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14 September 2018
Honouring great African leadership
Celebrating the legacy and leadership of the founder of the Basotho nation. From left are: Prof Itumeleng Mosala, Prof Puleng LenkaBula and Prof Francis Petersen, who attended the Moshoeshoe 1 memorial lecture delivered by Prof Mosala.
Prof Itumeleng Mosala, author, academic, public intellectual, researcher and business consultant, delivered the fourth King Moshoeshoe memorial lecture at the University of the Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein Campus. The lecture attracted audiences from as far as Lesotho including representatives of the Bakoena royal house. Ralechate Mokose, the High Commissioner of Lesotho also graced the lecture with his presence.

The King Moshoeshoe 1 memorial lectures are organised by the Department of Community Engagement and form part of the initiative to demonstrate the university’s commitment to transformation.

An example for global leadership

“I believe that throughout his reign, King Moshoeshoe demonstrated the power of ethical leadership. Not only as a model for African leadership but surely providing an example for leadership globally,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, in his welcoming message. He added that it was an integral part of the university’s mission to produce and disseminate knowledge on African affairs as well as to preserve the heritage and history of the country and the continent.

Leadership in times of battle

The keynote address by Prof Mosala was inspired by an article titled; 8 Facts about King Moshoeshoe I: The Razor of Southern Africa by Bill Humphrey. In his lecture, Prof Mosala focused on King Moshoeshoe’s leadership skills and resilience in battles. “King Moshoeshoe never lost a major battle. He was able to withstand insults and assaults but where there was no major battle, he would decide to retreat,” Prof Mosala said.
 
Drawing from King Moshoeshoe’s leadership, he said it was important for leaders to have the wisdom to allow insignificant battles to pass and focus the energy on winning major battles. Prof Mosala emphasised that King Moshoeshoe defended the land and built the Basotho nation. Leaders today need to learn such leadership qualities from this great Basotho king.

Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Student Affairs and Community Engagement said in her closing remarks that the youth needed to draw from King Moshoeshoe’s ethical leadership, generous hospitality and understanding of coexistence.

Read full speech here

News Archive

Lecturer publishes a book in New York
2008-12-01

 

Prof. Pieter Verster (left) hands over a copy of his new book to Prof. Francois Tolmie, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the UFS.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
     
 What should the church seek to accomplish in missionary work? This question is asked by Prof. Pieter Verster, head of the Department of Missiology at the University of the Free State (UFS), in his new book “A Theology of Christian Mission: What should the Church Seek to Accomplish”. The book was published in New York by The Edwin Mellen Press: Lewiston, Queenston, Lampeter. The Biblical foundation of missionary work is thoroughly analysed. It also gives information on missionary work in Africa among Muslims and among poor people. In the foreword Prof. Bram van de Beek, writes “…this book exceeds the boundaries of classical dogmatics: it shows that faith without conversion is empty…” Prof. Van de Beek was formerly dean of the Faculty of Theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Prof. Verster holds a doctorate in Missiology as well as in Dogmatics.

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