Morena Moshoeshoe was the son of Nkhono Kholu and Morena Mokhachane . He was born at Leribe Menkhoaneng.

1. BRIEF HISTORY OF MOSHOESHOE 1
 Moshoeshoe 1 was the founder of Basotho nation. He was born around 1786 at Leribe Menkhoaneng . He was the son of
Morena Mokhachane and Nkhono kholu.

2. Moshoeshoe 1 was initiated around 1804 at Malaoaneng at the age of 18-19 . He got
married around 1870 and had main wives . Moshoeshoe had 5 names and he got names
after doing different things ;
 Moshoeshoe – he was named after capturing Ramonaheng’s cattle
 Letlama – he got the name after he went to initiation school
 Tlaputle – the busy one
 Lepoqo – means the dispute
 Lekhema – the fast one

3. Moshoeshoe 1 had a traditional healer named Morena Mohlomi . He visited Mohlomi and ask
Mohlomi “what is the medicine for building formidable empire (setlhare sa Borena)” by Mathe
Nts’ekhe August 8, 2008 . Mohlomi told Moshoeshoe that there is no such medicine ,the only
true medicine is heart. Mohlomi gave him a big cow for hospitality , an earing as a symbol for
powerauthority , shield for protection , knobkirr as a symbol of power (go and fight) , a spear ,
soghurm and he also brushed his forehead agaist Moshoeshoe’s forehead as a blessing .

4. MORENA MOHLOMI
 The traditional healer of Moshoeshoe 1

5. Moshoeshoe 1 spent some time with Morena Mohlomi at his place . He was advising and training him on how
to fight and conquer other chieves .
Advices Mohlomi gave to Moshoeshoe 1
 Love peace and hate war
 To never kill anyone accused of witchcraft
 To marry for his people
 To love profits of hard work
 To remember his ancestors
 He should be fair
 He should be generous to his people and enermies

6. Why Moshoeshoe 1 moved to Botha Bothe ?
 He wanted to start his nation
 His father was greedy
 People were divided into 2 , many people seemed to like Moshoeshoe
more than his father
 The fortress was not safe

7. None ( Moshoeshoe’s brother ) told Moshoeshoe about Thaba Bosiu . He sent Mohale to inspect
Thaba Bosiu . Moshoeshoe and his people moved to Thaba Bosiu and they took 9 days to arrive
there .
What made Thaba Bosiu special ?
 It was very fertile.
 It was flat on the top.
 It has 8 wells or springs on the top.
 It was not attached to other mountains so they could see enermies from far.
 It had sharp stones to sharpens weapons.
 It had seven oases but only one was easily recognized and used.

8. The seven passes found at Thaba Bosiu
 ‘Mabaebana
 Rahebe
 Mokhachane
 Ramaseli
 Makara
 Rafutho
 Maebeng
Rafutho is the pass that is used now .

9. Systems that Moshoeshoe used to build his nation
 Mokobobo system ; giving land to his people who do not have the land and this promoted
independency , poverty reduction , people started having homes and sense of belonging .
 Mafisa system; this is where people lend animals to people who do not have them until they
have them and return the ones that was lend .
 Matsema system ; people work together as teams helping each other example at funerals
ETC and this promoted oneness , team work and cooperation between people .
 Pitso ; people gathered together to share ideas , opinons . This introduces freedom of speech
and promoted respect among people .
 Sethaba thaba ; giving attributes to higher chieves in order to keep peace between them.

10. REFERENCES
Mofuoa K.2015.The Exemplary Ethical Leadership of King Moshoeshoe of Lesotho in the
Nineteenth-Century Southern Africa. Journal of Enterprising Ccommunities.10 (2);21-35
Mofuoa K.2021.Chief Mohlomi; A Mosotho Model of Ethics and Morality in Public
Administration and Government. Journal of Public Administration and Governance
11(1);128-143
Becker, P, 1969, Hill of Destiny; the life and times of Moshoeshoe founder of the Basotho
Nation, London; Longman.