- Mosisili family bravely uses son’s death to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol
- family says people with alcoholism must be helped instead of being ostracized
Hopolang Mokhopi
FORMER Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s family, says his late son, Rethabile, battled alcoholism throughout his life.
As such, he needed support and understanding, not criticism. People in similar circumstances must also be helped instead of being ostracized.
This is according to Rethabile’s brother-in-law, Moshe Khabo, who described alcoholism as a “white matter disease” that required treatment and acknowledgement. A white matter disease potentially affects the functionality of the brain.
He was addressing Rethabile’s memorial service held at the Lehakoe Recreational Centre in Maseru yesterday.
“Alcoholism is a ‘matter disease’. During these difficult times, I came to understand that alcoholism is a ‘matter disease’ that requires treatment and acknowledgement like any other disease. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that condition,” Mr Khabo said.
A visibly emotional Mr Khabo, emphasized that people suffering from alcoholism needed support not criticism.
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol use disorder, is a complex condition caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Stressful life events, mental health disorders, peer pressure, easy access to alcohol, and normalization of heavy drinking can contribute to its development.
The American Medical Association (AMA) classified alcoholism as a disease in 1956 and included addiction as a disease in 1987.
In 2011 the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) joined the AMA, defining addiction as a chronic brain disorder, not a behavior problem, or just the result of making bad choices.
Meanwhile, Mr Khabo also narrated Rethabile’s state of health just weeks before he died.
He said on the 15th of last month, Rethabile went to the Lehlakeng Clinic to see his doctor, Teboho Thabane, who in turn hospitalized him as he wanted to run some tests to establish what his patient’s problem was.
On the 23rd of January, Mr Khabo said Dr Thabane called Rethabile’s parents to the clinic.
He sat them down upon their arrival, explaining to them what procedures and various treatments they had administered to save his live.
The doctor also politely told Mr and Mrs Mosisili that the rest was left to time.
His two siblings residing in Europe were also informed about their brother’s condition and told to return to Lesotho to spend time with their brother in light of the limited time he had left to live.
Rethabile’s eldest son Pulumo, who is currently studying in Taiwan and his second son Maile, who attends school in Bloemfontein, were also informed of their father’s state of health and summoned home.
Rethabile, then died on the 7th of February, just twelve years shy of his 50th birthday. He will be laid to rest on Saturday at Waterfall in his native Qacha’s Nek.
He is one of four children of the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC)’s founding leader and former Prime Minister, Mr Mosisili, and former First Lady, ‘Mathato. He is survived by his two sisters, his two children and his parents.
In his lifetime, Rethabile who studied law and was an Advocate, held senior government positions including Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Deputy Principal Secretary in the same ministry, Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, and Chief Delegate at the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission (LHWC).
He met his demise working at the Department of Mining under the Ministry of Natural Resources as Deputy Principal Secretary.
Rethabile also escaped death by a whisker twice in his lifetime.
According to Mr Khabo, back in 2009 he was operated on from chest to waist, after which doctors told his family that he had only five days to live. But he beat the odds and went on to live for sixteen more years.
Rethabile would also stare death in the face at the height of Covid-19 in 2020, although his illness was not related to the pandemic. Even then he was just days to live but still held on for four more years.
He was a described by friends and family who addressed the memorial service, as a very friendly and easy-going gentleman who easily mingled with people regardless of their political inclination or social background.
Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko, conveyed his deepest condolences to the family while chronicling his cordial professional working and personal relationships with Rethabile.
Mr Moleko said he was not there to mourn because Rethabile had told those closest to him, to celebrate his life when he died.
Speaking on behalf of Rethabile’s friends, was DC legislator for Makhaleng constituency, Mootsi Lehata. Mr Lehata said he had worked at the Maseru City Council (MCC) with the deceased in 1996. They struck up a friendship that lasted until Rethabile died.
Mr Lehata described his best friend as a strong and brave man.
An aggrieved Mr Lehata said Rethabile was denied work opportunities at some stages of his life despite having skills and qualifications to match. That could have been during the periods his father was out of power.
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