Born in Thaba-Tseka in 1938, Lekhanya was commander of the army when he overthrew Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan in a 1986 military coup following revelations that he had been the victim of a hoax by two Pan-Africanist Congress military commanders exiled from South Africa, Potlako Leballo and Bernard Leeman.
Lekhanya immediately sought to improve relations with South Africa, which were strained due to Jonathan's support of the African National Congress.