Obituary: Justice Winston Churchill Matanzima Maqutu (19402025) A Defender of Justice at Home and Abroad

 By Tholoana Lesenya

MASERU-Justice Winston Churchill Matanzima Maqutu, a respected jurist, scholar, and international judge, passed away in 2025 at the age of 84. His death brings to a close a life defined by astonishing service to the law, the nation of Lesotho, and the global pursuit of justice.

Born on December 11, 1940, in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Justice Maqutu grew up during a time of intense political and legal transformation in Southern Africa. His early years were shaped by an education that would eventually take him far from home, yet always bring him back to serve it. He studied law at the prestigious University of Edinburgh in Scotland, earning his law degree in 1969. It was there that he laid the intellectual foundation for a legal career that would span more than five decades and cross national boundaries.

Upon returning to Lesotho, Maqutu began his legal practice as an advocate, appearing before the High Court and the Court of Appeal. His reputation for thoroughness, eloquence, and legal precision quickly established him as one of the most respected members of the legal fraternity. But it was not just in the courtroom that he made his mark. He was also a dedicated academic, serving as a Senior Lecturer and later Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Law at the National University of Lesotho. In these roles, he mentored generations of legal professionals who now serve across Lesotho and beyond.

In 1993, at a critical moment in Lesotho's democratic evolution, Winston Maqutu was appointed a judge of the High Court. His occupation on the bench was notable by landmark rulings on constitutional law, criminal justice, and civil liberties. He was known for his sharp reasoning, firm fairness, and insistence on the rule of law, even in politically turbulent times. He demonstrated courage in upholding justice without fear or favor, earning widespread respect in legal circles.

Justice Maqutus judicial career reached the international stage in 2001 when he was elected as a judge of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The tribunal was created to bring accountability to those responsible for the 1994 killing, and Justice Maqutu played an important role in judging cases that reshaped international humanitarian law. His participation in this historic body placed Lesotho firmly on the map of global legal governance and further cemented his legacy as a defender of human rights and international justice.

Even after retiring from the High Court, Justice Maqutu remained active in public service. In 2016, he was appointed Judge Advocate of a Court Martial set up to try members of the Lesotho Defense Force accused of mutiny. The appointment reflected not only his legal expertise but also the confidence the nation continued to place in his sense of fairness, independence, and integrity.

Justice Maqutu was also a productive legal writer and editor. He contributed extensively to legal scholarship in Lesotho, notably through his work editing volumes of the Lesotho Law Reports, which compile the nations jurisprudence from the High Court and Court of Appeal. These reports remain crucial resource for lawyers, judges, and scholars throughout the region.

Throughout his life, Justice Maqutu was generally respected not only for his judicial and academic achievements but also for his humility, moral clarity, and deep commitment to justice. He believed in the law not as a tool of the powerful, but as a shield for the vulnerable. His courtroom was a place of dignity, his lectures a source of inspiration, and his written judgments a masterclass in clarity and principle.

He leaves behind a deep legacy. His work influenced the shape of Lesothos legal system, contributed to global justice instruments, and helped raise the standard of legal education in his country. Justice Maqutu is survived by his family, many of whom he inspired with his quiet strength, and by a generation of jurists and lawyers who will carry forward his ideals.

Justice Winston Maqutu's life was evidence to the power of honor and intellect in the service of justice. He will be remembered as one of Lesothos greatest legal minds and a true servant of the people. May his soul rest in peace.