’Matšepo Ramakoae

Matšepo Ramakoae (née Molise; born 3 March 1954) is a Mosotho politician. She was serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations from May 2020 to October 2022. She is the legislator from the Matsieng constituency No. 45. Ramakoae served as the Deputy Minister of Finance from 2012 until 2015.

Early life and career 'Matšepo Molise was born on 3 March 1954 in Morija as the second out of nine children of James Koko Molise and 'Mamolise Molise. Her father worked as a miner in South Africa, while her mother was the domestic worker of French missionaries. Molise attended Lesotho High School in Maseru. Soon after finishing school, she married and took her husband's surname. She was selected to head the parliamentary committee for women's issues.

In early-2020, Thabane came under pressure to resign as Prime Minister due to his alleged involvement in his former spouse's murder. Ramakoae was considered a strong contender, but was ultimately not selected as the party chose Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro to succeed Thabane. Majoro was sworn in on 20 May. He appointed her Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations in his cabinet. She took office on 21 May. Ramakoae is the first woman to hold this role.