Chief Mohlomi: A Mosotho model of Ethics and Morality in Public Administration and Governance

Abstract

Ethics or morals are learned as they are observed from people's life histories – present or past. They are best remembered in relationships with life histories of impeccable models of ethics or morals in their respective societies. People of Lesotho, known as Basotho, often refer to the high ethical standards or principles of Chief Mohlomi in public administration and governance and talk of him as one of history's great ethical or moral leaders of all time in southern Africa. But do such claims about Chief Mohlomi have substance, and do they withstand scrutiny in public administration and governance? If so, how? Drawing lessons primarily from the pre-colonial 18th-century history of the Basotho, the article explores such claims. It also sheds some light on the relevance of the legendary Chief Mohlomi in public administration and governance not often discussed in academia.