'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso
{{Infobox royalty
| consort = yes
| name = 'Mamohato
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1941|4|28}}
| birth_place = Tebang, Mafeteng, Basutoland
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2003|9|6|1941|4|28}}
| death_place = Mantsonyane, Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho
| place of burial = Maseru, Lesotho
| birth_name = Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi Mojela
| spouse = Moshoshoe II
| issue = King Letsie III
Prince Seeiso
Princess Constance
| succession = Queen consort of Lesotho
| reign = 4 October 1966 – 12 November 1990
25 January 1995 – 15 January 1996
| succession1 = Regent of Lesotho
| reign1 = 5 June 1970 – 5 December 1970
10 March 1990 – 12 November 1990
15 January 1996 – 7 February 1996
| father = Lerotholi Mojela, Chief of Tsakholo
| mother =
}}
{{'}}Mamohato Bereng Seeiso (née Princess Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi Mojela) (28 April 1941 – 6 September 2003){{Cite web|url = http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/queen-mother-lesotho-mamohato-bereng-seeiso-dies|title = The Queen Mother of Lesotho, Mamohato Bereng Seeiso Dies|date = 6 September 2003|access-date = 4 January 2016|website = South African History Online}} served as the Regent Head of State of Lesotho on three occasions: 5 June to 5 December 1970, 10 March to 12 November 1990 and 15 January to 7 February 1996.{{Cite web|url = http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/royal_deputy_heads.htm|title = Royal Deputy Heads of State in the 20th and 21st Century|access-date = 4 January 2016|website = Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership}}
Biography
'Mamohato was born at Tebang, located in the District of Mafeteng in what was then Basutoland.{{Cite web|url = http://www.gov.ls/articles/2003/Queen-Mothers-Death.htm|title = Orbituary of the Late Queen Mother Her Majesty, 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso|access-date = 4 January 2016|publisher = Government of Lesotho|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223407/http://www.gov.ls/articles/2003/Queen-Mothers-Death.htm|archive-date = 12 August 2014|url-status = dead}} She was the youngest child of Lerotholi Mojela (1895–1961), Chief of Tsakholo.{{Cite book|title = Historical Dictionary of Lesotho|last1 = Rosenberg|first1 = Scott|publisher = Scarecrow Press, Inc|year = 2013|isbn = 9780810879829|pages = 351–352|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=B2TWVN92hYYC&dq=Lerotholi%20Mojela&pg=PP1|last2 = Weisfelder|first2 = Richard F.}}
The princess was sent to study at Bath Training College of Home Economics in the United Kingdom.
A year after the death of her father, she married King Moshoeshoe II. During her reign, she helped improve children's education in Lesotho.
The Queen Mother died on September 6, 2003, of heart failure while at a Catholic retreat for the Order of Saint Cecilia at the Auray Mission{{Cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Lesothos-Queen-Mother-dies-20030907 |title=News24 |access-date=2017-02-17 |archive-date=2017-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218145220/http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Lesothos-Queen-Mother-dies-20030907 |url-status=dead }} in Mantsonyane.{{Cite web|url = http://www.gov.ls/articles/2003/Led%20to%20Her%20Death.htm|title = Everyone Came to Hear What Led to her Death|date = 17 September 2003|access-date = 4 January 2016|website = Government of Lesotho|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140813064339/http://www.gov.ls/articles/2003/Led%20to%20Her%20Death.htm|archive-date = 13 August 2014|url-status = dead}}
= Charity work and legacy =
There is a hospital named for her, the Queen 'Mamohato Memorial Hospital.{{Cite web|url = https://www.gpoba.org/node/688|title = Lesotho Lessons Learned: Mamohato Hospital|access-date = 4 January 2016|website = GPOBA|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161101041428/https://www.gpoba.org/node/688|archive-date = 1 November 2016|url-status = dead}}
The queen, known as the "Mother of the Nation", created Hlokomela Bana ("Take Care of Children" in Sesotho) in the 1980s to provide care and support for some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho. Hlokomela Bana works closely with principal chiefs to identify what support can be best provided to those who have lost their parents or are living with disabilities.{{Cite news|url=http://sentebale.org/celebrating-international-womens-day-inspiredbyher/|title=Celebrating International Women's Day|last=Thomas|first=Glyn|date=2016-03-29|work=Sentebale|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003133320/https://sentebale.org/celebrating-international-womens-day-inspiredbyher/|url-status=dead}}
Family
She was the wife of King Moshoeshoe II and the mother of King Letsie III, Prince Seeiso and Princess Constance Christina 'Maseeiso.
Titles
- 1941–1962: Tabitha 'Masentle Lerotholi Mojela.
- 1962–1966: HRH Princess 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso.
- 1966–1996: HM The Queen.
- 5 June – 5 December 1970, 10 March – 12 November 1990, 15 January – 7 February 1996: HM The Queen Regent.
- 1996–2003: HM Queen 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, The Queen Mother.
References
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{{s-ttl|title=Queen consort of Lesotho|years=1966–1996}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mamohato Of Lesotho}}
Category:20th-century women regents
Category:Female regents in Africa
Category:Heads of state of Lesotho
Category:Lesotho women in politics