Ntsokoane Samuel "Sam" Matekane (born 15 March 1958) is a Mosotho businessman and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Lesotho since October 2022. A prominent self-made business magnate prior to his entry into politics, Matekane is widely recognized for his founding of the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC), one of the largest conglomerates in Lesotho. His transition from the corporate sector to the highest political office in the country marked a significant turning point in Lesotho's contemporary political history. Born in the rural village of Mantšonyane, located in what was then British Basutoland (now Lesotho), Matekane was the seventh of fourteen siblings. His upbringing in a mountainous, agrarian community instilled in him a work ethic that involved balancing basic schooling with traditional responsibilities, such as herding livestock and agricultural labor. He attended Bocheletsane Primary School before enrolling at Mabathoana High School in Maseru, where he obtained a junior certificate after three years of secondary education. Following this period, he discontinued formal schooling to pursue business opportunities. Matekane’s entrepreneurial trajectory began with modest ventures, including trading livestock and working as a mechanic. He gained early professional experience as an apprentice in South Africa, where he also briefly worked in the mining sector. In 1986, he established the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC), which initially focused on the sale of construction equipment and the refurbishment of government vehicles. Over the ensuing decades, MGC expanded into a massive multi-sectoral conglomerate. Its diversified portfolio eventually encompassed road construction, real estate development, hospitality, and notably, the diamond mining industry. By partnering with international mining firms and diversifying his business interests—including founding the private airline Maluti Sky in 2009—Matekane amassed significant wealth, widely regarded as the wealthiest individual in Lesotho before his political career. Throughout his business career, Matekane maintained a public profile centered on philanthropy. He established the Sam Matekane Foundation, through which he funded local infrastructure projects, including schools, a football stadium, and a convention center in his home village of Mantšonyane. His charitable efforts expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he provided critical funding for medical equipment, testing facilities, and vaccines, often filling gaps in public services. In March 2022, prompted by concerns regarding political instability and economic stagnation in Lesotho, Matekane announced the formation of a new political party, the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP). Campaigning on a platform of anti-corruption, economic revitalization, and the implementation of business-like efficiency in governance, he positioned himself as an outsider capable of reforming the nation's political culture. Leveraging a well-funded campaign and a robust social media presence, the RFP achieved a historic result in the 2022 Lesotho general election. While the party fell short of an absolute majority in the 120-seat National Assembly, Matekane successfully negotiated a coalition government with two smaller parties. He was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Lesotho on October 28, 2022. As Prime Minister, Matekane has faced the complex challenges of governing a nation historically plagued by coalition instability and economic fragility. His administration has introduced various austerity measures, pursued constitutional reforms aimed at curbing frequent motions of no confidence, and launched initiatives to combat systemic corruption and government debt. As of 2026, his tenure is marked by efforts to institutionalize his "business-first" governance model, though he continues to navigate the pressures of domestic political scrutiny and the ongoing need for national socioeconomic development. Matekane is married and is a father of seven children.