AOU Provides Research Support to Fellow Mokhele Stephen Moletsane for Doctoral Study on Governance and State-Owned Enterprises in Lesotho

Africa Open University (AOU) has provided a targeted research support contribution of USD 200 to AOU Fellow Mokhele Stephen Moletsane, supporting selected fieldwork, stakeholder engagement and data collection expenses connected with his doctoral research in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The support was approved by Dr. Emmanuel Fred, Board Chairman of Africa Open University, and presented by Mr. V. Marshall Sambolla, Second Vice Chairman of AOU. Their current institutional roles are recorded on AOU’s Governance and Verification page.

Mr. Moletsane is a doctoral candidate at the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, Peking University, China. He has been enrolled in the doctoral programme since September 2024 and is expected to complete the programme by July 2027. As part of his academic requirements, he is undertaking field research and data collection in his home country to support the development of his doctoral dissertation.

His research is entitled:

The Impact of Unstable Coalition Governments on the Performance of State-Owned Enterprises in Lesotho

The study examines how political and coalition instability may affect the governance quality, operational efficiency and policy consistency of state-owned enterprises in Lesotho. It considers issues including changes in boards and executive leadership, accountability, public service delivery, financial and operational performance, policy continuity and long-term institutional planning.

The proposed research adopts a qualitative multiple-case-study approach covering strategically important state-owned enterprises in areas including electricity, water and sanitation, development, banking and tourism. It plans to draw on interviews, institutional documents, public records and process tracing to better understand the relationship between changes in the political environment and organizational performance.

State-owned enterprises play an important role in the provision of essential services and the management of strategic infrastructure in Lesotho. Research examining their governance and institutional resilience can therefore contribute not only to academic discussion, but also to wider conversations concerning public administration, policy continuity, accountability and sustainable national development.

Although modest in financial scale, AOU considers this contribution an important and practical step in connecting the AOU Pan-African Fellows Network with Africa-focused research and knowledge creation. It reflects the principle that meaningful institutional support does not always begin with large funding programmes; it can also begin with focused assistance that helps an African researcher undertake fieldwork, engage relevant stakeholders and advance evidence on an issue of national and regional significance.

Mr. Moletsane brings substantial experience in education, parliamentary affairs, public administration and national development. He previously served as a Member of Parliament in Lesotho and held senior public responsibilities in areas including education, justice, home affairs, public works and transport. His combination of public-sector experience and academic research provides a valuable foundation for examining the practical relationship between political institutions, public enterprises and development outcomes.

This support also represents an early example of how AOU seeks to translate its Fellows Network from a platform for professional connection into a community that encourages research, mentoring, public dialogue, skills development and practical cooperation across Africa.

AOU will continue to explore responsible and transparent ways of supporting Africa-focused research, open learning and capacity development through project-based cooperation, institutional partnerships and approved contributions. Such support will remain subject to available resources, internal review and appropriate governance procedures.

Research Independence

AOU’s contribution is intended solely to facilitate selected research-related activities. It does not determine, direct or imply institutional endorsement of the research findings or conclusions. The study remains academically independent and is conducted under the academic supervision, research requirements and ethical procedures of the researcher’s university.

More information about Mokhele Stephen Moletsane is available through his AOU Fellow profile.