Maseru – The United States Embassy in Maseru hosted four Mandela Washington Fellows who recently represented Lesotho at the Mandela Washington Business Summit in Kenya.
The engagement was held on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, and featured Tokiso “TKay” Nthebe, Hape Marite Mphale, Likhapha Mahase and Moratuoa “Mratz” as participants.
The fellows returned from the summit with new skills, ideas and professional networks that could benefit their businesses and contribute to Lesotho’s wider entrepreneurship and governance sectors. 
During the meeting, they shared lessons from the summit and reflected on their professional experiences. They also proposed areas that could advance shared development goals between Lesotho and the United States.
Among the priorities discussed were skills development, business expansion and the creation of enterprises capable of achieving greater impact.
The fellows also called for stronger value chains, increased cooperation between United States and Lesotho businesses, and ethical codes and standards that could help attract investment.
They identified infrastructure development as another important priority, particularly in sectors such as tourism and other key industries.
The discussions also covered the value of cultural exchange in strengthening relations and creating opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
The United States Embassy said it was proud to support young Basotho leaders working to promote innovation and expand opportunities in Lesotho.
The embassy said it expected the fellows’ experiences and newly acquired networks to generate wider benefits as they apply the knowledge gained at the summit.
