US embassy cable - 04MASERU312

UNCLAS MASERU 000312 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, LT, USTR 
SUBJECT: U.S.-SACU TRADE PROMOTION ROUNDTABLE: SUGGESTED INVITEES 
FROM LESOTHO 
 
REF: STATE 113642 
 
 
Post suggests the following individuals as potential sponsored 
delegates to the subject roundtable in Atlanta.  This 
information has also been e-mailed directly to Ms. Wilkes at 
BCIU. 
 
A. Mr. Koena Phafane, Managing Director, Khalapa Consultants 
Mr. Phafane runs a consulting company that assists clients with 
project appraisal and compilation of business plans.  He is the 
Deputy President of the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
responsible for International Affairs.  He is a former civil 
servant, and has worked as Principal Secretary for Trade and as 
Managing Director of the Basotho Enterprises Development 
Corporation. 
 
B. Miss Lindiwe Sephomolo, Legal Advisor, Association of Lesotho 
Employers 
Miss Sephomolo is the Deputy Executive Director of the 
Association of Lesotho Employers and a lawyer by profession. 
The association assists its members with services including 
license procurement, legal representation and wage negotiations. 
 
C. Mrs. Catherine Boch, Managing Director, CeeBee Clothing 
Mrs. Boch is Managing Director of a textile factory that employs 
300 and produces jeans, chinos and various types of trousers for 
chain stores in South Africa. She participated in the 2002 AGOA 
Professional Internship Program in the United States.  She has 
since supported the Embassy in outreach programs on expanding 
Lesotho's export portfolio under AGOA. 
 
D. Mr. Nkopane Monyane, Group Regional Manager, Precious 
Garments and P & T Garments 
Mr. Monyane is regional manager for Precious Garments, a 
Taiwanese firm that employs 4000 and exports knit clothing to 
the United States under AGOA.  The group has recently opened a 
second factory with 2,500 employees in Mafeteng, eighty miles 
south of the capital, Maseru.  Before joining the group, Mr. 
Monyane was Managing Director of Lesotho Bank, a state bank that 
was privatized in 1999. 
 
E. Mrs. Lerato Majara, Manager, KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) 
Mrs. Majara has managed the franchise in Lesotho for more than 
ten years.  It has two branches in the capital, Maseru, and 
plans are underway to open another one in Ladybrand, a South 
African town across the border from Maseru. 
 
F. Mr. Letuka Sephelane, Chief Executive, Lesotho Tourism 
Development Corporation 
Mr. Sephelane has recently been appointed to head a 
newly-established corporation whose mandate is to coordinate 
tourism development in the country.  He has previously served as 
Financial Manager with the Lesotho National Development 
Corporation. 
 
G. Mr. Edward Moqhali,  Managing Director, VODACOM Lesotho 
VODACOM Lesotho is the first company to introduce cellular 
service in Lesotho.  It was formed as a partnership between 
VODACOM South Africa and the former state enterprise, Lesotho 
Telecommunications Corporation, LTC.  The shares owned by LTC 
have since been sold to a local investment group.  Before 
heading VODACOM Lesotho, Mr. Moqhali was an engineer with the 
LTC. 
 
LOFTIS