National University of Lesotho

Koena Arone Matlali

Koena aspires to be the most complete lawyer, one that can lead with excellence, one equipped with good advocacy skills, legal research and drafting. With moot court competitions, he believes he can achieve all these and is the reason he partakes in moot competitions. Koena joined the Alfred Deakin Moot to be introduced to International Commercial Arbitration, pursue his passions and hone his legal drafting, research and advocacy skills.

Eric Molapo

Eric Molapo is a 20 year old currently enrolled in 3rd year at the National University of Lesotho. He is passionate about the law hence he chose this career. He has competed in numerous moot courts representing the university including but not limited the John H. Jackson WTO moot in first year, the Nuremberg Moots in 2021. In his spare time, he does a lot of debating and is currently gearing up for the World University Debating Championships in July. He also thinks pineapple belongs on pizza and dogs are better than cats.

Pulane Kholoanyane

I am a goal-driven lawyer in training at the National University of Lesotho. I have a keen and demonstrated interest in youth participation, youth involvement especially in driving the SDG’s and being the change we want to see. Further, I possess particular exposure to participation in youth opportunities and platforms, competing at both national and international level. Also, I am hardworking, highly ethical, well-organised, team player and an independent thinker. Lastly, I am able to communicate clearly and concisely, and also able to work in diverse environments with diverse individuals.

I have participated in a number of moot court competitions; amongst others the KOVSIE Moot Court Competition, Nuremberg Moot Court Competition and Intervarsity Moot Court Competitions.

I would like to participate in both the Vis and Deakin Moot Court Competitions so as to understand better the world of Arbitration. Participating in these competitions will not only assist in the understanding but also my ability to carry out in-depth research thus improving my research skills. Proceeding to the oral rounds in these competitions will also assist in enhancing my public speaking skills. These competitions will also better my understanding in the operation of commercial law.

Rethabile Lechesa

My name is Rethabile Unity Lechesa. I am a Mosotho woman aged 21. I have enrolled at the National University of Lesotho. I have just completed my fourth year and will be moving on to my final year of study some time in August or early September. I love reading. My inspiration in this regard draws from my greatest desire to attain knowledge. Apart from that, I enjoy traveling because not only does it enable me to meet new people but it also helps me to learn and to discover numerous and interesting things. 

I have a number of reasons for wishing to partake in the 2021 moot competition. Among them I'd like to highlight the main one. I come from a society in which most youngsters do not believe in themselves. They tend to underestimate their abilities. I want them to realise that one's background can never serve as a hindrance to one's success unless she or he permits it to be and that like any individual in developed countries, they also have what it takes to achieve greater heights. 

Mathe Lerotholi

Mathe Lerotholi is a 21-year-old Senior Law student at the National University of Lesotho. She began studying at the University in August 2018 and is expected to graduate in September 2023. 

In her study of Law, she has been enhancing her legal practice skills in various ways, including partaking in various internal moot court competitions, as both a judge and a mooter. It is in 2021 that she took an initiative to participate internationally and represent the National University of Lesotho in the 30th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.  

She has been chosen to fill various positions to serve the National University of Lesotho Law students, including being a President of a club that assists in equipping Law students with practicing skills, The National University of Lesotho litigation club. Serving this club has made her passion for mooting grow. She has been an active member of the club since 2018, she also is an active member of the Students Law Society. Furthermore, Mathe is a member of the Students Judicial Committee and she was chosen as a competent Students Union Prosecutor for the academic year 2020/2021. She has also partaken in numerous Model United Nations Cohorts and is currently a SADC Youth Parliamentarian. She is also a member of Young African Leaders Initiative network (YALI). 

Currently, she has realized the passion that she has in Arbitration Law and has just began her journey to being an enthusiastic arbitrator that she wants to be. 

Nthabeleng Mafisa (Coach)

Nthabeleng Mafisa is an advocate of the High Court of Lesotho. Her experience spans practising in the civil and commercial law fields, acting as counsel in arbitration of employment disputes in Lesotho, and acting as arbitrator in pre-moots in Warsaw and Berlin. She holds an International Dispute Resolution LL.M from Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and is a guest lecturer to the National University of Lesotho (NUL)’s Commercial Arbitration LL.M class. Nthabeleng will be coaching the NUL Moot Teams in the upcoming moot competitions.

Vusi Mashinini (Coach)

Vusi is a final year LLB student at the National University of Lesotho.  Vusi also works as a Corporate Secretary at the PhuthaLichaba Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd. He has an interest in international banking, international finance, international commercial law, and development finance and has a conditional acceptance to study for an LLM in International Banking and Finance Law from the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).

Vusi has been part of the most highly ranked team in Africa in the 2017 FDI Moot Court Competition and progressed to the Global Oral Rounds in Boston, USA. Vusi was also captain of one of the top 5 African Regional Round teams qualifying for Global Oral Rounds in Oxford, UK in the Price Media and Cyber Law Moot Court Competition in 2020.

Vusi has recently completed a legal internship with the World Bank Legal VPU.

Chloe Dijkmans (Coach)

Chloe Dijkmans recently participated in the 18th 2020/2021 Willem C. Vis (East) Moot competition representing Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. She is due to graduate from Deakin at the end of 2022 and is passionate in International Arbitration. Chloe wrote an open letter, titled 'Dear Future Vis Moot Team Member’, which was recently uploaded onto the official Vis Moot website under 'Perspectives On The Moot'. This piece outlines the deeper emotions of what it is really like to be a Vis Moot competitor. Chloe is very eager to assist in the growth of the initiative and support a team from Africa in future Vis Moot competitions.