About WISET Lesotho Chapter
In 2008, SADC ministers responsible for science and technology agreed to the need to establish a regional platform for women in science, engineering and technology. Department of Science and Technology South Africa in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat were given the mandate to carry out that task.
In April 2010, the first SADC WISET workshop was held in Durban South Africa to form a working group which would come up with a plan of action towards establishment of the WISET platform. The working group met to develop WISET statutes to pave way for the establishment of SADC WISET platform.
In May 2011, the working group submitted the draft statutes at the meeting of ministers responsible for science, technology and innovation and upon advice by the SADC Legal Counsel, the statutes were substituted by the development of a charter.
In July 2012, a SADC Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET) consultative meeting was held in Cape Town South Africa, with the purpose of considering a charter for the establishment of a SADC WISET Organisation (WISETO). Lesotho was one of the 12 SADC member states represented at that meeting. Member states were also urged to form their national chapters of the proposed SADC WISETO.
In 2017, the SADC Charter on establishment of WISETO was approved by the council of ministers in Pretoria South Africa and member states were urged to sign the charter.
Lesotho signed the charter in 2018 and legally constituted the WISET Lesotho Chapter in August 2019, under the Societies Act of 1966. WISET Lesotho Chapter is an organization that acts as a focal point in coordinating all national activities of women in science, engineering and technology with the goal of increasing participation of women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and to follow through to professions in those fields.
WISET Lesotho Committee Membership:
- Chairperson – Professor Mantoa Sekota, National University of Lesotho
- Deputy Chairperson – Dr. Tebello Mahamo, National University of Lesotho
- Secretary General– Ms. Mathese Phooko, National University of Lesotho
- Deputy Secretary General- Ms. Mabotle Maphika, Lerotholi Polytechnic
- Treasurer General – Ms. Sophie Majara, Lesotho College of Education