the 1st January 2017 to 31st December, 2019. He has served on University committees for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice –Chancellor, Bursar and Librarian. He teaches International Relations; International Political Economy; Politics of Southern Africa; Social Science Research; Basic Concepts in Politics. His research interests are in electoral politics and electoral systems; political party coalitions; policy analysis; and institutional reforms. He is currently working on a collaborative book project with his colleague outside the country on Coalition politics in Lesotho: A study of coalitions and their implications for governance. His latest publications include ‘Coalition governments and unrelenting political instability in Lesotho, 2012-2020’. In Booysen S. (ed) Political party coalitions in Africa. [Forth coming]; (2019) ‘Lesotho 2015 polls and political stability: Challenges and prospects for the future’ in M. Rupiya, L. Teffo, S. Gutto & R. Gray (eds) A glass half full or half empty: the challenges of political succession and elections in Africa. Ssali Publishing House: Johannesburg.pp.51-72; [With Rakolobe, M] (2018) ‘Politicised public service, coalition politics and instability in Lesotho’, Journal of Public Policy in Africa, 6, (1):41-52; (2017) ‘The role of civil society in conflict situations in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study of Lesotho’ in Berhamu K. & D. P. Chimanire (eds). The roles of civil society in conflict management and peace building in Eastern and Southern Africa. Addis Ababa: OSREA.pp.259-287. He is a member of Editorial Advisory Board of Politeia: South African Journal for Political Science and Public Administration. He acts as external examiner for theses and dissertations for the University of South Africa, University of Cape Town, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and North-West University. He has been a Subject Expert and Panel Chairperson for the review of postgraduate and undergraduate programmes for the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology for accreditation by the Namibian Council for Higher Education. He sits on Institute of Development Management (IDM) Board of Governors; the National Reforms Authority (NRA) and was the Part-time Chairperson of the Lesotho Law Reform Commission (February, 2018 to – 07th February, 2020). He has provided consulting services on general governance issues in Lesotho for the government of Lesotho; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA); Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA); and periodically briefs international elections observer missions on Lesotho’s elections since 2007.

Associate Professor Oscar Gakuo Mwangi teaches various courses in Comparative Politics and Political Theory. His research interests are terrorism and counterterrorism in eastern Africa, securitization in eastern Africa, conflict and security in eastern Africa, democratisation in eastern and southern Africa; hydropolitics and environmental security in southern Africa, and Pan-Africanism. He has several publications in these research areas. Associate Professor Mwangi has also served as Head of Department and as a member of several university committees. He has also served as an editorial board member in various journals and as an external examiner in undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses and theses in various universities.