Dr Rets'elisitsoe Matlanyane was officially appointed as the first woman Governor in the history of Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL).

She was announced together with two Deputy Governors by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Timothy Thahane at the occasion held at CBL premises in Maseru on Wednesday.

Deputy Governor one is Dr Masilo Makhetha while Ms. 'Mathabo Makenete is the second Deputy Governor.

Prior to her appointment, Dr Matlanyane was first Deputy Governor since 2007 and acted as Governor for nine months following the death of CBL Governor, Dr Moeketsi Senaoana who passed on in March last year.

She holds a Phd in Economics with specialisation in macro-econometric and economy wide modeling from University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Described as an experienced and innovative economist, Dr Matlanyane is a finance specialist and manager with 15 years of experience in research and policy making.

She has spent a year of attachment at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and participated in a country mission to Malawi.

Dr Makhetha was Director of research while Ms. Makenete was Director Financial Markets before their new appointments.

Dr Makhetha is a macro-economist researcher and lecturer with a wide experience in central and commercial banking. He won several awards for his professional analytical work. Since joining the Central Bank, he has made valuable contributions to Lesotho's macro-economic working group that has built an economic model of the country's economy.

Ms. Maketene is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years working experience in the CBL.

The three top management of CBL were officially announced after His Majesty King Letsie III was advised on their appointments and approval of the Cabinet with effect from January 01.

Source: LENA 04/01/2012