[1] Born in Thaba-Tseka in 1938, Lekhanya completed his primary and secondary education in Roman Catholic Schools.

After working as a migrant mine worker in South Africa, he joined the Basutoland Mounted Police in 1960.

He became the only Mosotho officer heading a paramilitary Police Mobile Unit (PMU) platoon soon after its formation in 1965.

During the early 1970s, he received trainings at police academies in South Africa and Rhodesia, and later assumed command of the PMU as a Major General in 1975.

Lekhanya immediately sought to improve relations with South Africa, which were strained due to Jonathan's support of the African National Congress.