MASERU - The former President of the Court of Appeal, the late Justice Mathealira Michael Ramodibedi has been described as a distinguished international civil servant who served Lesotho well. Justice Ramodibedi was honoured during his memorial service, which was held yesterday at the Palace of Justice.

Delivering the late jurist’s eulogy, Acting Chief Justice ’Maseforo Mahase described Justice Ramodibedi as a valuable asset whose distinguished career spanned for nearly five decades in different countries. Justice Ramodibedi who served as a local lawyer for many years was appointed a Lesotho High Court judge in 1994. In 2008, he became the first Mosotho national to be appointed the country’s president of the Appeal Court. 

He served as Eswatini's Chief Justice from 2009 to 2015 and president of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles from 2004 to 2006. From 2006 to 2012, he served as the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal of Botswana. 

The late judge who was an avid sport lover was at some point an administrator of both Matlama FC and LDF before he became the chairman of the two teams. Speaking on behalf of the Law Society of Lesotho, His Excellency Advocate Kelebone Maope said Justice Ramodibedi was a self-made person who used his education to achieve what he wanted.