Moorosi Tsiane

FEDERATION of Dancesport Lesotho (FEDALE) president Teboho Rakhomo is disappointed with the low turnout at the fifth edition of the annual Queen Championship at Lehakoe last weekend.

The tournament was won by Botswana couple of Lone Molefhi and Alex Kgwedi while Matela Matlejane and Thato Majara came second. Paki Soro and Tsepang Komeke settled for third.

The competition saw dancers from four countries namely eSwatini, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho competing for the honours.

Iketsetseng Primary School won the Zumba category while Makoanyane Primary School came second and New Millennium came third.

Rakhomo said as much as he was happy that they managed to hold a successful event, he was disappointed low turnout which also affected the performances.

He blamed the recent spate of xenophobic attacks in neighbouring South Africa for the low response to the event. He said several countries that were expected to send participants cancelled because their contestants were supposed to pass through South Africa.

“I am unhappy because there was a low response to the event unlike last year where we had an overwhelming turnout,” Rakhomo said.

“The attendance was affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Some of the countries that we expected to come felt unsafe passing through South Africa among them Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They had to cancel and unfortunately, that affected us because the lower the number of contestants, the lower the competition.

“We also had to assure the South African Dance Association president of the safety of their dancers as they feared that other countries would revenge against their contestants.”

Rakhomo however, said his dancers have improved compared to how they performed a fortnight in Botswana for the Independence Championship.

“They performance in Botswana was not up to scratch so we nudged them. However, Botswana had prepared better than us and I am not surprised that they took the championship.

“The winners of this competition came second in Botswana. Our local couple came fourth in Botswana but improved and came second in Maseru,” Rakhomo said.

He said they have introduced the Zumba category to give young dancers a chance to compete in groups as they usually do not have partners.

The post Rakhomo unhappy with Queen Championship appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Moorosi Tsiane

ACTING Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki yesterday officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a M1 billion worth athletes’ village for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) 2020 Region 5 Games and the Maseru 2022 Africa Youth Games in Roma.

The facility will be housed within the National University of Lesotho (NUL) Roma campus. It will have 3000 residential units, a 4000-seater football and athletics stadium, NUL recreational Centre and a tennis court.

Yesterday’s ceremony comes after Prime Minister Thomas Thabane also turned the sod in August for the construction of the 20 000-seater Lepereng football stadium and a 3000-seater indoor sports facility. The indoor facility will be used for 41 different sporting codes.

However, the construction of the Lepereng facilities is yet to commence.

Lesotho hosts the AUSC Region 5 Games in December 2020. They will be followed by the 2022 Africa Youth Games.

Moleleki pledged the government’s commitment to investing in sports. He said the sporting industry had grown immensely in recent years.

“Sport has grown to be one of the biggest industries in the world and if you invest in it, you ensure that the country’s young are healthy, disciplined and also teach them how to work together,” Moleleki said.

“I am proud that the government is today officiating in the sod-turning of a project that is aimed at changing the lives of Basotho children.

“Sport has become of the biggest industries for young people and just look at how many millions the likes of Paul Pogba (Manchester United football player) is making through sports. So, when you develop sports, you are building one of the greatest industries for young people.”

He said the construction will create 1000 jobs for the Roma community.

“Through this project 1000 jobs will be created for Roma people. I am pleading with the contractors who will work on the project to avoid discrimination when they start hiring,” Moleleki said.

NUL vice chancellor Manthoto Lephoto said when Sports minister Mahali Phamotse pitched the project to them, it was easy for them to be convinced.

“At first, we were confused what the project had to do with the university but once she finished her pitch, we knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“We knew that this was not only about NUL but also about the whole Basotho nation. We thank the Sports ministry for choosing us. We are also grateful to the Ministry of Education and Training for its support,” Lephoto said.

The post M1 billion sports facility construction launched appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Moorosi Tsiane

THE Africa Zone VI Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) board says Lesotho’s image could be gravely soiled and its ability to host major games if the trend of athletes taking sporting federations to court continues.

RADO said the country’s standing in the international sporting community could also be negatively affected with other grave repercussions.

The anti-doping body said this in its recent letter to Sports minister Mahali Phamotse. The letter was written on the back of a High Court case launched by marathoner Mamoroallo Tjoka against South African Institute for Drug-free Sport (SAIDS), Lesotho National Olympics Committee (LNOC), RADO and Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) early this year.

Tjoka launched the challenge to overturn her suspension from participating in any national or international sporting activities for allegedly evading a doping test in May this year.

SAIDS alleged that its representatives along with those from RADO visited Tjoka’s Sekamaneng home in Maseru intending to conduct a doping test but the athlete allegedly fled.

This was the second involving a local athlete after Bantu midfielder Tsoanelo Koetle also refused to take a doping test in October 2017.

It was against this background that RADO wrote to Phamotse expressing its concern over the state of affairs.

“The RADO board and its partners have noted with great concern the second High Court case lodged by a Lesotho athlete when subjected to due processes in terms of anti-doping rule violations (ADRV),” the letter reads.

“This is a serious matter which reflects disregard for rules and regulations that govern participation and competition in various sport codes in line with internationally established protocols.”

The letter also warns the minister that should this trend continue, it will seriously harm Lesotho’s image and in the process hamper its ability to host major games. The country is preparing to host the 2020 Africa Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games and the African Youth Championships in 2022.

“If this trend continues, it will seriously affect Lesotho’s image and standing in the international sporting community and the country’s ability to host major games, amongst other grave repercussions.”

RADO added that the minister should sensitise the athletes about the need to respect sports rules and regulations before approaching the conventional courts.

“We therefore humbly request that Lesotho sports people, athletes and officials be sensitised about the need to respect sports rules and regulations before appealing to the local courts of law. If the athletes and officials are aggrieved by any decision taken in sport, there is the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Switzerland where sports disputes can be adjudicated and resolved.

“We trust the Honourable Minister together with her officials at the ministry, LNOC and LSRC will find a way of addressing this matter before it gets out of hand. Together with our colleagues at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), we are prepared to advise and provide appropriate support in this regard,” concluded the letter.

Phamotse could not be reached for comment this week as her mobile phone rang unanswered.

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Ntsebeng Motsoeli

THE Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) will next week host the 2019 tax expo to enable various stakeholders to submit proposals to assist the finance ministry in amending or formulating new tax policies.

The two-day expo will run from 9 to 10 October 2019 at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru. It is being held in line with the LRA’s Rea Aha — (we are building) strategy which calls for greater collaboration between the revenue collection agency and its stakeholders and clients.

LRA Public Relations Manager, Pheello Mphana, said the expo will discuss ways of integrating tax issues into the ongoing national reforms discourse and deliberate on how best the country can maximise benefits from the mining sector.

Mr Mphana said the expo will also discuss the role of taxation in attracting foreign direct investment and promoting entrepreneurship in Lesotho.

“The primary objective of this expo is to give all stakeholders an opportunity to look into issues that need attention in the formulation of new tax policies now that the Ministry of Finance is in the process of overhauling or formulating new policies,” Mr Mphana said.

“After the expo, a report containing recommendations will be submitted to the finance ministry as part of the LRA’s input on new tax policies. Participants will be drawn from the public and private sectors, non-governmental organisations, diplomatic missions and international organisations, academia, and the media. The public is also invited.”

The inaugural tax expo was held last year under the theme, Lekhetho khotla (tax gathering). Some of the major topics discussed last year were Lesotho’s Fiscal Policy and the Role of Taxation, Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, Safeguarding Lesotho’s Tax Base by Curbing Illicit Financial Flows, Sharing Economic Rent in the Extractive Industry, Deepening the Role of Tax Agents in Enhancing Tax Compliance, and Building a Culture of Voluntary Compliance in Lesotho.

Through the strategies adopted by its commissioner general, Thabo Khasipe, after he was reinstated to his position in 2018, the LRA has been on a positive roll. It managed to meet its revenue collection targets in the 2018/19 financial year, having failed to meet the target on two previous financial years.

The post LRA hosts second tax expo appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

STEPHEN Dlamini, a South African national, who was handed a 62 year jail term in 2011 for defrauding the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) of M2, 8 million, has died in prison.

Dlamini (62) was found dead in the Maseru Maximum Prison on Saturday and the cause of his death is yet to be established.

Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Spokesperson, Superintendent Neo Mopeli, confirmed Dlamini’s death in an interview with the Lesotho Times this week.

“On Saturday morning we discovered that Ntate Dlamini had died and we immediately called in the police to do their investigations to help us identify the cause of death,” Supt Mopeli said.

“We are working with the Dlamini’s family to prepare for his burial.”

Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, was not reachable on his mobile phone for comment.

Current Acting Chief Justice ’Maseforo Mahase sentenced Dlamini to 62 years in jail in October 2011 for defrauding the LHDA of M2, 8 million as well as attempting to defeat the ends of justice by bribing two female magistrates ‘Mampai Lesupi and Itumeleng Letsika.

Dlamini was however, supposed to serve only 15 years behind bars because his six sentences for fraud and defeating the ends of justice were supposed to run concurrently.

The High Court found Dlamini guilty of defrauding the LHDA of M2, 8 million acting in concert with his then lover, Peggy Thakeli, and later using magistrates Lesupi and Letsika, to escape from prison.

The court heard that Dlamini instructed Thakeli, who was an accountant at the LHDA, to transfer M2, 4 million from the authority’s ABSA account in South Africa to a First National Bank account owned by one Soleman Sameer in 2004.

The court found that at the instruction of Dlamini, Thakeli contacted a former Telecom Lesotho employee, Seqao Phenya, to install a telephone line at Dlamini’s house to facilitate the fraudulent activities.

The telephone line was intended to divert LHDA calls to Dlamini’s house and the fax was programmed in a way that it would appear to be an LHDA fax.

The same fax was used to give payment instructions to ABSA Bank for the withdrawal of the M2,4 million.

According to evidence by the prosecution, Thakeli’s fraudulent transfers were made under false pretence that Sameer was a contractor who had provided services to the LHDA.

Thakeli was also found guilty on four counts of fraud in which she and Dlamini forged quotations to make it look like the LHDA was the one buying construction materials from a fictitious hardware called Iketsetseng.

Dlamini was arrested in 2005 but managed to bribe the two magistrates to tamper with his court records to make it appear that his fraud charges had been withdrawn.

He was released and fled to England in 2006 but was arrested two years later when he came back to Maseru.

The two magistrates were each sentenced to a year in jail after the High Court found them guilty of defeating the ends of justice.

The post M2,8 million LHDA fraudster dies in prison appeared first on Lesotho Times.

• relatives asked to donate blood for patients
• shortages delay medical procedures and treatment of patients

Limpho Sello

THE country has been plunged into a health crisis amid revelations that the Lesotho Blood Transfusion Services (LBTS) has run out of blood supplies.

So serious is the situation that patients requiring blood transfusions are being asked by hospitals to bring their relatives or other donors to give them blood. Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital (also known as Tšepong) — the country’s largest referral hospital- is asking patients’ relatives to donate blood. The hospital also said the blood shortages also delayed the performance of operations on patients and other life-saving medical procedures.

Even Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein is also said to be turning away patients who are referred to them without their own blood units.

LBTS has been facing challenges in collecting enough blood after the Ministry of Education and Training imposed stringent regulations that made it difficult for the LBTS to source blood from learners who were among the biggest blood donors three years ago.

The regulations were imposed after parents complained to the ministry that they were not consulted over health services provided to their children in schools.

LBTS Blood Donor Recruiter Khatala Liphoto recently told the Lesotho Times that the decision has left several patients in need of blood transfusion vulnerable to otherwise treatable conditions.

Mr Liphoto said they were left with only five group O positive blood units, eight A positive units, four group B positive units and nine AB positive units.

“The situation is very critical as we ought to have 40 group O units and 10 other blood groups every day. Annually we are supposed to collect at least 8000 blood units.”

“The blood shortages are deepening and the situation has been worsened by the Ministry of Education and Training regulations that make it difficult for the LBTS to source blood from learners.

“It was said that learning time was taken up by the blood donations and it was also said that parents also demanded to be consulted to give their consent before their children could donate blood.

“We gave out consent forms to learners but this is not working because the forms were not returned to us, thus leaving us with very few donors,” Mr Liphoto said.

He said they had held several public gatherings to raise awareness on the importance of donating blood but this had not achieved the desired results.

“We have held gatherings to raise awareness but there is still very little interest and response from the people. Some people just get up and leave when we talk about blood donations. If we do not talk about self-reliance projects or food donations they take it as a waste of their time.

“Even Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein is turning away patients who are referred to them without their own blood units. It’s unlike before when we knew that they would give Basotho patients blood from South African donors.

“This goes to show that Basotho should take responsibility for their own health and stop relying on the government for everything. Life is precious and we should not waste it.

“This is not a government crisis alone and it is not just a problem for patients and affected families. It is a national crisis and we have to take responsibility because we are all affected.”

So dire is the situation that Tšepong’s Public Relations Officer, Mothepane Thahane, told the Lesotho Times that they were no forced to ask patients’ relatives to donate blood.

Ms Thahane also said the blood shortages delayed the performance of operations on patients and other life-saving medical procedures. This was due to the fact that they had to first test and clean all blood donations before they could be used on patients.

“We are not getting the blood right away so we have to keep our patients on the (life-saving) machines until the blood arrives.

“Sometimes the delays are caused by the wait for the matching blood donations and sometimes the delays are caused by the fact that relatives donate infected blood which cannot be given to patients. That blood will not be of any value and will have to be disposed of,” Ms Thahane said yesterday. She added that waiting for blood donations sometimes caused trauma in patients which affected their recovery.

Her sentiments were shared by Ms Limpho Mabulu, the Head of the Laboratory at Ntsekhe Hospital in Mohale’s Hoek.

Ms Mabulu said they were not able to perform surgeries due to blood shortages.

The post Health crisis as blood bank runs dry appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

LESOTHO Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader, Mothetjoa Metsing, says more than 50 years after independence, Lesotho remains poor and underdeveloped due to the poor calibre of its leaders.

He said the “poor” leaders were behind the persistent political instability that had resulted in assassination of army commander, Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen) Khoantle Motšomotšo, and other senior army officers. He also blamed the leaders for what he said was the unjust detention of former army commander, Lt-Gen Tlali Kamoli.

Mr Metsing said this while addressing an LCD rally in Koro-koro, Maseru on Sunday.

Lesotho celebrates its 53^rd anniversary of independence from Britain tomorrow. While sister country, Botswana which also achieved independence in 1966, has made great strides in terms of socio-economic development, Lesotho remains mired in under-development with chronic poverty and high unemployment. This is despite the country boasting of diamond reserves, abundant water and a conducive agricultural climate.

Mr Metsing, a former deputy prime minister in two coalition governments, attributed Lesotho’s problems to the poor calibre of its leaders since independence.

“It’s been over 50 years since Lesotho got its independence but we are a very poor nation which cannot even tackle joblessness because of the poor calibre of political leaders that we are,” Mr Metsing said.

“If it were not so, General Kamoli would not be in detention and we wouldn’t have had the assassination of the other army commander (Lt-Gen Motšomotšo) and his two officers, Tefo Hashatsi and Bulane Sechele. So many civilians wouldn’t have died at the hands of the police.”

Lt-Gen Motšomotšo was murdered at his Ratjomose Barracks offices on 5 September 2019, allegedly by Brigadier Sechele and Colonel Hashatsi.

The two were killed shortly afterwards in a gunfight with Lt-Gen Motšomotšo’s bodyguards.

Lt-Gen Kamoli was arrested in October 2017 and he remains in remand prison awaiting trial for the June 2015 murder of army commander, Lt-Gen Maaparankoe Mahao.

Lt-Gen Kamoli also faces a murder charge stemming from the 30 August 2014 killing of Police Sub-Inspector, Mokheseng Ramahloko.

Sub-Inspector Ramahloko was shot and killed by soldiers during the attempted coup of 30 August 2014 at the Police Headquarters in Maseru. The soldiers, who allegedly acted on the instructions of the then army commander, Lt-Gen Kamoli, also raided several other police stations in Maseru and seized an assortment of weapons.

Lt-Gen Kamoli also faces 14 counts of attempted murder in connection with the 27 January 2014 simultaneous bombings of the Moshoeshoe II homes of First Lady Maesaiah Thabane and the Ha Abia residence of former police commissioner, Khothatso Tšooana.

But Mr Metsing has persistently claimed that Lt-Gen Kamoli is innocent and merely being persecuted by the Thomas Thabane regime. He has constantly called for the release of Lt-Gen Kamoli and other detained soldiers.

On Sunday he repeated his call for their release, accusing the government of selective justice by allegedly allowing back into the army some soldiers who were accused of mutiny during Lt-Gen Kamoli’s tenure. He said Lt-Gen Kamoli was only being victimised because he had “put his head on the block” to protect him and former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili from mercenaries who wanted to assassinate them.

“Kamoli is not in detention over issues of 2014. In 2009, some mercenaries came to Lesotho to kill me and the then premier, Ntate Mosisili. And this (Lt-Gen Kamoli) is the man who put his head on the block to protect us. He is only detained today because we are not in power.

“It is time people accepted things for what they are and stopped blaming others. There are some soldiers who were accused of mutiny and ran away with Ntate Thabane. They now walk the streets freely as if nothing happened but if we were to go by justice, they also ought to be locked up.

“The only reason why they still have not been tried is because they are backing the one in charge of today’s government. This is a vicious cycle and we can’t afford to go on like that and drag our security institutions into our politics. This is not how this country should be governed, hence we call for a government of national unity (GNU) so that we find a solution of how best to come out of this quandary,” Mr Metsing said.

He also accused the Thomas Thabane-led All Basotho Convention (ABC) of slandering him to win the June 2017 national elections.

“They (ABC) dragged my name in the mud and got sympathy votes. They called me a murderer and a thief. They said I was corrupt, called me all sorts of bad names and got political mileage.”

He, however, praised Dr Thabane for their talks last month which he said had yielded agreements on the payment of his terminal benefits as well as the return of exiled politicians, serving and former members of the security agencies.

He reiterated his call for a GNU as the “best way” of resolving the perennial instability in the country.

“I have suffered at the hands of Ntate Thabane and so have my people (LCD supporters). But I have found it necessary to hold talks with him and bury the hatchet for the good of this country. It is not that I have forgotten (the suffering) but I believe it (holding talks) is the right thing to do. We both believe that it is only when we are united that we can save this country.

“Even if we don’t see eye to eye with other people in parliament, our objective is to work for the unity of this country, peace and the welfare of its people.”

He said the talks with Dr Thabane had started yielding some results as he would soon receive his long overdue terminal benefits for his tenure as deputy prime minister in the previous Pakalitha Mosisili regime from 2015 to 2017.

“These are the results of my talks with Ntate Thabane and credit should be given where it’s due. We both agree that there is no peace without talks.

“We need peace in this country and I have heard most political leaders saying the same. In that case, Kamoli should be freed. Our love for this country should surpass our hatred and differences with one another. It is time to bury the hatchet. Those (soldiers) who were accused of mutiny are now working and have never faced a day in court. We are not even suggesting that they should but we are saying it’s time to let go (of the grudges).

“Ntate Thabane and your team, you all know that Ntate Kamoli is innocent. Therefore let’s all agree that arguing won’t help us in any way. There is no alternative to talks, we all need to sit together and agree.

“It’s very simple to topple this government but we all need to accept that we have erred and have wronged the nation. No man is an island and therefore no one can work for peace in silos,” said Mr Metsing.

The post Metsing blames Lesotho’s woes on “poor leaders” appeared first on Lesotho Times.

• DC leader also demands probe and arrests in Lipolelo Thabane’s murder

’Marafaele Mohloboli

DEMOCRATIC Congress (DC) leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, has condemned government moves to dismiss police officers for the strike that disrupted preparations for His Majesty King Letsie III’s birthday in July 2019.

Mr Mokhothu advised government against the move, saying there was “too much at stake in the security sector” and firing the officers was likely to “give birth to rebels within the institution”.

The youthful opposition leader also joined fellow opposition leader, Mothejoa Metsing, in calling for the release of double murder-accused former commander, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, and other soldiers currently in remand prison where they await trial for various crimes.

He called on the government to find and arrest the killers of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s wife, Lipolelo Thabane, and Police Constable (PC) Mokalekale Khetheng.

Mr Mokhothu said all this while addressing a DC rally early this week in Malingoaneng, Mokhotlong.

The Thomas Thabane-led coalition has three more years left of its five year tenure but the instability brought on by the power struggle between Dr Thabane and his All Basotho Convention (ABC) deputy, Professor Nqosa Mahao, has left many convinced that the government may not last the distance.

ABC legislators loyal to Prof Mahao have teamed up with opposition parties including the Mokhothu-led DC to file a no confidence motion against Dr Thabane and a vote on the issue will be held if parliament opens as expected on the 18^th of this month.

It is against this background of instability that the governing parties and the opposition are already on the campaign trail in anticipation of elections that Dr Thabane will inevitably call if the motion against him succeeds.

Mr Mokhothu has been particularly aggressive with his campaign and was in Mokhotlong this week.

Although the DC is backing the Pro-Mahao legislators’ no confidence motion against Dr Thabane and their proposal for ABC chairperson, Samuel Rapapa, to take over as interim prime minister, it looks unlikely that Dr Thabane will agree to step down should he lose the no confidence vote. Mr Mokhothu believes the veteran leader would rather advise His Majesty, King Letsie III, to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections. Addressing party supporters in Malingoaneng, Mr Mokhothu repeated his call for the re-opening of parliament to allow the no confidence vote. He said his party was ready for elections.

“This government is now rickety because it doesn’t have numbers. They should open parliament because we are ready to go for elections. We advise that they do so now while we are still at an early stage of our campaigns because if they wait longer we will be unstoppable. We are going to take this government from their hands.”

He mocked Dr Thabane for negotiating with some “useless parties” in a desperate bid to retain power. Although he did not mention any party by name, this could have been in reference to Dr Thabane’s recent talks with opposition Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader, Mothejoa Metsing. There have been widespread speculation that the talks between the two are aimed at forging an alliance to save Dr Thabane from the no confidence motion in return for Mr Metsing’s party being included in the governing coalition.

Speaking at the rally, Mr Mokhothu said deals with any party would not save Dr Thabane from losing power.

“They are busy luring useless parties….. to become part of them. This government is like a patient in the intensive care unit, it is dying. We have told them that we don’t want anything to do with them. All we want is for the (no confidence) motion to be passed in parliament.

“We won’t be bought with positions. It is either the prime minister relinquishes power in parliament or advises His Majesty to dissolve parliament. This is what the constitution says and the DC is all ready to flex its muscle.

“We don’t care whether they merge or dismantle, we are ready for elections. Just like a deer panting for stream waters, we pant for the elections. They will not win.

“They said a child had been voted into power when I was elected, so what’s their problem of going to the elections against a child,” the youthful Mr Mokhothu asked rhetorically.

“They should open parliament. They should not be hiding behind the issue of elections being expensive. Elections are not more costly than the extravagance of this government which uses millions of maloti for landscaping at the State House.

“We are ready to send someone packing. He (Dr Thabane) is old and parliament is not a bed for the elderly.”

He also condemned government moves to dismiss police officers for the strike that disrupted preparations for His Majesty King Letsie III’s birthday in July 2019.

Mr Mokhothu advised the government against the move, saying there was “too much at stake in the security sector” and firing the officers was likely to “give birth to rebels within the institution”.

Several police officers face dismissal for going on strike a few days before His Majesty’s birthday in July this year.

The officers, stationed at Berea, Mohale’s Hoek, Thaba-Tseka, Maseru Rural districts, stand accused of defying orders to return to work and to attend rehearsals for His Majesty’s birthday celebrations. The King celebrated his 56^th birthday on 17 July 2019. The officers have been asked to “show cause” why they should not be dismissed from the police service.

But on Sunday Mr Mokhothu said the DC is “totally against this move of writing such (“show cause”) letters to the police”.

“There is just too much at stake in the security sector…this is going to birth some rebels within the institution. We condemn it in the strongest terms.”

He also called for the release of Lt-Gen Kamoli. He urged the government to find and arrest the killers of Ms Lipolelo Thabane and PC Khetheng.

“We want those soldiers arrested alongside General Kamoli to be released. Their cases must be heard or they should be released as we can see that they have no cases to answer.

“All the blood that was shed should be repaid and those who murdered Police Constable Khetheng and the Prime Minister’s estranged wife Lipolelo Thabane should also be arrested so that they account for their deeds,” said Mr Mokhothu.

Ms Lipolelo Thabane was gunned down in cold blood by unknown gunmen in Ha ‘Masana on 14 June 2017. The incident occurred just two days before Dr Thabane’s inauguration as prime minister.

A female companion of Ms Thabane also sustained serious injuries in the shooting. No one has been arrested in connection with the murder.

PC Khetheng went missing after he was arrested by his colleagues at a traditional feast in Sebothoane, Leribe, on 25 March 2016. His body was exhumed a year later at a mass grave in the Lepereng cemetery on the outskirts of Maseru. The cemetery is a burial site for unclaimed corpses.

Former Defence and National Security minister, Tšeliso Mokhosi, was arrested with some police officers and they face charges of murdering PC Khetheng.

Mr Mokhothu also called on the government to repeal the controversial wool and mohair regulations forbidding farmers from selling their produce from outside Lesotho.

The farmers bitterly opposed the regulations and in June this year they came together in their thousands to stage the “mother of all protests” in Maseru to press the government to amend the regulations to allow them to sell their produce from anywhere in the world and through brokers of their choice.

The farmers are planning another massive demonstration to force the government to repeal the regulations.

“Those regulations should be nullified, if they (government) don’t do so, we (DC) shall do it on the first day we assume power,” Mr Mokhothu said.

Commenting on the plight of teachers who have not paid after embarking on what the government described as an “illegal strike” for salary increments, Mr Mokhothu said teachers were reaping what they sowed because they had voted the current government into power.

“They (teachers) are eating their own porridge because they are the ones who voted this government which doesn’t want to hear them out now,” he said, urging the teachers to vote the DC this time round as the only way to have their grievances resolved.

The post Don’t fire police officers: Mokhothu appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mohalenyane Phakela

“ACTING” All Basotho Convention (ABC) “leader”, Professor Nqosa Mahao and his four allies will have to wait longer to know whether or not their court application challenging their expulsions from the ABC by party leader and Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane, succeeds.

This after High Court judge, Justice Tšeliso Monapathi, this week postponed the case to 7 October 2019 to allow Dr Thabane’s lawyers to file more affidavits to support their case.

Justice Monapathi postponed the case after one of Dr Thabane’s lawyers, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane, asked for leave to file more affidavits “in order to address other issues before arguing the main case”. Adv Setlojoane did not specify the “other issues” he needed to address. His request was however, described as a delaying tactic by the Mahao faction lawyer, Advocate Mabatṧoeneng Hlaele.

Incidentally, Adv Hlaele is Dr Thabane’s daughter and wife of one of the applicants, “expelled” ABC secretary general, Lebohang Hlaele.

Just when it appeared the much-delayed case would finally get underway on Monday, Adv Setlojoane pleaded with Justice Monapathi to “grant us the opportunity to file more affidavits as there are issues which we need to address before arguing the main case”.

On her part, Adv Hlaele told the court although they would not oppose the request, they believed that Dr Thabane was employing delaying tactics. She said they stood ready to argue the case to finality and they would still do so come Monday 7 October 2019.

“The defendants are trying everything not to have the case heard by coming up with all delaying tactics. Even if they are granted leave, we will not oppose them because they will not add any value to their case. We propose that the case be heard next Monday (7 October 2019) and they should come prepared to argue the main case,” Adv Hlaele said.

Justice Monaphathi then postponed the matter to 7 October 2019 and said he “will hear everything on that day”. He further extended the interim order blocking the 17 June 2019 “expulsions” of Prof Mahao and his four allies to 7 October 2019.

Prof Mahao’s co-applicants are fellow ABC’s NEC members, Lebohang Hlaele (secretary general), Samuel Rapapa (chairperson), Montoeli Masoetsa (spokesperson) and ‘Matebatso Doti (deputy spokesperson).

They filed the application on 20 August 2019 challenging Dr Thabane’s decision to “expel” them from the party on 17 June 2019.

The respondents are Dr Thabane, the ABC, the ABC’s NEC, Dr Moeketsi Majoro (who was appointed in August 2019 by Dr Thabane to replace Prof Mahao), Kemiso Mosenene (who was appointed chairperson in place of Mr Rapapa), Sentle Rabale (who was appointed spokesperson in place of Mr Masoetsa) and Joel Mohale who was appointed deputy spokesperson in place of Ms Doti.

Dr Thabane had made the four appointments with effect from 9 August 2019. He however, did not fill the secretary general’s post made “vacant” by the “expulsion” of Mr Hlalele, saying he would do so in due course.  Monday’s postponement of the case to 7 October 2019 and the extension of the interim order, means that Dr Thabane’s appointments of Dr Majoro and others remain invalid, at least for now.

The post ABC “expulsions” case postponed again appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

“ACTING leader” of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Professor Nqosa Mahao has warned his party faces embarrassing defeat in the next general elections due to its failure to fulfil its 2017 election campaign promises.

Prof Mahao also warned that ABC supporters and the entire nation would turn against the party if “suspended” ABC leader and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane went ahead and agree to a deal with former Deputy Prime Minister, Mothejoa Metsing, for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He condemned the TRC as an opportunistic idea to ensure that those who had committed crimes get away scot free.

Prof Mahao delivered the warnings while addressing a rally early this week in Maletsunyane, Maseru.

Elections are due in 2022. The ABC achieved a narrow victory in the 3 June 2017 polls and subsequently cobbled a four party coalition with Deputy Prime Minister, Monyane Moleleki’s Alliance of Democrats (AD), Communications Minister Thesele Maseribane’s Basotho National Party (BNP) and Labour Minister Keketso Rantšo’s Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL).

Although the polls are due in 2022, the general sentiment is that they could be held earlier due to the serious infighting in the ABC which threatens to collapse the current coalition. A no confidence motion is pending against Dr Thabane in parliament and the Mahao-led faction has warned that it will push for the motion to be tabled and voted on when parliament reconvenes on 18 October 2019.

In the event of elections, Prof Mahao does not fancy the ABC’s chances. He told the Maletsunyane rally that the party would be “spectacularly embarrassed” due to its failure to fulfil its 2017 election campaign promises.

Prof Mahao also warned that ABC supporters and the entire nation would turn against the party if Dr Thabane went ahead and agree to a deal with Mr Metsing for the establishment of a TRC.

“We are living in a difficult time because our party is at a crossroads,” Prof Mahao said.

“Two weeks ago I and fellow comrades visited various places in the country. I can report that it would be foolish of us as ABC members to continue to think that the masses are still eating out of the palms of our hands.

“I am telling you if elections were to be called right now, we would be spectacularly embarrassed. I have no doubt about that. If we don’t do something, they (electorate) will desert the ABC for other parties…”

Prof Mahao said the party’s new national executive committee (NEC) had a responsibility to clean up the mess within the ABC and ensure that the party lives up to the 2017 campaign promises to improve service delivery, the economy and general welfare of Basotho.

Mr Metsing has consistently called for a TRC to investigate atrocities that were committed by Lesotho’s post-independence regimes and the security agencies.

The LCD recently said that Dr Thabane and Mr Metsing agreed on the establishment of a TRC in talks held last month. The duo are also said to have agreed on the return of all exiled politicians, serving and former members of the security agencies. In the wake of this “agreement”, two senior members of the security agencies, Assistant Superintendent Ramahetlane Percy Bereng of the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) and police procurement officer Senior Superintendent Lebohang Setsomi returned home last week.

Asst Supt Bereng fled to South Africa in August 2018 after being called for questioning by the police over the leaking of a government gazette. SS Setsomi skipped the country in July 2017 claiming that he had been tipped-off of his imminent arrest over charges of inflating costs of some procurement quotations.

But Prof Mahao said it was peculiar that there were already talks about establishing a TRC and of people “calling and forgiving each other”.

“They are now cleansing people. They are saying that we should complete the process of (establishing) the TRC in November. They are in such a hurry. We have no problem with Basotho coming home but if they have to face the wrath of the law they should. But we are surprised that the minister (of Police and Public Safety, Prince Maliehe) said they have cleansed them (Asst Supt Bereng and SSP Setsomi.

“Is the TRC a platform where people are going to cleanse each other in this manner? Are we ever going to know the truth? Will there ever be reconciliation and where are the victims of the well-known crimes when they are doing all of this? Were the victims ever asked to have a say in this? Who are the people forgiving each other? Is it Ntate Thabane and Ntate Metsing? Who has done what to whom? Who is the victim between the two of them? What are we saying about the families of the victims and the army personnel who were tortured, chained and detained?

“I would like to tell you that if we are going to follow that route (of establishing a TRC), this nation will desert this party. I know for sure that those people making deals such as this one will be deserted by the nation.”

He also bemoaned the plight of wool and mohair farmers, saying they had been impoverished by the government’s controversial wool and mohair regulations forbidding them from selling their produce outside Lesotho.

He said impoverished farmers had been forced to seek employment and engage in dangerous practices such as illegal mining in South Africa where some of them ended up being killed.

“Herd boys whose wages were paid from wool and mohair profits are now leaving to seek employment elsewhere…On behalf of the ABC, I would like to apologise to the farmers,” he said, adding they would ask ABC legislators to come to the aid of farmers by repealing the regulations.

He also criticised the government for its failure to resolve the long-standing grievances of teachers for salary increments and improved working conditions.

“We are embarrassed that the government has been dealing with this issue without any success for far too long. Three ministers led by a professor (Education and Training Minister, Professor Ntoi Rapapa) have taken over a year trying to solve teachers’ grievances.

“This could be solved in one weekend if ministers stopped boarding planes regularly. I have said it before that it is very easy to solve teachers’ problems by cutting down the size of the cabinet,” he said.

Last week, the government resolved to punish about 4 000 teachers who went on strike last month by deducting amounts ranging from M2300 to M2500 from their salaries in line with the ‘no work, no pay’ policy.

Entry level gross salaries for teachers are pegged at M7 500 per month while senior teachers earn M9 000 per month. Consequently the teachers, who are already complaining that they cannot make ends meet, will suffer even more and it is possible that some will take home next to nothing after the deductions.

The restive teachers downed tools on 12 August 2019.

They want the government to award them an eight percent salary increment for the 2019/20 financial year.

They also want the government to weed out ghost workers from the payroll.

However, the government said it could not afford the eight percent increment and the two parties subsequently agreed that the increment would be implemented in the next financial year.

The post ABC faces embarrassing electoral defeat: Mahao appeared first on Lesotho Times.

• PM takes over Defence and National Security Ministry
• move aimed at consolidating army’s subordination to civilian authority

Pascalinah Kabi

PRIME Minister Thomas Thabane will today reshuffle his cabinet in a move that well-placed sources say will see him assume the Defence and National Security portfolio.

The reshuffle will also see the return of Messrs Motlohi Maliehe and Lehlohonolo Moramotse who were fired last year by Dr Thabane. Mr Maliehe, the former Tourism and Environment Minister, is set to bounce back in the Social Development portfolio, vacant since the February 2019 sacking of Ms Matebatso Doti. Mr Moramotse (former Public Works and Transport minister) returns as Police and National Security. The police portfolio has been vacant since the resignation of ‘Mampho Mokhele. Ms Mokhele resigned to take up the post of Counselor at the Lesotho embassy in Ireland.

Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka, confirmed the reshuffle in an interview yesterday but declined to give details.

“The cabinet will be reshuffled tomorrow (today) and there will be new ministers who will be sworn in tomorrow (today),” Mr Mphaka said. He however, refused to say whether or not Dr Thabane would take over the Defence portfolio. He also refused to disclose the identities of the new ministers or the ministries that would be affected by the reshuffle.

He told this publication to “wait until tomorrow to see new faces in the cabinet”.

But reliable sources insisted that Dr Thabane would assume the Defence portfolio. The incumbent, Tefo Mapesela, will be moved back to the Ministry of Trade and Industry where he served from 2017 until he was re-assigned to the defence ministry in December 2018.

According to one of the sources, “the new faces in the cabinet are Ntate Motlohi Maliehe, Lehlohonolo Moramotse, Kose Makoa (Deputy Minister of Forestry) and Moshe Leoma (Deputy Minister of Agriculture)”.

“Besides these, ministers, Mokhele Moletsane (Justice), Habofanoe Lehana (Trade and Industry), Semano Sekatle (Public Service), Tekemi Tsolo (Prime Minister’s office), Nkaku Kabi (Health) and Mokherene Tsatsanyane (Deputy Minister Public Works and Transport) are all going to be reshuffled,” the source added.

Another source said ministers, Keketso Sello (Mining), Professor Ntoi Rapapa (Education and Training), Litšoane Litšoane (Local Government), Mahapa Molapo (Agriculture and Food Security), Leshoboro Mohlajoa (Forestry), Mokoto Hloaele (Home Affairs), Tsukutlane Au (Energy), Tefo Mapesela and deputy ministers, Mothepu Mahapa (Education) and Kotiti Diholo (Local Government Deputy Minister)  would also be affected.

“Foreign Affairs Minister Lesego Makgothi is moving to Law and Constitutional Affairs and Habofanoe Lehana will replace Makgothi at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Mapesela is going back to Trade and Industry,” said the source.

In just 10 months at the helm of the defence ministry, Mr Mapesela’s tenure has been characterised by highly publicised fallouts with army commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, Police Commissioner, Holomo Molibeli, and National Security Service Director, Pheello Ralenkoane.

Mr Mapesela has given media interviews accusing the security chiefs, particularly Lt-Gen Letsoela of defying his authority as their civilian boss. He also accused the security chiefs of divulging sensitive security information to other ministers and thus compromising the security of the nation.

He said by defying him, the trio had become rebels whose conduct could lead to the collapse of a democratically elected government.

He even alleged in May this year that Lt-Gen Letsoela was cut from the same cloth as detained double murder-accused former army commander, Tlali Kamoli, adding that the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) was likely to regress to the same rebellious state it was in under the leadership of Lt-Gen Kamoli from 2014 to 2016.

The LDF was thrown into disarray when Rtd Lt-Gen Kamoli rejected his dismissal by then and current Prime Minister Thabane.

Dr Thabane dismissed Lt-Gen Kamoli for insubordination and appointed the now deceased Lt-Gen Maaparankoe Mahao in his place in august 2014. Lt-Gen Kamoli refused to accept his dismissal and proceeded to launch a coup attempt against Dr Thabane’s first government on 30 August 2014.

The alleged coup attempt kick-started a chain of events that culminated in the snap elections of February 2015 which ushered in the former Pakalitha Mosisili-led seven parties’ coalition in place of Dr Thabane’s first government. Dr Mosisili restored Lt-Gen Kamoli and demoted Lt-Gen Mahao who launched a court bid challenging the dismissal. The case was never finalised after Lt-Gen Mahao was gunned down in June 2015 in cold blood by fellow soldiers under the command of Lt-Gen Kamoli. Thereafter the country descended into anarchy and impunity as soldiers and other members of the security agencies committed murders and other human rights violations. This only stopped after the advent of Dr Thabane in the aftermath of the June 2017 elections and the subsequent deployment of a SADC standby force from December 2017 until November 2018 to maintain peace and stability in the country.

Although Dr Thabane expressed confidence that peace and stability will prevail in the country after the departure of the SADC force, Mr Mapesela constantly warned of “anarchy” brewing in the army because of the alleged insubordination of Lt-Gen Letsoela.

And the sources said it was the fall-out between Lt-Gen Letsoela and Mr Mapesela which has forced Dr Thabane to act by removing the tough-talking minister from the Defence portfolio and sending him back to his former ministry.

“Ntate Thabane will take over the Defence ministry. Ntate Thabane wants to stamp his authority by taking over one of the most critical portfolios in government. He feels that by taking over the Defence ministry, the army will once again be stable as it became evident that Mapesela and Letsoela’s relationship had become untenable,” a source said.

Another source concurred and added that the reshuffle will also allow Dr Thabane to fill the vacancies created by the February 2019 dismissals of Ms Doti and Mr Lebohang Hlaele from the Social Development and the Law and Constitutional Affairs portfolios respectively.

Although no reason was given for their dismissals, it is widely believed that they were fired as punishment for siding with Professor Nqosa Mahao even after Dr Thabane had made it clear that he was against the latter’s candidature and subsequent election to the post of All Basotho Convention (ABC) deputy leader at the ABC’s February 2019 elective conference.

The post Thabane reshuffles cabinet yet again appeared first on Lesotho Times.

• argues King should never have been enjoined as co-applicant in her case

Mohalenyane Phakela / Pascalinah Kabi

ALL Basotho Convention (ABC) secretary general, Lebohang Hlaele, has blasted Acting Chief Justice ‘Maseforo Mahase and Attorney General Haae Phoofolo, for enjoining King Letsie III as a co-applicant in a controversial case in which Judge Mahase is seeking the recusal of Lesotho’s entire High Court bench from hearing an impeachment bid against her.

Mr Hlaele accused Justice Mahase and Adv Phoofolo of creating a constitutional crisis by unprocedurally including His Majesty as a co-applicant in her application for the recusal of all local judges from the impeachment case.

His Majesty, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, Adv Phoofolo and the JSC are listed as co-applicants in Justice Mahase’s application. Mr Hlaele and the Law Society of Lesotho are cited as the respondents. Mr Hlaele brought the case for the impeachment of Judge Mahase over her gross incompetence and for various acts which the secretary general says put the judiciary into disrepute.

Mr Hlaele alleged that King Letsie III had been included as a co-applicant by Justice Mahase and the Adv Phoofolo without his consent. He said the entire High Court bench whose recusal was sought by Justice Mahase, was appointed by King Letsie III and it was inconceivable that His Majesty would therefore “join in the crusade of Acting Chief Justice” to “express the lack of confidence in the very bench which was appointed by himself”.

Mr Hlaele also alleged that by seeking the recusal of local judges on the grounds that they could be biased against her, Justice Mahase had effectively brought the entire judiciary into disrepute and this was reason enough for her to be impeached.

The ABC secretary-general said this in the answering affidavit he filed this week in response to Justice Mahase’s application for the recusal of all judges from presiding over his (Mr Hlaele’s) application for an order to compel the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to impeach Justice Mahase.

In an unprecedented move a fortnight ago, Justice Mahase launched a broadside against most of her fellow judges, essentially accusing them of incompetence.

She said her colleagues are unfit for purpose. She called for all of them to recuse themselves in the case in which Mr Hlaele is determinedly seeking her impeachment.  She alleged that Justice Lineo Chaka-Makhooane was unhappy with her because the latter was a “close friend’ to the suspended Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara.

She also accused other judges – Justices Thamsanqa Nomngcongo, Tšeliso Monaphathi, Keketso Moahloli and Molefi Makara – of refusing to take orders from her. She therefore wants the recusal of the entire bench in favour of foreign judges.

Justice Mahase said her comments were neither meant to hurt any of her colleagues in any way nor cast aspersions on them but were just dealing with the reality currently obtaining in the country.

However, in his replying affidavit this week, Mr Hlaele accused Justice Mahase of bringing the entire judiciary into disrepute with her allegations that local judges were incompetent.

Mr Hlaele said it was unheard of for anyone to seek the recusal of all of the country’s judges and to make “unfounded” allegations that they will be biased when presiding over a case involving a fellow judge.

“This (Justice Mahase’s) application is based on unfounded, unsupported and irrelevant facts which were only meant to attack and undermine the decorum and integrity of the presiding judges and other High Court judges mentioned in her affidavit,” Mr Hlaele states in his answering affidavit.

“She (Justice Mahase) has effectively put the judiciary into disrepute by her very own depositions. The application is a ruse aimed at frustrating the finalisation of the main case (Hlaele’s application for Justice Mahase’s impeachment).

“The Acting Chief Justice is not the boss of other judges. She is the administrative head of the judiciary but not placed to direct the judges in the determination of cases placed before them. Each of the judges enjoys functional autonomy in the exercise of their judicial functions and they have ascribed to a constitutional oath of office in this regard. It is highly concerning for the attorney general to make such a wanting and wrong statement of fact about the judiciary.

“The recusal of the entire Lesotho bench attracts institutional recusal and does not have any support in our constitutional setting. There is no authority in this jurisdiction or even globally which supports the institutional recusal or incapacitation of an entire institution of the High Court for foreign judges on the logic that they bear the potential of being impartial. History in this jurisdiction clearly proves that this is not the first case which involves a local judge and was presided over by local judges.”

Mr Hlaele also said that Justice Mahase’s decision to disclose confidential information of the JCS in relation to disciplinary action instituted against Justice Moahloli spoke volumes about her incompetence and unfitness to lead the judiciary.

“The Acting Chief Justice abused her official mandate to disclose privileged and confidential information of a respected body such as the JSC to motivate the current application for recusal.

“She is the chairperson of the JSC with wide powers which include being privy to sensitive and confidential information about the entire judiciary. This (disclosure of such information) was done without any clear authorisation.

“This is clearly legally reprehensible and is yet another grounds (sic) for the very impeachment sought in the main case. It speaks volumes about her competence and capacity to lead such an important constitutional institution.”

Mr Hlaele also accused Justice Mahase of creating a constitutional crisis by unprocedurally adding King Letsie III as a co-applicant in her recusal application.

He said the entire High Court bench, whose recusal was sought by Justice Mahase, was appointed by King Letsie III and it was inconceivable that His Majesty would therefore “join in the crusade of Acting Chief Justice” to “express the lack of confidence in the very bench which was appointed by himself”.

“It is clearly regrettable if not inconceivable why the head of state (King Letsie III) who has the mandate to appoint members of the (impeachment) tribunal has been cited as a co-applicant in the current application when the nature of the relief sought aims to facilitate the performance of his constitutional mandate.

“I therefore take strong exception to the office of His Majesty and the JSC being embroiled in this litigation and being made to take the corner of the embattled acting chief justice. This legally reprehensible approach has effectively created a constitutional impasse where the head of state, head of government, principal legal advisor of the government (Adv Phoofolo) and a critical institution ironically chaired by the acting chief justice (the JSC), collude to prevent the enforcement of discipline of a highest ranking judge.

“All judges are appointed and removed by the King. It fails to meet logic why His Majesty would join in the crusade of the acting chief justice and become a co-litigant in a matter where the attorney general in alliance with the acting chief justice to express lack of confidence in the very bench which was appointed by himself.

“I deny that the office of His Majesty, which is the appointing and removing authority of judges, authorised the institution of the application for the recusal of the entire bench of Lesotho,” Mr Hlaele states.

He also argues that it is unlawful for the state to incur Justice Mahase’s legal expenses and that His Majesty, Adv Phoofolo and others should have not been joined as applicants in the matter.

“A disturbing feature of the application is that all parties are represented by a single legal team in spite of their conflicting interests and mandates. It is inconceivable why the acting chief justice would be legally represented at the state’s expense over actions which are directly impacting on her as a person.

“I aver that the acting chief justice is sued in her personal capacity as has happened with other senior judges in this jurisdiction and who never enjoyed the institutional support of government. The government and other public institutions which have been cited in the litigation have no interest in the matter and their citation as co-applicants attracts a huge element of unlawfulness.

“The attorney general’s office plays an instrumental role in the impeachment process and it is clearly conflicted by being in league with the acting chief justice over her personal litigation unrelated to her constitutional functions,” Mr Hlaele states.

The post Hlaele slams “abuse” of King Letsie III in Mahase’s court bid appeared first on Lesotho Times.

• as her impeachment matter is heard in private
• while she controversially enjoins King Letsie as her co-applicant  

Mohalenyane Phakela

FRESH controversy has again hit Lesotho’s judiciary after three judges, sitting as a Constitutional Court, elected to hear a case involving one of their own, Acting Chief Justice ‘Maseforo Mahase, in virtually secrecy instead of an open public court as required by law.

Lawyers interviewed yesterday slammed the decision by judges Tšeliso Monapathi (presiding), Semapo Peete and Keketso Moahloli to hear arguments in Judge Mahase’s impeachment case in chambers, saying it violated every legal rule about how the courts must conduct themselves.

“All Constitutional cases must be heard in public in an open court in full view of the world. There is no law or rule that says a case involving a judge or judges must be heard in darkrooms away from the public glare…What are they (judges) hiding?,” said a lawyer who preferred anonymity, at this stage, for professional reasons.

“Are they also going to keep their judgment a secret which they will only share among themselves…..? this all very shameful.”

The case in question here involves an application by All Basotho Convention (ABC) secretary general, Lebohang Hlaele, to have Judge Mahase impeached over what the politician describes as her gross incompetence.  Mr Hlaele accuses Judge Mahase of several acts of commission and omission which he says have put Lesotho’s judiciary into disrepute, warranting her removal from the bench.  Mr Hlaele is seeking an order for the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to kickstart processes to have the acting chief justice impeached.

But Judge Mahase has fired back with her Constitutional application for the recusal of Lesotho’s entire bench from hearing Mr Hlaele’s case (see story below). She accuses most of Lesotho’s High Court judges of gross incompetence. She fears some will rule unfavourably against her because of her differences with them. Some had been insubordinate and refused to take instructions from her since her appointment as acting chief justice, she claims. Ironically, Judge Mahase cites Judge Monapathi, the presiding judge in her case yesterday, among the “insubordinate” judges.

It is this recusal application that is at issue here.  Judges Monapathi, Peete and  Moahloli elected to hear it in  chambers, depriving the country and public of an opportunity to hear Judge Mahase’s elaboration of why he deems her colleagues incompetent and unfit for purpose.  The three judges reserved judgment to 30 October 2019 after hearing arguments from both sides.

Normally, all constitutional matters are held in open court because of their public interest nature. There is no precedent of a constitutional matter ever being heard in secret.  Justice Mahase wants all her colleagues to recuse themselves from hearing the impeachment case, in favour of foreign judges, because she argues her rights to a fair trial will be violated if her “incompetent” colleagues were to sit in judgment of her, among other reasons.

Adding to the drama is Justice Mahase’s decision to enjoin His Majesty, King Letsie 111 as  her co-applicant in the case.  This has got Mr Hlaele seething (see story below).  The ABC secretary-general says this amounts to dragging His Majesty  through  the mud as he was “obviously” not consulted before being enlisted as a co-applicant.  The King had constitutionally appointed all the judges on the bench and he could now not turn around and say they are all “incompetent” and unfit to hear a case, after he had lawfully appointed them, contends Mr Hlaele.

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane; Attorney General Haae Phoofolo and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) are the other applicants in the matter. Mr Hlaele and the Law Society of Lesotho are cited as the respondents.

Some sources said the case was held behind closed doors because of the highly sensitive information against some of the judges whose recusal is sought by Judge Mahase. But some lawyers insist that is the very reason why an open court would have been warranted.

All constitutional matters should be heard in open courts despite the sensitivities of the issues being canvassed.

“We all have every right to know why Judge Mahase thinks all her colleagues are useless and unfit to hear her case…,” said a senior advocate who also did not want to be named.

“If Judge Mahase deems her colleagues incompetent, then why should he allocate them to hear any case involving my client. I also don’t want to put my clients at the mercy of incompetent judges…

“This is a matter of legitimate public interest. We have a right to know what the judges think about one another….. Disallowing us from what should be an open court will inevitably give rise to suspicions that the judges are covering up for each other…..That inevitably puts them into ill-repute.”

After the proceedings in chambers yesterday, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane, for the applicants,  told the Lesotho Times that “judgement had been reserved for 30 October 2019”.  He refused to elaborate on why the matter had not been handled in an open court.

Justice Mahase wants all local judges recused from the imnpeachment case. She alleged that one of the judges, Justice Lineo Chaka-Makhooane, was unhappy with her because the latter was a “close friend’ to the suspended Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara.

She also accused other judges – Justices Thamsanqa Nomngcongo, Monaphathi, Keketso Moahloli and Molefi Makara – of refusing to take orders from her.  She has alluded to the fact that Justice Moahloli is currently facing disciplinary charges from the JSC which she chairs. As a result Judge Moahloli cannot be fair to her.

“By right every case, even those that are not constitutional, should be heard in an open court. However, we were told that this matter involved very sensitive judicial information which the court could not risk being disseminated to the public or rather having the media to publicise it, hence the matter was heard to finality in chambers,” another lawyer said.

He added: “ I have problems with that reasoning….As long as there is information that judges feel must be hidden from the public, then it creates a serious problem. The judiciary must be an open book. We must know why a judge is being disciplined and the conduct of judges is an issue of immense public interest……I want to hear Judge Mahase’s arguments against his colleagues. Why should they be incompetent to hear her case yet she assigns them to hear my case.

“We are a constitutional monarch. The constitution of Lesotho is the supreme law on the land. If one, irrespective of his or her position, decides to challenge any section of the constitution, that automatically becomes a public interest matter because the case itself requires the interpretation of the law which is supreme and governs all citizens of the country. There can never be an exception to that rule.

“A constitutional matter is very serious which explains why the quorum always comprises of three judges…. unlike other matters which can be heard by one judge.  What the judges have done in hearing such an important matter in private amounts to short changing this nation.”

The post Mahase court drama appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mohalenyane Phakela

MASERU Senior Resident Magistrate, Peter Murenzi, is disappointed by the slow pace of the attempted murder trial of the army officers who allegedly shot at injured Lesotho Times editor, Lloyd Mutungamiri in July 2016.

The trial has been postponed on numerous occasions for various reasons including the suspects demand for the recusal of magistrates who had initially been assigned the case.

The latest obstacle to the resumption of the trial was yesterday’s no-show of the defence counsels, Advocates Letuka Molati and Kabelo Letuka. It is not clear why they were absent as they did not notify the court of any reasons.

Their absence riled Magistrate Murenzi who was forced to postpone the case to 17 October 2019.

Only crown counsel, Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane, was present while the four accused soldiers stood in the dock without any legal representation.

Mr Mutungamiri suffered near-fatal gunshot wounds in a July 2016 attack allegedly by the army officers.

Initially five soldiers, namely, Brigadier Rapele Mphaki, Colonel Khutlang Mochesane, Nyatso Tšoeunyane, Mochesane Phusumane and Maribe Nathane.

Phusumane has since turned into a state witness and he was recently released from prison.

During the previous court appearance on 4 September 2019, Advocates Molati and Letuka, said they would be challenging the decision to turn Phusumane into a state witness in the High Court.

However, on Wednesday, Adv Setlojoane told Magistrate Murenzi that he was not aware of any application that had been made in the High Court on the Phusumane issue.

“On 4 September, the defence lawyers said they would file review application in the High Court challenging the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to turn one of the accused into the crown’s accomplice. Although counsels are not before court, I communicated with Adv Letuka and we agreed that 17 October be the date for set down of the hearing,” Adv Setlojoane said.

It was then that Magistrate Murenzi said he was frustrated by the defence lawyers’ failure to appear in court.

“I hope the defence counsels will be present on 17 October so that they can clarify their stance regarding the review application. We are all eager to see the matter to finality and on my side, I have lost patience,” Magistrate Murenzi said.

Mr Mutungamiri was shot and injured on 15 July 2016.

His shooting followed a rough week for the Lesotho Times during which journalist Keiso Mohloboli was also summoned for interrogation by police and military officials in connection with a story about the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF).

The story was about the negotiations for an exit package for the then army commander, Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli, in line with a Southern African Development Community (SADC) recommendation for his removal from post.

The Lesotho Times’ publisher and chief executive officer, Basildon Peta, was also charged with criminal defamation arising from a complaint laid against the newspaper by Lt-Gen Kamoli over the satirical column, Scrutator.

Two days after Mr Peta appeared in court, Mr Mutungamiri was shot. One bullet broke two of his right-hand fingers and another shattered his lower jaw, requiring him to undergo specialised dental surgery to manage the jaw and to remove a bullet that lodged behind his left ear. He also sustained eye injuries after broken window glasses entered and cut his eyes, among other facial injuries.

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) said that its investigations revealed that the attempted assassination of Mr Mutungamiri was an operation authorised by the army.

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Staff Writer

BASOTHO based in Austria, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and other European countries recently gathered in Bonn, Germany to celebrate the country’s 53^rd independence.

The event attracted 80 people, among them Basotho based in Europe, their friends, relatives and other visitors who included former diplomats, business people like Ntate Ingo Seifert from Ingo’s TV Centre and the academia.

The celebration was organised by a rapidly growing network of Basotho living in Europe to connect with each other, revive their cultural heritage and update each other on the current developments in Lesotho.

Mamlefi Teichmann, the founding member of the group said that they launched the network in 2017.

That year, they hosted the network’s first event in the Netherlands at the African Museum in Berg en Dal, Gelderland. The museum is home to the Basotho Cultural Village, where the group showcased Basotho culture and activities to visitors. These included a showcase of the Basotho huts, how to grind maize using the traditional millstone, the animal kraal and many other practices.

The second event was held in 2018 in Utrecht in the Netherlands and was hosted by Mamolepa Borgdoff from Maseru, paving the way for strengthening the Basotho community in Europe.

“I am very happy to host and organize this year’s event and to see so many Basotho come together to celebrate the Independence Day,” Anne Mannerea Maletjane, a member of the network said.

“The event in Germany was focused on expanding the network of Basotho living in Europe, educating the children, families, friends and other visitors about the history of Lesotho and the culture of its people.”

The event was kick started with a Basotho prayer, the national anthem and a message from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the Republic of Germany. Activities on the day included mokhibo, mohobelo, litolobonya, metjeko and live music from Nthabeleng Mokoena, a singer originally from Butha-Buthe living in Germany.

Motsomi Maletjane added that the event also concentrated on showcasing the latest trends in the economic, environmental and social strengths of Lesotho, which include the wool and mohair industry, the Lesotho aloe, trout farming, the emerging cannabis business, potato farming, diamonds, water and the textile industry. He said that the group’s aim is to market the country’s beauty and scenery as seen in the majestic mountains, the legendary Maletsunyane Falls, the historic Thaba-Bosiu mountain and other sites.

“The day was a memorable one to me. It made history for our children here and for those yet to be born. I personally found the event quite informative specifically the message from the ambassador. I was glad to hear about how Germany is participating in developing Basotho skills at higher learning institutes, and also creating new and renewed relations with European countries,” Stella Freidling from St Monicas, Leribe said.

“There is no mokete without food so we had setampo, papa, nama ea nku (mutton), home-made boerewors, braai, makoenya, moroho, motoho, likuku, mafatše a thothomela. We plan to grow the group, to strengthen the platform for all Basotho living in Europe to interact and to encourage them to invest back home. We are also working towards exposing Lesotho as a tourist destination,” said Anne Mannerea Maletjane one of the organisers of the event.

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Moorosi Tsiane

PANTHERS and Bokamoso Roses have booked their spots in the Young Lions 3on3 International Basketball Federation (IBF) tournament.

The two teams booked their places in the tournament last weekend. The tournament will be held from 28 November to 2 December in Botswana.

Panthers will compete in the male category while Roses will contest in the female category in the third edition of the under-18 tournament.

Tseko Lekono, Thole Tsotako, Reabetsoe Serame and Mkhoata Motenalapi will represent Panthers while Liteboho Lelimo, Palesa Matlole, Matheakoena Mabathonana and Ntsoaki Snyman will play for Roses in the female category.

The two teams qualified by winning a one-day tournament at Lehakoe last Sunday.

Lesotho will contest alongside Zambia, Burundi, eSwatini, Seychelles, Comoros, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Botswana.

This will be Lesotho’s second team to compete in the competition having sent another team in January this year.

According to the 3on3 coordinator, Ratšolo Molupe, this will be the second time Lesotho sends a team to this competition with the first group went in January this year.

Ratšolo Molupe, the country’s 3on3 coordinator, told the Lesotho Times this week that they are doing all they can to prepare their teams for the upcoming tournament because they performed poorly in the last edition.

“Our female team won just one match against Zambia in January while the males lost all their games,” Molupe said.

“As the coordinator, I noticed that our shooting was poor. We had equal opportunities with other teams like Botswana and eSwatini but our shooting from range was poor. If we improve on our shooting, maybe we will fare better.”

Molupe said they are already planning several friendlies for the participating teams to ensure that they are also conversant of the rules.

“We need to secure friendlies for our teams so that they can learn the rules of the 3on3 game early before tournament. The 3on3 rules are slightly different from the regular basketball and last time our players seemed not to really know of the rules. It is going to take them some time to adjust so playing many friendlies is the way to go,” Molupe said

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THE Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) this week announced its M1, 2 million partnership with the Lesotho PostBank that will see the A Division getting a three-year sponsorship.

For a long time, the league has been bankrolled by LeFA and the teams were getting paltry rewards considering that the winners would pocket just about M20 000.

The division will now be called the PostBank League and will see the winners from both north and south streams pocket M50 000.

I know that running a football team is very expensive but for a change, teams will now play with the knowledge that by the end of the season, they stand to get something. This is a positive development as previously; the teams would be in the dark about their rewards.

This was also worsened by LeFA’s persistent delays to release the money so much that sometimes, the winning teams would only get their prizes just before the commencement of the new season.

The division is made up of the 20 teams grouped into the north and south streams. Each stream has 10 teams and the winner of each stream is promoted to the top flight league. The teams that finish last are also relegated to the lower league.

However, lack of funding has been one of the major obstacles hindering the growth of the local football and has also seen some teams collapse.

But now, the situation looks promising with PostBank coming on board to invest in sport.

I hope this sponsorship will also help improve the level of competition in the PostBank League as there is an apparent gap between premier league teams and those in the lower divisions.

We must start seeing PostBank League teams competing in the market to purchase players who can add value to their squads. This will now be possible with the financial muscle that the teams stand to get with a new sponsor on board.

Without doubt, this has been the missing link in local football. It is now up to the teams to improve their quality and make the league more competitive.

I believe increasing the competition in the league will also attract more supporters. If supporters increase, then the companies are also likely to be attracted.

I welcome Lesotho PostBank to local football. It is encouraging to see companies injecting such huge amounts into sports because they will surely make a difference.

Lesotho PostBank is the second bank to inject funds into the league after Nedbank Lesotho recently unveiled the annual Nedbank8 tournament. The competition is played by teams that finish in the top-four of the north and south streams.

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Moorosi Tsiane

FORMER Econet Premier League champions Bantu continued their dominance over arch-rivals Lioli easing to a 0-2 win at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday.

Lehlohonolo Fothoane opened the scoring for the Mafeteng outfit with a header early in the second half before Hlompho Kalake sealed the win in regulation time.

The win helped Bantu keep pace with joint log leaders Matlama having both managed 100 percent records in their last three games.

Swallows also registered their first win of the season beating LMPS 1-0 at PTC Ground. They are now on four points. Mohau Khali scored for Motebang Makhetha’s charges giving them the much-needed relief following their 0-4 thumping at the hands of Lioli.

Kick4Life were back to winning ways edging Linare 1-2 at Maputsoe DIFA Ground. This was an improvement from Kick4Life’s 0-1 loss to LMPS. Khubetsoana Kamele broke the deadlock for Katiso Mojakhomo’s outfit from the spot early in the game before Sanele Phantse doubled the lead in the second half.

Linare’s consolation goal also came from Jerry Kamela from the penalty spot in the second half.

LDF’s wait for their first win continued as they had to come from a goal down on Saturday to force a 1-1 draw with Lijabatho in Morija. Teboho Jasong cancelled out Fidel Ndoya’s strike and ensured that Sohle-Sohle registered their fourth draw in four matches.

Mahala, as Lijabatho is affectionately known, are also still winless after losing two and drawing two.

League rookies Lifofane registered their second win of the season beating Sefotha-fotha 1-0 at PTC Ground on Saturday. John Mofokeng scored for Lifofane.

LCS added on to Likhopo woes beating the Halemakale Mahlaha coached outfit 0-1 at LCS Ground. Khethisa Masenyetse scored for LCS.

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Moorosi Tsiane

THE national under-17 soccer team left the country yesterday for Blantyre, Malawi where they will take part in the COSAFA Cup from 11 to 20 October.

Lesotho is in group B alongside Angola, Mozambique and Comoros Islands while Group A is made up of the hosts Malawi, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.

The side’s coach Halemakale Mahlaha said this year they are hoping for better results and are targeting to surpass the group stages having failed to achieve that last year.

Mahlaha’s charges were last year eliminated in the group stages after losing to Zambia and Mozambique. They only managed a 1-1 draw against South Africa.

“I am happy with the preparations that we have had although we did not play as many friendlies as we would have wanted,” Mahlaha said.

“However, the boys are ready and we are going to Malawi to compete this year. The target this year is to advance from the group stages to the knock out stage. When you are in the knock out stage, anything can happen.”

Bahlabani, as the side is affectionately known in football circles, played Wits University under-19 in a friendly on 4 October 2019 and lost 2-0. Mahlaha attributed the loss to stage fright.

“The match against Wits was fair but you could see our boys are not used to playing on the big stage. However, they improved in the second half where they created more chances although they failed to convert. This was also caused by poor decision making.”

He said last year they were also affected by the fact that other nations were using players who are bigger in stature. He said this is the reason for which their practice matches have been against teams with bigger players.

He said they have also selected a team that they believe will be able to do the job.

“It is not going to be easy. We cannot undermine our opponents because they have obviously selected their best squads. However, we are going there to fight in the hope that we will surpass the knockout stage,” Mahlaha said.

Bahlabani full squad:

Goalkeepers: Motlatsi Sebapala (Kick4Life), Maqebo Temana (Juventus), Sidwell Maluke (LCS Development)

Defenders: Neo Kholuoe (Lioli Development), Tumisang Sefeeane (Linoto FC), Khatebe Seotsanyana (Millennium Park Soccer Academy), Bakoena Monaheng (Rydo), Tumisang Nkubu (Kingdom Stars), Herey Zililo (Monaco)

Midfielders: Taemane Shea (LCS Development), Bokang Rajane (African United Stars Academy), Majara Mashela (LCS Development), Moqolosi Mothae (FC Likhopo), Relebohile Mathai (Top City FC), Popolosi Malibo (Litotjela FC), Muso Makopong (Libata FC), Refiloe Mokokoane (Winners FC)

Strikers: Kefiloe Nqoko (Hunters FC), Lintle Chochono (Matala Citizen FC), Relebohile Koloi (Lifefo FC).

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Bataung Moeketsi

PREPARATIONS for the 16^th edition of Nedbank Mohokare Golf Classic are at an advanced stage; the organisers have said.

The tournament is set to take place on 18 and 19 October 2019 at Maseru and Ladybrand (South Africa) Golf clubs respectively.

Member of the organising committee, ‘Mapalesa Lemeke, told the Lesotho Times yesterday that they were at the final stages of the preparations.

She said the players have registered while the committee was now working on the tee-off times.

Last year’s tournament saw former government secretary, Motlatsi Ramafole, beating a field of 160 golfers.

“The overall winner was Motlatsi Ramafoloe while in the woman’s category it was Malehloa Lekhooa and both will also participate in the tournament this year,” Lemeke said.

She said 170 local and regional players have so far confirmed their attendance. Lemeke also added that they are also expecting golfers from South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

“Apart from local golfers, we are expecting others from South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. We also encourage the golfers to be punctual.”

Nedbank are the main sponsors of the event. They have partnered with the Matekane Group of Companies, Metropolitan, Alliance, Thaba-Bosiu Risk Solutions, Letšeng Diamonds, Minet Lesotho, Econet Lesotho, Bee-Pee Printers, Nashua, Brand Fusion Lesotho and Golf Resort.

“Minet Lesotho and Brand Fusion Lesotho are new additions to the list of sponsors.

“The sponsorship received is meant for the arrangements, golf shirts and caps for players, catering for players and caddies and prizes for the winners,” Lemeke said.

The tournament will be end with a prize giving gala dinner at Avani Lesotho on Saturday night.

Lemeke said they are expecting Sports minister Mahali Phamotse to officiate at the event.

“Normally, His Majesty King Letsie III is part of the event but unfortunately, he will be travelling, so he will be represented by Prince Seeiso,” she said.

Lemeke said they are hoping that this year’s tournament will fortify the friendship that they have built with foreign golfers over the past years.

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