The Speaker is elected by the Members of the National Assembly, whenever there is a vacancy in that office, from amongst the Members or from other persons in accordance with the provisions of section 63 of the Constitution and Standing Order No. 6. In terms of section 95 of the Constitution, the Speaker is a member of the Council of State. The Speaker is the highest authority of the House who is responsible for presiding over House proceedings; maintaining order in the House; making rulings on matters of procedure; approving business to be introduced and debated in the House; chairing the Standing Orders Committee; representing the House in all its dealings with other authorities; overseeing the administration of the House. The Speaker is expected to be non-partisan and ensure that the interests of the minority parties in Parliament are protected. The Speakers’ rulings are final and cannot be challenged except through a substantive motion. The Speaker can only be removed from office by a resolution of the House supported by the votes of two thirds of all the Members.
The first Speaker, Hon. W. P. Stanford, C.B.E, D.F.C served from 1966 -1970 during the First Parliament of Lesotho. The first Mosotho Speaker to be elected to the position was DR. J. T. Kolane. The current Speaker is the Rt. Hon. Sephiri Enoch Motanyane, OMDOM, CMMOM who was elected by the Members of the Tenth Parliament on 12th June, 2017. His Deputy, Hon. Lebohang Ramohlanka was elected on 24th June, 2020.