Pascalinah Kabi

PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro has appointed new principal secretaries (PSs) whose names will be announced tomorrow, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Kemiso Mosenene, has said.

Since assuming power on 20 May 2020, Dr Majoro has moved to replace some of the government officials appointed by the former premier, Thomas Thabane, to assert his own authority.

This has set him on a collision path with some of the PSs appointed by Mr Thabane. Some like ‘Mabotle Damane (Communications, Science and Technology) and ‘Maseithati Mabeleng (Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation) have filed a High Court application to stop the premier from removing them from office.

At least 20 legislators from Dr Majoro’s own All Basotho Convention (ABC) party are said to be plotting to bring down the government in anger over what they say is the “systematic purging” of Mr Thabane’s appointees from the government. 

However, the backlash has not stopped Dr Majoro from making changes to the government ministries.

Mr Mosenene yesterday told the Lesotho Times that processes to appoint new PSs began on Monday and appointees’ names will be announced tomorrow.

“I can confirm that the Honourable Prime Minister has appointed new principal secretaries and their names will be announced on Friday (tomorrow),” Mr Mosenene said.

“I will not reveal their names now. You can call me on Friday for that information but I can tell you that the appointees have started receiving their appointment letters,” Mr Mosenene said.

He said some of the PSs engaged by Mr Thabane had been rehired. He however, said the government did not recognise the renewal of some the PSs’ contracts by Mr Thabane a month before he was forced to step down.

In all, Mr Thabane renewed the contracts of eight PSs, namely, Ms Damane, Ms Mabeleng, Mothabathe Hlalele (Public Works), Nthoateng Lebona (Finance), Motena Tšolo (Development Planning), Malefetsane Nchaka (Water), Tšeliso Lesenya (Communications, Science and Technology) and Khothatso Tšooana (Health).

However, Mr Mosenene insisted that the renewals of the eight PSs’ contracts was not valid.

“Like I said to you before (on 27 July 2020), there are processes to be followed when a PS’s contract has expired. You do not just wake up in the morning, write someone a letter of renewal without following due processes,” Mr Mosenene said.

He made similar remarks after Ms Damane and Mabeleng filed a High Court application to stop Dr Majoro from removing them from office.

Ms Damane and Mabeleng argue that their contracts are valid until 2023. This after the contracts were allegedly renewed by Mr Thabane for another three years in April 2020.

“They (Damane and Mabeleng) have done the right thing by going to court because the court will pronounce itself on the legality of these renewal letters. It is good for everyone grieving about something to approach the courts for interpretation. The courts will determine who is in the wrong between the employer and the employee on this matter.

“The government strongly feels that the contracts were renewed irregularly. I will not go into details of these irregularities because doing so will expose our defence in the courts but I can boldly tell you that government has strong defence on this matter,” Mr Mosenene said.

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Pascalinah Kabi

FORMER Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and six former government officials have denied allegations by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) that the state-owned Victoria Hotel was corruptly leased out in 2002 to businessman Thabiso Tlelai who then used it as a conduit for money laundering activities.

Two months ago, the DCEO said Mr Tlelai’s Sobita Investments was awarded the lucrative deal in 2002 by then Finance Minister Timothy Thahane to lease the strategically located hotel without an open tender process as required by procurement regulations.

Since “corruptly” obtaining control of the hotel, the DCEO alleged that Mr Tlelai used it to move millions of maloti to his other South African based accounts. The DCEO said Mr Tlelai has never paid any rentals or taxes to the Lesotho government, thereby prejudicing this impoverished country of revenue it should have obtained from a key asset.

It was on this basis that the DCEO sought and obtained a provisional order which allowed it to evict Sobita Investments and place the Victoria Hotel under curatorship of M Putsoa and Associates.

High Court judge Makara Molefi granted the provisional order on 15 June 2020.

Mr Tlelai has since filed an application to have the provisional order rescinded so that he can regain control of the hotel.

He has received the support of Mr Mosisili, Dr Thahane and five other former members of the Mosisili administration.

The six others who have thrown their weight behind Mr Tlelai are former Deputy Prime Minister Lesao Lehohla, former ministers ‘Mamphono Khaketla (Communications, Science and Technology), ‘Mathabiso Lepono (Gender and Youth), Pontšo Sekatle (Local Government), former government secretary Tlohang Sekhamane and former finance principal secretary Mosito Khethisa.

They all back Mr Tlelai’s claims that the Victoria Hotel lease was above board. They said it was a cabinet decision in line with the then government’s strategic investment drive through public private partnerships (PPP) and did not have to be subjected to a public tender as the DCEO claims.

In his affidavit filed on 25 July 2020, Mr Mosisili says his cabinet decided to lease the hotel to Mr Tlelai in 2002.

He says Dr Thahane was mandated to finalise the details of the agreement with Sobita Investments.

“I confirm that during or around the year 2002 the issue relating to the investment model (private public partnership) of Sobita Investment (Pty) Ltd in Victoria Hotel was tabled, discussed and decided by the cabinet of the Kingdom of Lesotho under my chairmanship as the then prime minister,” Mr Mosisili states in his affidavit.

Former DPM Lehohla concurs, saying the cabinet discussed and decided to lease Victoria Hotel to Sobita Investments in 2002.

“I confirm that during or around the year 2002 the issue relating to the investment model of Sobita Investments in the Victoria Hotel was tabled, discussed and decided by the cabinet. The then Minister of Finance, Mr Tim Thahane, was mandated to finalise the details of the agreement with Sobita Investments,” Mr Lehohla states in his affidavit.

On his part, Dr Thahane denies corruptly awarding the sub-lease agreement to Mr Tlelai. He says in negotiating the lease with Sobita Investments, he acted in line with the mandate Mr Mosisili had given him to accelerate economic growth through attracting foreign and domestic investment “within the framework of a transparent application of the applicable laws, regulations and policies”.

“I strongly deny any suggestion that the government’s decision to enter into the lease agreement with Sobita was unlawful or corrupt.”

Dr Thahane contends that the lease agreement represented one of those instances where the then government successfully secured a foreign investor “to rehabilitate what was then a dormant and unproductive government asset”.

He backs Mr Tlelai’s argument that Sobita Investments was invited by the government to invest. The former finance minister says he directed then PS Mphutlane to inquire whether Mr Tlelai would be interested to enter a partnership with the government, given his “proven track record and experience in the hotel industry”.

Dr Thahane says he was told Mr Tlelai was interested in leasing the hotel. He says he then requested PS Mphutlane to pursue further discussions with the businessman while he sought cabinet’s approval for a deal.

“After the officials at the (finance) ministry concluded the negotiations with Sobita, I reported back to cabinet the commercial terms that had been agreed with Sobita, that the costs of renovations shall be amortised against rental payments up to M2 million.

“I said that if, however, the cost of renovations and upgrades were to exceed M2 million, then the government would need to be appraised of such additional renovations and the cost thereof. Once approved, such costs would be amortised over the remaining period of the lease. The cabinet endorsed this policy position,” Dr Thahane states.

Similar affidavits in support of Mr Tlelai have been deposited by Dr Khaketla, Ms Lepono, Dr Sekatle, Mr Sekhamane and Mr Khethisa.

The latter goes on to say that the then government had begun to privatise some of its assets in line with the Privatisation Act of 1995. While some assets were privatised, Mr Khethisa says others like Victoria Hotel were not privatised.

He says Victoria Hotel had stood unoccupied for several years, had been vandalised and was derelict. It therefore failed to attract any interest from potential investors.

He says the hotel was eventually leased to Sobita Investments and years later in 2011, he granted the company permission to spend up to M12 million to refurbish the hotel.

“I confirm that on 28 December 2011, on behalf of the government, I signed the permission in terms of the sublease agreement of which the government granted permission to Sobita Investments to spend up to M12 294 574, 55 in effecting renovations, upgrades and furnishing the Victoria Hotel.

“The permission was granted after it became apparent that Sobita Investments would exceed the amount of M2 million in effecting the renovations, upgrades and furnishings in respect of Victoria Hotel. The permission was granted after a reconciliation of improvements made at that stage was made by a team from Sobita Investments and a Ministry of Finance team assigned that task by me.

“I furthermore confirm that on the 11 April 2012 I wrote a memorandum to the then Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr Tim Thahane, in terms of which I requested his approval of the extension of the sub-lease agreement between the government and Sobita for a period of ten years with effect from the 1 July 2013. The reason for the early request was that Sobita Investments wanted to commence some major renovations to Victoria Hotel before the end of the then existing sublease agreement period. The approval was duly granted as sought,” Mr Khethisa said.

In his affidavit, Mr Tlelai accuses the DCEO of acting incompetently by seeking the forfeiture of a property that belongs to the state.

“The DCEO knows or sought to know this (that the hotel belongs to the state). It has presumably sought to preserve a property owned by the state in a misguided attempt to establish a nexus between allegations of unlawfulness relating to the Victoria Hotel, on the one hand, and unrelated property owned by Sobita, on the other hand,” Mr Tlelai states.

He says Victoria Hotel had stood for more than ten years without being occupied. He says it was vandalised and was in a derelict condition when his company was awarded the sub-lease agreement in 2002.

“The air conditioners that were mounted had been pulled out leaving holes in the walls of the hotel. The carpets on the floor of the hotel had been ripped out. The plumbing and electrical cables and been pulled out of the roofs and walls which were pocketed with holes. The bathtubs, showers, taps, geysers and almost all other fixtures had been stolen or vandalised,” Mr Tlelai says.

He says he was then approached by Dr Thahane through Ms Mphutlane to enquire about his interest in investing in the hotel.

He says the cabinet resolved to invite Sobita to invest its own funds and labour in rehabilitating the hotel and managing it with the expectation that this would enhance its value. He says his company renovated the hotel with its own funds and that the necessary permission was granted by the government.

“…as at this date (May 2020), Sobita had invested M26 234 440, 55 in affecting repairs and upgrades to the Victoria Hotel since taking possession in July 2003. The total value of Sobita’s rental obligations over this period is an amount of M18 474 094, 67. The value of Sobita’s investment exceeds the value of its rental obligations by an amount of M7 760 345, 88,” Mr Tlelai says.

On the DCEO’s money laundering allegations, Mr Tlelai denies the claim and explains that Sobita is part of a group of companies in South Africa and Lesotho which are ultimately controlled by his family. He says the movement of funds between these companies is common in the conduct of business the world over and fails the money laundering test.

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’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE opposition Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) will meet today to decide the fate of its secretary general Teboho Sekata who has accused party leader Mothetjoa Metsing, and his deputy Tšeliso Mokhosi of “oppressing” him.

Social media was abuzz last week with rumours of Mr Sekata’s threats to dump the party because he could no longer stand what he said was the oppressive behaviour of Messrs Metsing and Mokhosi.

Mr Sekata this week acknowledged the infighting within the opposition party but was quick to point out that he had changed his mind about leaving the party.

“I am aware of the social media reports and it is true that I had confided in some of the party members that I intended to leave the LCD. But I have had a change of heart and I am not going anywhere,” Mr Sekata told the Lesotho Times.

“The leader (Mr Metsing) and his deputy (Mr Mokhosi) are behind all these fights. They want me out as they feel that I am a threat to them.”

He said his problems began when last December when contested the secretary general’s post against the wishes of Mr Metsing who wanted him to stand aside for Ms Mamello Morrison. According to Mr Sekata, Mr Metsing wanted Ms Morrison elected “as a reward for keeping the party intact while Ntate Metsing and Ntate Mokhosi were in exile (from 2017 until their return in late 2018)”.

Mr Sekata said he next faced opposition when he threw his hat into the ring for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson’s post which he won after defeating Mr Mokhosi.

“Just like the LCD elections where I outsmarted Mme Morrison, I defeated Ntate Mokhosi for the PAC post and this has caused this uproar in the party,” he said.

However, LCD spokesperson Apesi Ratšele accused Mr Sekata of making “baseless accusations” against Messrs Metsing and Mokhosi “with the aim of bringing the party into disrepute”.

Addressing a press conference in Maseru this week, Mr Ratšele accused Mr Sekata of failing to follow the proper party channels to air his grievances. He said Mr Sekata had never indicated that he was unhappy over anything and they were therefore “shocked” to learn of his allegations in the media when such grievances ought to have been tabled before the party caucus.

“This is our very first time to hear of his (Mr Sekata’s) complaints.

“It is not true that the leader (Mr Metsing) is a vindictive person. The truth of the matter is that he (Mr Metsing) is very understanding and always lenient whenever he has to intervene or mediate in any issue.

“The national executive committee (NEC) got a report from the leader that some LCD MPs were worried after learning that there were some misunderstandings within the NEC. Therefore, there will be a caucus meeting on Thursday (today) which will decide on the way forward on the Sekata issue.

“We want to allay the fears of all the party members. We still have everything under control and we want to assure you that nothing will destroy this party. We stand guided by the party constitution and even in this (Mr Sekata’s) case, we shall follow the constitution in reaching a decision,” Mr Ratšele said.

In a separate interview with this publication after the press conference, Mr Sekata said, “I am not going nowhere”.

“I know there are people who are not happy and can’t put up with me. Anyone who can’t put up with me should just do themselves a favour and leave the party,” Mr Sekata said.

He denied speculation that he had decided to join the ruling Democratic Congress (DC).

“I am an LCD legislator but I’m free to cast my vote with any party that I feel like supporting at that particular time. No one can take me to task over that because it is my right.

“Party constitutions don’t count when voting in parliament. I have power over my own vote. No one can tell me what to do,” Mr Sekata said.

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• judgement clears the way for the much-delayed recruitment of IEC commissioners

 Mohalenyane Phakela

THE Constitutional Court has dismissed the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) and two others’ application to stop political parties from recruiting new Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) commissioners without the active participation of civic groups.

In its verdict this week in the long-delayed application, the court ruled that the TRC and its co-applicants, Maieane Khaketla and the African Ark political party, lacked the legal standing to file the application.

The court also ruled that the applicants were wrong to approach it before exhausting other remedies including beginning their application at the High Court.

The net effect of the judgement by Acting Chief Justice ‘Maseforo Mahase and Justice Keketso Moahloli is that the Council of State and the political parties can proceed with the recruitment of new IEC commissioners to replace Mahapela Lehohla (former chairperson), Advocate ‘Mamosebi Pholo and Dr Makase Nyaphisi.

The trio’s contracts expired on 7 January 2019 but the government refused to renew them. Their legal bid to remain in office failed.

Subsequent efforts to appoint new commissioners were put on hold by a 27 June 2019 Constitutional Court application by the TRC, Mr Khaketla and the African Ark for an order that the recruitment exercise of the new commissioners be re-done with the active participation of civic groups through a public interviewing process.

The applicants also wanted the court to nullify the appointment of Workplace Solutions in the whole exercise. They contended that Workplace Solutions was awarded the tender without following proper bidding processes in contravention of the Public Procurement Regulations of 2007.  They even alleged that the firm did not have a tax clearance certificate to qualify for bidding.

The African Ark was one of the political parties involved in the processes to recruit and appoint new IEC commissioners while Mr Khaketla was one of the applicants to the IEC commissioners’ posts.

The matter was heard by Justices Mahase, Moahloli and Lebohang Molete. Justice Molete died on 30 May 2020 before the case had been finalised. He died from complications arising from a stroke. The judgement was delivered by Justices Mahase and Moahloli.

Reading the judgement on Tuesday, Justice Mahase said the applicants lacked the legal standing to file the application.

“According to the provisions of section 66(4) of the constitution, it is the duty of the Council of State, and not of any of the applicants, to select the names of persons to be submitted to the King under subsection 3 (of section 64).

“The Council of State shall request all registered political parties to jointly propose to the Council the list of not less than five names from which the King will select members of the IEC. The duty of selection of names is placed on the Council of State whilst the list is proposed by political parties jointly.

“There is nowhere in the constitution where the first applicant (TRC) plays any role in the proposal of names from where the Council of State will select names to submit to the King. As for the procedure which the applicants complain, they have a remedy in terms of rule 50 of the High Court Rules.”

Justice Mahase also said the applicants had prematurely approached the court without exhausting all remedies available to them.

“…the applicants have not exhausted other available remedies in the High Court before approaching the constitutional court. Rules pertaining to interdict, specific performance and review are common law remedies for which the applicants have a remedy in the High Court.

“The constitutional court has no jurisdiction in this matter. All in all, the applicants in approaching this court as they did, abused court processes and failed to exhaust local remedies in the urgent quest to stop the proceedings of the Council of State at the eleventh hour.

“They dismally failed to apply their minds to the proper reliefs which can be sought for in a constitutional litigation. The decision of this court is that it has no jurisdiction to entertain this matter.”

Justice Mahase also said there was conflict of interest on the part of the TRC which ought to have prevented it from bringing a lawsuit in a case involving the IEC.

“The TRC and the IEC have a working relationship through which the TRC has been given huge sums of money by the IEC.

“This confirms that the first applicant (TRC) has received benefits from the sixth respondent (IEC) despite that the first applicant wants to participate in the wide selection and shortlisting of top officials in the very institution which it has working relationship (sic). This is a clear conflict of interest,” Justice Mahase said.

On his part, Justice Moahloli said the TRC’s claim that it has a right to participate in the selection of IEC commissioners was unconstitutional.

“Our constitution contains no express provisions for the liberalisation of the rules of locus standi (legal standing to sue) unlike other jurisdictions. In my view, the TRC has failed to prove that it has sufficient personal interest in this matter. It cannot be said to be the citizen of Lesotho having a right to participate in the conduct of public affairs …

“It cannot therefore pretend to have locus standi to apply to this court for redress. For this reason, it cannot claim any reliefs sought in the notice of motion…The application is dismissed,” Justice Moahloli said.

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• accuses Prime Minister Majoro of dishonesty

Pascalinah Kabi

FORMER Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has leapt to the defence of embattled Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka saying Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro was wrong to accuse him of “unilaterally” and “fraudulently” renewing contracts of principal secretaries (PSs), ‘Mabotle Damane and ‘Maseithati Mabeleng, earlier this year.

Ms Damane and Mabeleng have filed a High Court application to stop Dr Majoro from removing them from office. They argued that their contracts are valid until 2023. They argued that their contracts were renewed by Mr Thabane a month before he was unceremoniously forced out of office by his own All Basotho Convention (ABC) party to be succeeded by Dr Majoro on 20 May 2020.

Last week Dr Majoro filed his answering affidavit to the application and he blasted Mr Mphaka for “unilaterally” and “fraudulently” renewing the contracts of Ms Damane and Ms Mabeleng earlier this year.

Dr Majoro said Mr Mphaka had no legal authority to renew PSs’ contracts.  That power was vested in him as prime minister and he acted in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC).

His claims were supported by the PSC chairperson, Moshoeshoe Sehlooho, who also deposited an affidavit in which he accused Mr Mphaka of “consistently arrogating to himself” powers he did not have to advise the PSC to renew the PSs’ contracts.

Mr Sehlooho says the PSC only agreed to renew Mr Mphaka’s own contract after receiving a request from Mr Thabane. He said the PSC refused to renew the PSs’ contracts because the request had not come from the prime minister but from Mr Mphaka whom he said did not have the power to make such requests.

Mr Mphaka insisted that the PSs’ contracts were renewed by Mr Thabane.

“The matter is now before the courts of law,” Mr Mphaka told the Lesotho Times last week.

“The courts will interpret who is wrong or right in this matter. But I wish to indicate that the contracts of principal secretaries were renewed by the prime minister (Mr Thabane) in terms of the law and Majoro was not the prime minister at the time.”

Mr Mphaka’s former boss, Mr Thabane has now backed the under-fire government secretary by filing an affidavit in which he absolves him of any wrong-doing.

Mr Thabane says Dr Majoro and Mr Sehlooho are wrong to accuse Mr Mphaka of unilaterally renewing the contracts of Ms Damane and Ms Mabeleng.

The former premier says he is the one who actually renewed the duo’s contracts earlier this year with the concurrence of the PSC.

“The contents of the affidavit of the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro, and of Mr Moshoeshoe Sehlooho have been read and explained to me.

“In their (Dr Majoro and Mr Sehlooho’s) affidavits they suggest that the Public Service Commission did not approve the renewal of the employment contracts of the applicants and other principal secretaries. I must confess to the honourable court that I had taken a decision that I would not be embroiled in matters of the state and governance because I am currently on retirement and nursing my health at home.

“However, in view of the serious allegations made against the Government Secretary, Mr Moahloli Mphaka, and by implication myself, I decided to give the honourable court these facts so that it could be able to adjudicate over this matter fairly to all the parties involved. I also wish to inform the honourable court that I do not have any interest in this matter at all,” Mr Thabane said.

He says prior to leaving office, he received written applications from several PSs requesting the renewal of their contracts which were due to expire on different dates this year.

He says Ms Damane and Mabeleng’s applications were among those brought to him by Mr Mphaka.

“After considering each application and having considered the representations of the Government Secretary on the performance of each principal secretary I approved the renewal of such contracts.

“However, bearing in mind that I had to consult the Public Service Commission, I duly instructed the Government Secretary to seek their concurrence on the matter. They duly concurred in the renewal of not only the principal secretaries but also the Government Secretary’s contract as well.

“After I consulted the Public Service Commission and after they concurred with my desire to renew the contracts, I exercised my powers to renew the contracts. In that regard I instructed the Government Secretary to write to each of the principal secretaries to that effect. The Government Secretary reported that he did communicate my decision to the principal secretaries concerned.

“In all circumstances it is not correct that it is the Government Secretary who exercised the powers to renew the contracts of the applicants herein and those of other principal secretaries,” Mr Thabane said.

Last month, Ms Damane (Communications, Science and Technology) and Ms Mabeleng (Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation) refused to vacate their offices to make way for Mr Tšeliso Lesenya and Advocate Mole Khumalo who had been appointed by Dr Majoro to replace them in those ministries respectively.

The duo was sent on forced leave with effect from 10 July 2020 but they refused to accept the decision and they petitioned the High Court to nullify Dr Majoro’s decision to send them on forced leave. They also want the premier to be stopped from firing them from their jobs.

Dr Majoro, Mr Mphaka and the Attorney General Haae Phoofolo are the first to third respondents respectively in the application.

Ms Damane and Ms Mabeleng are among eight PSs whose contracts are said to have been renewed in April 2020 by Mr Thabane after they wrote to him expressing their wishes to have them renewed.

The six others are Mothabathe Hlalele (Public Works), Nthoateng Lebona (Finance), Motena Tšolo (Development Planning), Malefetsane Nchaka (Water), Tšeliso Lesenya (Communications, Science and Technology) and Khothatso Tšooana (Health).

Dr Majoro has nevertheless only targeted Ms Damane and Ms Mabeleng for dismissal.

The premier had also revoked Mr Thabane’s April 2020 decision to appoint ABC member Nonkululeko Zaly as PS for Home Affairs with effect from 1 July 2020.

Mr Thabane had made the appointment without anticipating the collapse of his government a month later on 20 May 2020. He had largely ignored his party’s calls to quit over the controversy surrounding the June 2017 murder of his ex-wife, Lipolelo. He was eventually forced to step down after his ABC approved a new coalition deal with the then main opposition Democratic Congress (DC).

In terms of the two parties’ coalition agreement, each party has the right to appoint its own PSs to the ministries it controls.

The Home Affairs minister is the DC deputy leader, Motlalentoa Letsosa. In terms of the two parties’ deal, his PS should thus come from his own DC party and not from the ABC.

In keeping with the spirit of that agreement, Mr Letsosa refused to allow Ms Zaly into office when she reported for work on 1 July 2020.

Dr Majoro subsequently revoked Ms Zaly’s appointment on 29 July 2020 and appointed Tumelo Raboletsi as new home affairs PS.

Ms Zaly has since filed a High Court application challenging Dr Majoro’s decision to revoke her appointment by Mr Thabane.

In her court papers filed last week, Ms Zaly insolently argues that Dr Majoro is only a “caretaker or regent prime minister” who is only finishing Mr Thabane’s term which would have ended in 2022 had he not been pushed out by his own party.

She argues that as caretaker prime minister, Dr Majoro cannot make independent decisions to undo those made by Mr Thabane who was a substantive prime minister. However, the argument appears disingenuous as a prime minister only gets the right to occupy that office after being elected by parliament. Dr Majoro was lawfully elected and cannot thus be deemed a caretaker prime minister.

The war over the PSs has strained Dr Majoro and Mr Mphaka’s relationship.  Mr Thabane’s relationship with Dr Majoro had already been strained by the time the former left office. Mr Thabane was miffed by Dr Majoro’s support for the coalition with the DC, which the ex-premier and his allies had originally opposed, as they sought to keep Mr Thabane in power.  Even though Mr Thabane had originally endorsed Mr Majoro for successor he was now under pressure to fire him as finance minister and scuttle the ABC/DC coalition.

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• as 20 disgruntled ABC MPs bluntly tell party’s NEC they want to topple govt

Pascalinah Kabi

THERE is a renewed onslaught against Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro amid indications that at least 26 legislators from his governing coalition are still pursuing a plot to bring down his government.

Well-placed sources say 20 of these MPs are from Dr Majoro’s own All Basotho Convention (ABC) while the other six are from other coalition parties.

The sources said some of the MPs bluntly told last week’s caucus meeting of ABC legislators and the party’s national executive committee (NEC) that they were unhappy with the Majoro government’s “systematic purging” of ABC leader and ex-premier Thomas Thabane’s appointees from the government.

Since taking over on 20 May 2020, Dr Majoro angered some ABC members by excluding them from his cabinet. He has sacked some Thabane-era principal secretaries like ‘Mabotle Damane (Communications, Science and Technology ministry) and ‘Maseithati Mabeleng (Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation).

The duo is now fighting the decision in the courts of law. Dr Majoro has also fallen out with Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka who he accuses of “unilaterally” and “fraudulently” renewing the contracts of Ms Damane, Mabeleng and six other PSs.

Mr Mphaka is currently on leave and some sources say Dr Majoro wants to get rid of him because of his closeness to Mr Thabane and his controversial wife ‘Maesaiah.  Mr Thabane is also said to be working furiously behind the scenes to undermine Dr Majoro.

The purges of Thabane appointees and the disgruntlement over the cabinet appointments, according to sources, are behind the renewed moves by some disgruntled ABC MPs to bring down the government.

Nine of the 26 MPs are said to be well-known Thabane loyalists. They are Leshoboro Mohlajoa (Malimong constituency), Chalane Phori (Qoaling), Mahala Molapo (Thaba-Phatšoa), Litšoane Litšoane (Bela-Bela), Lehlohonolo Moramotse (Lithoteng), Temeki Tšolo (Mafeteng), Thabang Mafojane (Motimposo), Tšehlo Ramarou (Leribe) and Samonyane Ntsekele (Tsikoane).

According to sources, the nine told the NEC that they had begun mobilising support from other ABC MPs to bring down the government due to their anger over the alleged ill-treatment of Mr Thabane and his appointees.

Dr Majoro, the ABC MP for Thetsane and former finance minister, rose to power on 20 May 2020 after the collapse of the ABC’s coalition with the Alliance of Democrats (AD), Basotho National Party (BNP) and the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL). The ABC then formed a new coalition with the then main opposition DC and several other parties including the BNP, RCL.

While Dr Majoro’s rise was made easy by a majority of ABC MPs, who backed their party’s new coalition with the DC, However, he has not had it easy since replacing Mr Thabane. Shortly after assuming the reins, he faced a serious backlash from ABC MPs who expressed their anger over the inclusion of the BNP and RCL leaders in the new cabinet at their expense.

The ABC legislators, who included former Local Government and Chieftainship Minister Mr Molapo and former ABC parliamentary caucus chairperson Fako Moshoeshoe, were aggrieved with the inclusion of BNP leader Thesele ‘Maseribane, his deputy Machesetsa Mofomobe and RCL leader Keketso Rantšo in the new cabinet.

They vowed to start a political war to bring down the Majoro coalition if their grievances were not addressed. One of the aggrieved MPs, Tšoana-Makhulo legislator Tšoeu Molise, even claimed that the disgruntled MPs numbered 26, a very significant figure if it is accurate.

Barely a month later, two ABC MPs, Mokherane Tsatsanyane (Stadium Area constituency) and Sello Mooki (Bobatsi constituency), dumped the ABC for the opposition AD in protest over the inclusion of the BNP and RCL in cabinet. They also expressed their anger at the alleged ill-treatment of Mr Thabane by the party.

They were among ABC MPs who had demanded that Dr Majoro orders the state to stop the prosecution of Mr Thabane after he was named by the police alongside his wife, ‘Maesaiah as one of the key suspects in the 14 June 2017 murder of his ex-wife, Lipolelo.

Several meetings between the MPs and the ABC’s NEC have failed to resolve the infighting in the party.

According to party and government sources, the disgruntled ABC legislators told last Wednesday’s caucus meeting with the party’s NEC of their intentions of mobilising more MPs to bring down the government over its “campaign” to purge government and the civil service of Mr Thabane’s appointees.

“There was a caucus meeting between the NEC and the MPs on Wednesday (5 August) at the Mine Workers’ premises (in Khubetsoana),” an NEC member told the Lesotho Times on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to disclose internal party issues.

“The purpose of the meeting was to give ABC ministers the opportunity to table their ministries’ service delivery plans so that they could be discussed with the party’s MPs.

“However, some disgruntled legislators raised disturbing issues. They said they were on a charm offensive to convince other ABC MPs to join their cause to topple this government.

“Those leading that faction bluntly told us that they were selling their proposal to topple this government to other ABC MPs.

“We suspect there are at least 20 ABC MPs against this government. From our (NEC)’s calculations, we can only be sure of the support of 30 ABC legislators for this government.”

The ABC has 50 MPs after the defection of Messrs Tsatsanyane and Sello to the AD and the death of its Makhoroana legislator, Lefu Hlomelang, in December 2019.

Another ABC MP this week told the Lesotho Times that Mr Leshoboro Mohlajoa, popularly known as Magents, spoke on behalf of the disgruntled MPs.

“Magents (Mr Mohlajoa) said that he and other MPs were unhappy with this government going after Thabane’s appointees. He gave the example of (Mr Thabane’s former spokesperson Thabo) Thakalekoala who was sacked soon after Ntate Majoro took over.

“He (Magents) also said that they were on a charm offensive to convince other ABC MPs to join them to topple this government. We suspect that at least 20 ABC MPs have joined this cause.”

However, the ABC MPs are not the only ones as there are also MPs from the other parties backing the governing coalition who are also disgruntled, the MP added.

Mr Mohlajoa confirmed attending the caucus meeting but refused to disclose what was discussed saying they were confidential party issues.

“I attended that meeting but it is not true that I spoke on behalf of the disgruntled MPs. I cannot tell you what we discussed because it was a confidential caucus meeting between the NEC and the MPs,” Mr Mohlajoa said.

Mr Molapo also confirmed attending the meeting. Like Mr Leshoboro, he refused to comment further.

“Yes, I was part of that meeting. It was a closed ABC caucus meeting and no one is allowed to publish issues that were discussed in the caucus.

“Asking me to divulge details of the meeting is as good as asking a minister to divulge cabinet discussions. Those are confidential issues that will never be published until a policy decision has been made.

“However, you can talk to party authorities like the secretary general or any of the NEC members,” Mr Molapo said.

ABC spokesperson Montoeli Masoetsa denied that the NEC and MPs met last week despite confirmations by several MPs that the caucus meeting indeed took place.

He was immediately contradicted by ABC secretary general Lebohang Hlaele who confirmed that the meeting indeed took place.

However, Mr Hlaele said he did not attend the meeting.  He nonetheless dismissed claims that at least 20 party MPs were unhappy with the government, saying this was all “old news and propaganda” being peddled by individuals he did not name.

“Yes, they (NEC and ABC MPs) met to discuss service delivery issues. I didn’t receive any report regarding this matter (of toppling government). But these are the same old stories that we know. There is nothing new there. It is old news.

“You are a media practitioner and you should know that there is an animal called propaganda and this is it. It is meant to instill fear in us and make sure that we forever remain shaken but there is nothing to worry about. It is a non-issue,” Mr Hlaele said.

Meanwhile, well-placed sources within the governing parties this week told the Lesotho Times that apart from the ABC legislators, there were also MPs from the DC, BNP and MEC who were unhappy with Dr Majoro’s government.

The DC’s Moyeni MP, Khati Rapitso is said to be unhappy with his exclusion by his party from Dr Majoro’s cabinet.

“Moyeni (Rapitso) is not happy that he did not make the cut in the cabinet. The DC’s NEC is busy trying to persuade him to drop this issue for the stability of the party,” a DC source said.

Mr Rapitso’s mobile phone rang unanswered when this publication called him for comment yesterday.

DC spokesperson Serialong Qoo said, “as far as I know, there is no bad blood between us and Moyeni”.

“Everything is in order. He is still making a meaningful contribution to the party as an MP and we were working well with him before parliament was closed (for the winter break). But I may not know (his current position) because parliament is closed,” Mr Qoo said.

Another source said that other MPs including the MEC’s Thabo Ramatla and the BNP duo of Joang Molapo and ‘Mapulumo Hlao were siding with the ABC rebels.  In fact, Mr Molapo has since announced his defection to the AD.

In an interview this week, Mr Ramatla said it was wrong for anyone to say he was still an MEC MP. He said the party expelled him last year.

“I am no longer an MEC member. They expelled me a long time ago. Yes, I went to parliament on a MEC ticket but I now remain there as His Majesty’s lawmaker. I can vote with the MEC if I feel the need to but I am now an independent legislator who votes for what he believes in,” Mr Ramatla said.

Asked if he supported the government, Mr Ramatla burst out laughing and asked “which government are you referring to?”

“There is a Sesotho saying that ‘mala oa motho o ka mpeng (one’s innermost thoughts remain unknown) so I will not respond to your question. You are asking about something I cannot disclose but you will see when parliament reconvenes,” Mr Ramatla said.

Chief Molapo dumped the BNP for the AD last month. He cited incessant infighting in the BNP as the reason for his move. He is already in the opposition and it is unlikely that he would still support the government.

Ms Hlao was not reachable for comment on the issue.

The post Fresh push to oust Majoro appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Anurita Bains and Richard Banda

We know COVID-19 is a global health emergency. But the pandemic has also caused the largest disruption of schooling in history, where hundreds-of-millions children, especially the poorest, stand to lose the learning opportunities that could transform their lives. In Lesotho, children have been out of school since March this year. The combination of missed schooling, increased poverty and education budget cuts could negatively affect half a million Basotho children for the rest of their lives.

Countries around the world are grappling with whether or not to open schools, and how to open them safely in the context of COVID-19. We know the question of school re-opening is not as simple as setting a date and picking up from where things were left before lockdown in March. Decisions to re-open schools should be informed by a risk assessment that ensures both optimal education and health benefits for the country.

The path to reopening schools will therefore take planning, preparation and commitment. The world, and life in Lesotho has changed dramatically since then. But what we, as the heads of UNICEF and WHO, are calling for is that learning be prioritised so that Basotho children, whether in a school environment or at home, can continue to learn.

The reality is that before COVID-19, learning indicators were not very good in the country. According to the 2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey led by the Bureau of Statistics, less than half of children aged 7 to 14 have foundational reading skills in either English or Sesotho and only 15 per cent in the same age group are demonstrating foundational numeracy skills.

Whether you have access to school or can complete school depends a lot on poverty, geography and gender: Only 1 in 10 children from poor households in Lesotho are likely to complete secondary school compared to half of children from the wealthiest families. While 9 out of 10 children from Maseru are likely to access secondary education, it’s only 3 in 10 children for children from rural areas in the Highlands.

Across the country, about 40 per cent of children have access to pre-primary education, despite overwhelming evidence that starting school early helps build the foundations of learning and development which will help children succeed in school and in life.

We were already in a learning crisis. Now with COVID-19 these trends, affecting children, their families and their futures, are set to worsen. What can we do to make sure that this devastating health and socio-economic crisis does not also become an education emergency? There is no magic solution but there are things that we can do to make sure Basotho children are not disadvantaged.

First, we have to keep learning alive, even when schools are closed. When lockdown was initiated, the Government of Lesotho with the support of UNICEF and other partners worked to reach children through radio and TV programmes.

It was important for children to have some way to continue their curriculum but we know the radio and TV programmes were not enough. Only about half of children and adolescents have access to radio and only a third have access to TV, and those in remote areas or learners with disabilities could not benefit from these lessons. Radio and TV programmes need to be more regular, ideally daily, and supplemented with online learning and physical learning packs so children can take lesson plans and materials home.

There’s no substitution for being in school with a teacher and your peers, but we have to be creative, and actively try to keep learning alive.

Second, schools should be the first public spaces to reopen as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. We see other sectors such as businesses gradually reopening, and we call on government to apply the same agility and urgency to schools. The long-term impact of keeping schools closed risks great harm to children not just in terms of learning but their safety, health, nutrition and well-being.

We know many children have their only meal a day at school. The longer children are out of school, the greater their exposure to physical, emotional and sexual violence, exploitation and abuse. We have seen during other crisis, such as Ebola in West Africa, that the longer schools remain closed, the less likely children are to ever come back. For children who never come back to school, the consequences are massive.

They are at greater risk of lifelong poverty, having lower life expectancy and poorer health outcomes. The World Bank estimates that school closures could globally result in between $355 and $1 408 in yearly loss in earnings. That translates to over $25,000 in lifetime earnings losses per child.

We know that opening schools is not as easy as going back to the way things were before lockdown. We need to plan and prepare with COVID-19 in mind. We need to take into consideration the current and evolving understanding of COVID-19 transmission and its impact in children and put in place and maintain preventive and control measures accordingly.

For example, all schools need to have run water and soap so that children, teachers and school staff can practice good hygiene and hand washing, a key tool in the prevention of COVID-19. Learners need to be distanced at least one metre apart in the classroom and teachers, and children over the age of 2 years need to wear masks. The classrooms need to be well ventilated by opening windows.

Cleaning of the surfaces and toilets with water and soap need to be done thoroughly and daily as recommended by WHO. As we come to the end of winter, there may be options for outdoor classrooms, or staggered days where some children go to school in the morning and others in the afternoon.

What are some effective ways to make sure children, teachers and school workers are safe and children are learning? How can we learn from what other countries are doing and what the evidence is saying? There are checklists and guidance such as the “Framework for Reopening Schools” which can help Government assess and prepare — handwashing stations, temperature checks, innovative restructuring to ensure physical distancing, enforcement of mask wearing, adequate ventilation of the classrooms and risk communication… these are just a few key elements that will help ensure that we are doing all we can to prioritise learning.

This isn’t the work of the Ministry of Education alone. Rather, the effort needs to bring together the Ministries of Health, Water, Social Development, along with the UN and other partners to support the Ministry of Education to assess, consider, prepare and implement, and monitor what happens when schools do re-open.

The efforts to suppress the virus and respond to those affected is a critical part of assessing our readiness. We know it’s a possibility that when schools re-open they might have to close again. How will we respond when that happens? What procedures can be put in place for screening of sick leaners and staff?

To take care of learners, teachers and families who may be affected by COVID-19, and to ensure that learning continues. Continuously reviewing and adapting and learning as we go will be part of our charge as policymakers, development workers and educators.

Lastly, how can we seize the opportunity that COVID-19 presents in terms of better learning. This pandemic is absolutely devastating and it’s difficult to see that anything good will come out of it. But maybe this is a moment to try to reimagine education in Lesotho, where every child learns the skills, he/she needs to succeed in life and reach his or her full potential.

Let us commit now to building better and safer schools for all children and adolescents; an education system that is equitable, inclusive and resilient. Every Mosotho child, every teacher, every parent probably has an idea of to how make their schools better. Can we listen to their voices and take stock of those ideas, big and small, so that we turn this education crisis into a learning opportunity?

Anurita Bains is the UNICEF Representative in Lesotho.

Dr. Richard Banda is the WHO Representative in Lesotho.

The post Keep Learning Alive — How to prevent a national education crisis appeared first on Lesotho Times.

What do you do when you encounter a complete ignoramus and a completely brainless moron masquerading as a deputy foreign affairs minister? What do you do when you encounter a charlatan and zombie masquerading as a former home affairs minister?  What do you do when you encounter an idiot purporting to be a deputy leader of a political party that barely wins a single parliamentary constituency seat in elections and survives by hanging on to the coattails of other decent political formations?

What do you do when confronted with the prosaic mindlessness of a man, whose only significant contribution to society is to be the running dog for a criminal like Yan Xie (aka John)?  After all, the old adage suggests that we should never argue with fools as spectators might not notice the difference.

The first instinct is to want to just ignore such a person on account of their absolute worthlessness as both a politician and human being. But history teaches us differently. The world is littered with cases of dud-headed political zombies who were left unchecked and proceeded to cause untold suffering and mayhem.

Just think of the destruction wrought to Uganda by Idi Amin when he victimized the 300 000 Indians who were the anchor of that country’s economy in the 1970s. After expelling them in one big swoop, he transferred their assets to his tribesmen. But the tribesmen’s only expertise at the time was to mould dagga pots and tea-cups. As they say, the rest is history. Uganda is yet to recover from Amin’s wretchedness.

It is against that background that it may not be wise to ignore the foolish antics of a mini Idi-Amin like our very own professional buffoon that christens itself as Machesetsa Mofomobe, or Mofomobe Machesetsa or whatever.  I don’t really know what is its first name or surname.

Before I proceed, it’s worth mentioning that despite all his frailties, Joang Molapo is a decent man. After all, none of us is perfect. We all have our weaknesses. I have occasionally taken aim at Ntate Molapo for being Nikuved during his time at Home Affairs, when we thought he would help Lesotho clear up one of the greatest corruption scandals ever; the Nikuv project to print passports and IDs.

This project, corruptly awarded to the Israeli firm, Nikuv, during the Mosisili era has been running at huge expense to Basotho.  It has been very costly.  Ntate Molapo promised to clear it up during his tenure at Home Affairs in the first Motsoahae coalition.  He failed. He was Nikuved. I have also taken umbrage with Ntate Molapo for his excursion to Paris to effectively nap and return without attending a single session of the Unesco workshop that he had gone there for.

All the while after collecting a hefty per diem from treasury. But despite these and other failures, Ntate Molapo is a decent man. Smartly dressed all the time, he is well spoken, erudite, sagacious, eloquent and well educated. He would have been a decent future leader of the so-called Basotho National Party (BNP).

By opting to boot out this man as deputy leader and replace him with the crap that they put in that position, the BNP effectively authored their demise. The unlamentable and profoundly stupid Mofomobe is not only unfit for purpose. He is an unmitigated disaster.  No one takes the BNP seriously anymore.

Come 2022, it faces obliteration from the political scene. It may not even scrap the few seats it has always scrapped to remain as a junior partner in coalitions. On its own, the BNP will never lead any government. Thank God for that. There are more chances of a joint collision of Mars, Earth and Sun than of a BNP led government or coalition in Lesotho.

Back to Mofomobe. For the record, I always try by all means to respect people by pre-fixing their names with Ntate. But I make an exception for Mofomobe. He is not worth any respect.

You would have thought that being a deputy foreign minister would at least coax him into behaving with a bit of decorum. But no. A moron will always be a moron.

You would have seen or heard his diatribe against makoerekoere, who he claims owns this newspaper. This after we published a story exposing the shameless looting of public money at the now rightly disbanded National Emergency Command Centre (NECC) that was led by his leader, Ntate Thesele ‘Maseribane.  Thanks to the sterling efforts of whistleblowers and to the indefatigable efforts of our Basotho journalists, we now know that the NECC was a cradle for corruption and a piggy bank for looters.

Where in this world my fellow Basotho, will you ever find justification for purchasing four gas heaters and four electric heaters for nearly R200 000?  How in this world can it ever be justified that M10 million is blown on food and luxuries while frontline health care workers have no basic masks to protect themselves? How and where in this world can it ever be justified that M161 million is blown without addressing many of the basic issues that the NECC was established for? Only three weeks back health care workers were on strike for lack of personal protective equipment (PPE)? No visible effort to fight Covid-19 was ever made by the spendthrift NECC. Yet its first act was to budget for hefty food allocations for its staffers?

We would be irresponsible as a newspaper to ignore all that rot. We would be irresponsible to ignore such open looting of our resources by whoever.  This country is hopelessly poor. It resembles a medieval city; thanks to corruption and ravenous politicians and their unashamed looting. Thanks to bad governance; thanks to many other vices.

Mofomobe was miffed because the story carrids the picture of Ntate ‘Maseribane.  For him, everything was honky-dorey at the NECC despite all evidence to the contrary. The crime of this “makoerekoere owned newspaper” — according to Mofomobe — was to mention Ntate ‘Maseribane’s name and put his photograph to the story yet there is “no evidence mentioned in the story” that Ntate ‘Maseribane was involved in the looting.

But hey you idiot, the story never accused any specific individual of looting. That information is yet to be exposed. The story merely exposed the looting of funds at the NECC as per the payment schedule it submitted to Treasury.  Ntate ‘Maseribane may or may not have been part of the looting.

It may have been any other person or persons.  We anxiously wait for that infor.  Which is why there is need for a through probe.  Basotho have a right to know who approved the purchase orders and who got what kick-backs at their expense. Our story only exposed the looting because that is the information had at the time of publication.

Ntate ‘Maseribane’s picture was used because he was mentioned in the story and he was the chairperson of the NECC at the time of the looting.  The story did not accuse him of any looting. So contrary to Mofomobe’s stupid claims, there was no need to furnish any evidence against him.

As stated, information about who looted what is best adduced in comprehensive investigations. It remains to be seen whether the government embarks on such or whether it sweeps the whole matter under the carpet. Ordinary Basotho, who pay the price for graft, are watching. Ntate ‘Maseribane was also mentioned with respect to statements he had previously made as chairman of the NECC.

Remember his explanations to the media after an original budget of the NECC was leaked showing they intended to buy a single non-contact thermometer for M500 000 yet it costs a mere M650.

It’s a basic journalistic tenet that anyone mentioned in a story can have their picture used to accompany that story. But don’t mention that to Mofomobe — the fountain of vulgarity and loutishness. He entangles himself into things he knows nothing about.

Ultimately, Ntate ‘Maseribane would have to take responsibility for all the rot that happened at the NECC. Even if he did not steal any money himself directly, he was the chairperson of that body. He should have ensured probity, frugality and thrift at the NECC. There is thus no escaping his name when the issue of the NECC and its failures are mentioned.

Equally poignant was his failure to address the substance of the story. By rushing to support Mofomobe instead of clarifying patently serious mishaps at the NECC when he led it, he lost the plot.  His actions confirmed he is also utterly xenophobic.  There is no hope for the BNP.

The biggest trouble is that Mofomobe purports to be a deputy minister of foreign affairs.

How does he therefore engage with all the makoerekoeres he will encounter in the course of his work, since he hates them so much. Thank God, he doesn’t have to interact with any makoerekoeres because he is not known for doing much work. He is the laziest deputy minister ever. Remember his tenure at Home Affairs.

He was a regular feature at decrepit B&Bs, doing the only things he is best known for and that he is all good at. That was perhaps his understanding of “home affairs”. Either that or he was always busy running errands for Yan Xie (John) in return for the little trinkets he needed to rent the B&Bs.

Thank God again, being deputy minister is his ceiling. He can never go beyond that. And with the BNP journeying towards complete oblivion, after his “election” as deputy leader, we are also seeing the last of this fool.

But the fool cannot be allowed to get away with murder.

It needs to be reminded of the immense role that makoerekoere have played in this country to benefit his tepid political career.

• When Mofomobe and his leader, Ntate ‘Maseribane, fled the country at the height of Tlali Kamoli’s excesses, the makoerekoere, he so much loathes, did run away. They remained in the country and confronted the then regime on his behalf. Some of them got shot and nearly killed over their steadfast defence of principals. It was because of the work of this newspaper and its syndicated international partners that resulted in all the interventions that ended the LDF excesses and caused the BNP’s return to power on the coattails of the ABC.
• It was the work of this newspaper that enabled Mofomobe’s return to earn a deputy ministerial salary and to become Yan Xie (John)’s runner again so his escapades at B&Bs could be well oiled.
• It was at the offices of this “makoerekoere owned newspaper” that Mofomobe fled to when the then murderous security forces where in hot pursuit of him and could have easily harmed him. We protected him at our offices and risked all for him.
• It is makoerekoere who have intervened in this country at critical stages of history. When he — as a youth leader of the BNP — in the 1990s was perpetrating murderous mayhem in the country and killing people, it was none other than koerekoere Robert Mugabe who — as a leader in SADC — initiated interventions that saved this country from BNP inspired anarchy and restored normalcy.
• Only recently, there was a standby force of SADC — entirely comprising of makoerekoere. They were here to help stabilize this country. Were it not for their efforts, mayhem would have ensued.
• The next time there is mayhem in the country — thanks to the never-ending antics of foolish politicians like Mofomobe — Lesotho will again run to makoerekore for help. It won’t run to Yan Xie and his ilk for help.

The sooner all these facts sinks into Mofomobe’s barren head the better.

As this column has argued before. And as it will argue now and in the future, Lesotho desperately needs more qualified and more astute makoerekoeres to set up shop here and create job opportunities. The greatest and biggest economy in the world — the United States — was built by immigrants.

The makoerekoeres who have invested in the media in this country have every reason to be proud. They have not only created quality sustainable jobs in the media, they have transformed what was once a staid and embarrassing media sector.

I urge them not to even be worried or bothered by Mofomobe and Ntate ‘Maseribane’s xenophobia. Here is a man (Mofomobe) who has never run anything in his wretched life. Here is a man who has never created a single job. Here is a man who is not only a clown but a national embarrassment. Thank God for Covid. It means he is unable to travel and embarrass the country — as a deputy minister of foreign affairs — at international fora.

But let it him know that this “makoerekoere owned newspaper” will never give him a free ride. We owe our existence to nobody. Anyone who reads this paper attests to its professionalism.

Which is why his attempts to tie our owners to the State House faction of the ABC are as stupid as the man himself. Anyone who follows the news will of course know that nobody has demanded justice for Lipolelo as much as this newspaper has done.  We do the bidding for nobody. We fight for justice.

In the same vein, we are demanding justice for Khaliso Soro, the Home Affairs procurement officer who was killed for his integrity and refusal to be corrupted on behalf of the likes of Yan Xie and their cohorts.

The full story of his murder is yet to be told. And it shall be told.  That’s why our motto is No Fear No Favour. And that is why we will never be intimidated by fools?

And the ABC MPs clamouring for the BNP removal from the current coalition are right after all.

Ache!!!

The post A Charlatan and Moron…!!! appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Leemisa Thuseho

TWO-time chess Olympian Naleli McPherson has opened a You Tube channel that is meant to offer chess lessons to players.

A first in Lesotho, the channel is dubbed Lesotho Knight Vision and is meant to provide convenience to players who can visit it at their own time without any constraints.

McPherson said she decided to open the channel to empower players.

“The platform will give everyone chance to learn from some of the best coaches and players from Lesotho and even from around the world,” McPherson said.

“People will access the platform for free because it is open for all. Every week there will be a video lesson posted covering lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced of the chess players. The hope is that the lessons will help develop chess players.”

McPherson hopes the platform will increase the number of players in Lesotho particularly women and also increase the number of local title holders.

So far, Lesotho has only four title holders namely; Maboloko Leboela — Women Candidate Master (WCM), Lieketseng Ngatane — Women FIDE Master (WFM), Tokelo Klaas — Candidate Master (CM) and Joang Molapo — CM.

She also wants to use the platform to empower players, among them those from remote areas, who have access to neither quality coaches nor chess clubs.

“For now, I am not incurring any financial costs but I know that some people may want to be paid for their services with time. So far, all I must worry about is data to upload the videos.

“I will be working with coach Mphetole Mona and one of the Lesotho’s top players, Sechaba Khalema,” McPherson said.

Apart from the You Tube platform, McPherson organises online chess tournaments for local players who cannot meet because of Covid-19 restrictions.

The post McPherson launches You Tube channel for chess lessons appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Moorosi Tsiane

LIOLI has in recent weeks been making headlines for all the wrong reasons with the interim committee trading barbs with its patrons in public.

The interim committee last week accused the team’s chief patron Morena Sempe Masupha and former president Lebohang Thotanyana (patron) of sabotaging them by advising the main sponsor, Alliance Insurance, to stop giving the club their monthly money.

The committee led by Lephethasang Hlajoane Lesaoana felt that Thotanyana, who has made his intentions clear that he wants to return to Lioli’s hot seat, is out to tarnish its image.

Masupha has previously written letters to Alliance ordering them to stop remitting funds to the club. He also wrote to their tenants, Ramatheola Supermarket, and advised them to stop paying rentals. The unavailability of money deterred the team from paying its players for July 2020.

I think this has shown the lengths to which people can go to have power. None of the warring parties has cared realise that above anything else, a soccer team is built by players. Leadership squabbles have cost the players more than anyone else.

Until Monday, the players were still to be paid and I honestly understand the frustration they are in, especially during the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic when most people are strained for cash.

The prevailing fights come after the members of the committee that was elected in August last year resigned one after the other leaving Lesaoana and other co-opted members to run the team.

When Thotanyana’s committee decided to step down last year, there was only one year left on their three-year tenure and the agreement was that the supporters would elect a new committee which will hold fort for the remainder of the term up to the elections that were expected to be held this month.

But things went south with the president Mokheseng Tekateka resigning few months after his election.

Tekateka was followed by two vice presidents; Lehlohonolo Thotanyana and Tšeliso Mou left just a few months after their appointment while Itumeleng Mpokathe, who took over from Tekateka, followed suit a few weeks later.

Early this year, I said the series of resignations were adequate proof that things were upside down at the club. I had hoped the team would have resolved these issues. But it seems no one cares.

I fail to understand why the Lesaoana-led group wants to “cling onto power” as alleged by its “detractors”. It appears as if they are not as determined to hold elections as they are to remain in power. I think the leaders must find each other for the sake of the club.

The post Lioli must get its house in order appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Leemisa Thuseho

THE 2020 edition of the Roof of Africa ‘The Mother of Hard Enduro’ race has been tentatively moved to next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event had been penned in for 18 to 21 November 2020.

Lesotho Off-Road Association (LORA) chairperson Tubatsi Kuoe told the Lesotho Times on Monday that they are now hoping to hold the race early next year.

“There is no Roof of Africa this year, however, we are now hoping to make it our first event on our calendar next year,” Kuoe said.

“Depending on the Coovid-19 situation, we are thinking of scheduling it for February.”

He added that the provisional decision is to host both the 2020 and 2021 editions next year.

The association has already started informing riders from all over the world of the decision to move the 2020 edition to next year.

Under normal circumstances the main event is preceded by qualifying events but due to Covid-19, LORA earlier this year said it had cancelled the events.

“No more qualifiers from 2020 onwards… we will work with clubs and their respective mother bodies to get rider’s information for them to qualify for a certain category,” LORA said this year.

Lesotho has been hosting the Roof of Africa event annually since 1967 except for 1998 when it was cancelled due to political unrest in Lesotho. This year will thus be the second time that the event will be cancelled.

LORA had hoped to add new events to its calendar this year but they have all be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The events include the debut National Enduro that had been penned in for April 2020, the Retro Roof Race and the Senqu Enduro which were both meant to be held in September this year. The two have also been cancelled.

Kuoe said they have resolved to postpone the new events to 2021.

The post Roof of Africa moved to 2021 appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Moorosi Tsiane

MATLAMA will have to wait until Monday to learn whether or not they succeeded in their appeal against the Disputes and Protests Committee’s (DISPROCO) decision to dismiss its case against the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA).

The club petitioned DISPROCO last month to contest LeFA’s decision to end the league in its current state and declare Bantu the 2019/20 season champions. DISPROCO dismissed the case saying LeFA had acted within the confines of the law. Matlama immediately petitioned the Appeal Board.

The matter was supposed to have been heard last week but Matlama failed to pitch up. The matter was finally heard this week but DISPROCO reserved judgement until Monday.

Matlama are accusing LeFA of undermining the spirit of fairness by declaring Bantu champions and also failing to relegate the two bottom-placed teams as per the premier league and A Division rules and regulations.

Last month, DISPROCO dismissed the matter but Matlama did not take the verdict lying down.

Matlama were represented by Tumisang Mosotho while LeFA was represented by Qhalehang Letsika and Bantu was represented by Tefo Rabolinyane.

The appeal panel was made up of Thato Molapo, Moshoeshoe Letsie and Kaizer Selimo.

Matlama argued that the LeFA national executive committee should have amended the regulations before resolving to end the season prematurely and handing Bantu the title. The club also argues that the NEC’s resolution to end the league prematurely based on Article 50 of its regulations, was inconsistent with the rules of the premier league and A Division rules and regulations.

“The NEC resolution based on Article 50, does not give the NEC authority to violate the provisions of the rules of the leagues,” Mosotho argued.

“The NEC should have amended the regulations… The NEC resolution has effectively suspended, varied or amended the regulations retrospectively.

“Instead, the NEC should have used a points per game system as a solution. This is because speculatively, the positions would have changed as teams did not play same number of matches. In the A Division, the teams did not play an equal number of matches making it more complex given the tightness of the competition.”

In declaring Bantu the league champions, LeFA should have also declared the bottom two teams of the premier league relegated.

Matlama therefore payed that the DISPROCO ruling should be set aside and that the NEC’s resolution be nullified.

Responding to Mosotho, Letsika said: “Matlama has attended all meetings and was a part of the recommendations”.

“They actually waived their right (to contest the decision) by not complaining about their dissatisfaction prior to the resolution. Secondly, there is no record where Matlama ever objected during the meetings… the protest is an afterthought.

“… The NEC’s decision is consistent with LeFA’s statutes because Article 50 deals with abnormal situations. The NEC doesn’t have the authority to prevail over regulations but that is only applicable when the situation is normal.”

Letsika said LeFA did not have a reason to amend the regulations as prescribed by Matlama because the NEC’s decision was final in extenuating circumstances.

After hearing the prayers from both sides, the panel concluded that they needed time to discuss the issues raised therefore said the judgement would be delivered on 24 August 2020.

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Moorosi Tsiane

BANTU has retained the services of star duo Tsietsi Khooa and Hlompho ‘Stiga’ Kalake on two-year contracts.

The duo was on the brink of leaving the Mafeteng outfit but has finally decided to stay following lengthy discussions which early this month seemed to have hit rock bottom.

Kalake was demanding a M12 000 monthly salary and a M50 000 signing on fee. He also wanted the club to build him rental rooms.

They reached a deadlock early this month after the club said it was willing to pay a maximum of M8 000. The club even said it was giving up and said it was releasing the player.

On the other hand, Khooa was demanding a M11 000 salary. He also wanted the club to pay for his accommodation in Maseru.

While it is unclear how much Khooa eventually got as his signing fees, Kalake is said to have received M15 000 as signing fee and will get a M8 000 salary.

Bantu president Leuta John Leuta confirmed on Tuesday that the duo has signed new contracts.

“They have both signed and we are happy that we have finally managed to keep them both,” Leuta.

“Apart from the fact that he was out of the country when he signed, we didn’t face any problems with Khooa.”

Although the negotiations leading to Kalake’s contract renewal were protracted, Leuta said they returned to the negotiating table because they were not prepared to lose him.

“We didn’t want to lose Kalake but our negotiations initially didn’t go as we had anticipated. However, both parties decided to go back to the negotiating table and he accepted our offer.

“We are aware that some fans are unhappy with him but we are a professional team…

“The last thing we want is to have divisions in the team. It’s not only the player to blame for the standoff that we had. Kalake is a young player and we had a responsibility to guide him.”

Leuta however, refused to comment on how much they ended up paying the players.

The post Bantu retains Khooa, Stiga appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Moorosi Tsiane

EACH of the 14 Econet Premier League teams will soon get M80 000 from the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) meant to cushion them against the Covid-19 pandemic.

LeFA secretary general Mokhosi Mohapi told the media at a press briefing on Monday that their national executive committee (NEC) had now completed planning how the funds would be disbursed among the teams. Although he did not specify a date, he said the clubs would get the money “soon”.

The funds were acquired from FIFA, which last month announced that each of its 211 member associations would get US$1.5 million (about M26.2 million), and CAF, which also said all its 54 member associations would receive US$300 000 (about M5.2 million), in relief funds.

According to Mohapi, PostBank A Division teams will each get M40 000 while B and C division teams will each get M10 000 and M6 000 respectively.

Mohapi said the association received the first batch of funds amounting to M8 660 000 from FIFA.

Premier League teams will share M1.12 million while A Division teams will share M800 000. The B and C Divisions will share M4.58 million and M1.086 million respectively.

LeFA structures will get M395 000 while M679 000 has been set aside to fund preparations for the return on football activities next season.

“Last week we received the first batch of the relief funding from FIFA and the NEC sat on Sunday met to strategise how the funds will be disbursed,” Mohapi said.

Mohapi said the money came with strict regulations from FIFA and LeFA has also formulated a complementary set of rules to ensure that all the funds are accounted for.

He said the teams are only allowed to use the money to pay players or buy football equipment that they may need in the next season.

“We are expecting the beneficiaries to account for all the money and there will be serious consequences including expulsion for failing to account for the money.

“We do not want the rest of the teams to suffer because of the errant behaviour of one team.

“We must also account to FIFA before accessing the second batch of the funds which is expected in January,” Mohapi said.

LeFA president Salemane Phafane said they are already conducting studies on the best actions to take before sanctioning the return of soccer action.

“We also think it is important that we start the preparations now. We have already started studies and have been in contact with some of our counterparts in the region trying to share ideas on how best we can work…

“One way or the other, at some point football will have to return, so we want to ensure that it is safe for everyone by the time that it returns as we don’t want people catching the virus at the grounds and infecting each other” Phafane said.

He said considering the anticipated high costs and expenses to be incurred before the return of football, the M700 000 that they have set aside to fund the preparations may be inadequate.

He said they would also form a committee that will include health experts to ensure that football would be safe.

“For now, we are not ready. We will only return when the infection curve has flattened to ensure that all the people involved would be safe.”

He said they were also yet to apply for the relief fund that was promised by FIFA for women football.

“FIFA has allocated US$500 000 (M8.7 million) for women’s soccer but we are yet to apply for it.

“Once we get it, we will disburse it accordingly,” Phafane said.

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Ntsebeng Motsoeli

PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro says his government is committed to maintaining political stability and anticipates no further setbacks in implementing the multi-sector reforms.

Dr Majoro said this in his report to the 40^th Southern African Development Community (SADC) ordinary summit of heads of state and government last Friday.

The implementation of the multisectoral reforms is set to run for a year starting in September 2020 until September 2021. Should there be any delays, the time will be extended by six months.

The reforms were recommended by SADC in 2016 but have largely been stalled by bickering between political players. SADC had set May 2019 as the deadline for the full implementation of the constitutional and security sector reforms to try and achieve durable stability in Lesotho but that deadline was missed.

The process is now expected to commence next month after the passing of the National Reforms Bill last December. This was followed by the inauguration of the National Reforms Authority in February this year.

Dr Majoro presented his report to the first ever virtual SADC heads of state and government meeting on 14 August 2020.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister ‘Matsepo Ramakoae, Dr Majoro told SADC that Lesotho was enjoying ample political and security stability, creating a conducive atmosphere for the smooth implementation of the anticipated reforms.

“Prime Minister Majoro told the meeting that while Lesotho was working hard to minimise the impact of Covid-19, his administration was also committed to seeing the successful implementation of the national reforms,” Ms Ramakoae said.

“He told the summit that Lesotho was regularly reporting to the SADC secretariat and the facilitator, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, all of whom have commended progress in the process.

“He (Dr Majoro) reported to the summit that there was political stability in the country and this had ensured a smooth and peaceful transition of power from former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to him. He also said that there were cordial relations among the security agencies who were all joining hands in the fight against Covid-19. He said the prevailing peace and stability had created a conducive environment for successful implementation of the reforms.”

Dr Majoro also reported on the slow progress in the adjudication of high-profile court cases over which foreign judges had been hired. The cases include the murder of former army commander Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao.   

Dr Majoro reported while the delays of the trials were due to various factors, there was now progress as some of them had started.

A SADC communique said the summit received a progress report on the political and security situation in Lesotho by the facilitator, Mr Ramaphosa, and encouraged the Lesotho government to maintain its momentum in implementing the regional body’s decisions and to report on progress at the next summit in August 2021.  

The summit elected Mozambique president Filipe Jacinto Nyusi as new chairperson. Mr Nyusi will be deputised by Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera.

Mr Nyusi succeeds Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who reported on progress in the implementation of last year’s 39^th SADC summit theme: A Conducive Environment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development, Increased Intra-Regional Trade and Job Creation.

This year’s summit was themed; SADC: 40 years building peace and security; and promoting development and resilience in the face of global challenges.

The 40^th summit also elected Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi the chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, taking over from Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mr Masisi will be succeeded by Mr Ramaphosa in 2021.

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Mohalenyane Phakela

THE All Basotho Convention (ABC) has suspended its deputy chairperson, Chalane Phori, for three months for failing to attend meetings.

Mr Phori’s suspension is with effect from 5 August 2020. The ABC’s Ooaling legislator is also accused of speaking against the decisions of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) in the media, thereby putting it into disrepute.

Mr Phori has been a staunch supporter of ABC leader and former prime minister Thomas Thabane. He has ridiculed both new premier Moeketsi Majoro and the ABC NEC which is loyal to party deputy leader Nqosa Mahao.

Although he came into the NEC at the party’s elective conference in February 2019, Mr Phori has never seen eye-to-eye with most of its other members. He has been unrelenting in his support of Mr Thabane.

Mr Thabane was replaced by Dr Majoro in May this year.  His fall also ended Mr Phori’s tenure as cabinet minister, having been appointed Minister of Small Businesses, Cooperatives and Marketing in June 2017.

According to ABC spokesperson, Montoeli Masoetsa, the ABC disciplinary committee on 5 August 2020 advised the NEC to suspend Mr Phori for three months after it found him guilty of indiscipline.

“There are a lot of issues surrounding Mr Phori’s behaviour but most significant has been that he never bothered to attend NEC meetings. But when the committee reached certain decisions, he would be heard in the media criticising such decisions,” Mr Masoetsa said.

“He was first called before the NEC to be rebuked of his ill behaviour but that never stopped him.  His matter was escalated to the disciplinary committee which, on 5 August 2020, advised that he be suspended from the party for three months. He is not expected to participate in ABC issues until his suspension is lifted.”

Mr Masoetsa said Mr Phori’s suspension is not meant to foster more tensions in the faction riven party.

“It is just a disciplinary measure which is intended to strengthen unity within the ABC by disciplining those who do not go along with the party,” he said.

For his part, Mr Phori accepted the suspension and said all party members must abide by the constitution.

“Although I have not received any suspension letter from the secretary general (Lebohang Hlaele), I was brought before the disciplinary committee which alerted me that I was going to be suspended. I have no problem with that.

“The ABC constitution is clear that every member who acts contrary to its dictates must be taken to task. So, I therefore, agree that all those who act against the constitution be disciplined,” Mr Phori said.

Mr Hlaele himself shot down allegations that the NEC was out to eliminate Mr Thabane’s supporters saying the ABC was now a united party.

“We no longer have factions within the ABC but we are a united front… We don’t consider who commits a transgression. We consider the transgression itself and take corrective action” Mr Hlaele said last night.

The post ABC suspends Phori appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

A POLICE officer’s oath of office is as good as a death warrant. When one signs up to join the police, they are a signing up to die. So, police officers should not be stopped from marching on account of protecting them from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This bizarre argument is contained in a 17 August 2020 letter by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service Staff Association (LEPOSA) in which they are asking to be granted the right to stage a mass demonstration against their boss, Commissioner Holomo Molibeli, despite the restrictions on gatherings imposed to fight Covid-19.

The letter is addressed to the Officer Commanding Maseru Urban, Senior Superintendent ‘Malebohang Setsomi.   The unrelenting LEPOSA requests permission to march to Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro on 3 September 2020. The march is meant to, among others, push the premier to fire Compol Molibeli.

LEPOSA said it resolved to hold the march during an emergency strategic meeting on 5 August this year.

Among its complaints, the police union alleges that Compol Molibeli had misappropriated funds that were meant for five percent cost of living adjustments for all officers.

If it proceeds, the unprecedented march would be the climax of the ongoing war of attrition between Compol Molibeli and the union, which also accuses him of effecting illegal promotions.

Commissioner Molibeli yesterday told the Lesotho Times he had resolved to give the ministerial committee set-up by Dr Majoro some space to deal with the instability in the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS). He would thus not comment on the planned march against him.

“All these questions centre around the terms of reference of the adhoc committee of the ministers initiated by the Honorable the Prime Minister to deal with the instability in our institution,” Compol Molibeli said.

“It would be appropriate for me to be patient and wait for the ending of that process lest I respond in an inappropriate way. I am not reluctant to respond but as a show of respect to the authorities, I defer my comments.”

Discontent has been brewing in the police service after the top cop declared war on LEPOSA’s national executive committee members.

Commissioner Molibeli fired LEPOSA’s national treasurer Lance Sergeant ‘Mathebe Motseki from the police service last week. He has also commenced processes to dismiss the union’s secretary general, Inspector Moraleli Motloli, from the LMPS.

His efforts to transfer LEPOSA spokesperson Police Constable Motlatsi Mofokeng from Special Operations Unit to Berea hit a snag a fortnight ago after the High Court halted it.  All this after LEPOSA petitioned Dr Majoro to suspend Commissioner Molibeli to facilitate investigations into the latter’s alleged “criminal misconduct, maladministration and abuse of power”.

The alleged “criminal misconduct” stem from a perjury case which an officer, Senior Insp Haleeo Leluma, filed against Commissioner Molibeli earlier this year.

Snr Insp Leluma wrote to then Police and Public Safety Minister, Lehlohonolo Moramotse, on 1 April 2020 accusing Compol Molibeli of making false claims in his answering affidavit to a court case Insp Leluma had filed to stop the police boss from transferring him from Maseru to Qacha’s Nek.

Snr Insp Leluma had alleged that Compol Molibeli had sought to transfer him from Maseru to Qacha’s Nek on the basis that there had only been one senior officer responsible for that district yet that was not the case.

Former prime minister Thomas Thabane had attempted to fire Commissioner Molibeli on the basis of Snr Insp Leluma’s letter to Mr Moramotse.

Mr Thabane said he had been advised that Compol Molibeli’s claims were false because there were three senior officers at the level of senior superintendent and two senior inspectors in Qacha’s Nek instead of the one senior alleged by the police boss. Mr Thabane accused the police boss of committing perjury.

LEPOSA had backed Mr Thabane’s moves to oust Compol Molibeli but the ex-premier was barred by the courts from doing so. The courts ruled that Mr Thabane had acted unprocedurally in attempting to oust the police boss.

This has, however, not deterred LEPOSA from petitioning Dr Majoro who succeeded Mr Thabane on 20 May 2020. They have now applied for permission to stage a protest march to pile up pressure on the premier.

In his 17 August letter, Insp Motloli says LEPOSA was applying for permission to stage a protest march in accordance with the 5 August decision of its national executive committee.

“I wish to forward an application for a procession to petition the coalition government and the Right Honourable the Prime Minister on 3 September 2020 from 10am to 4pm regarding the following concerns:

• Dismissal of the members of the NEC (sic);
• Misappropriation of the five percent inflation increase for the general police officers (sic) to the payment of illegal promotions (sic); selective and discriminatory interdiction of police officers in June 2020;
• Absolute failure to deal with rampant police brutality…”

LEPOSA is also unhappy with the continued presence of Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) Paseka Mokete in office despite having a pending criminal case. DCP Mokete is facing a sexual assault case for allegedly fondling the buttocks of a female subordinate.

The union also wants Compol Molibeli suspended pending the finalisation of criminal cases against him. Among the cases, LEPOSA cited one in which the police boss is accused of torturing junior officers at the Police Training College and another where he is being accused of assisting former first lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane in torturing a civilian.

LEPOSA also wants Dr Majoro to address issues relating to punitive transfers, re-instatement of human resources policies and Covid-19 personal protective equipment and allowances for frontline officers.

So determined is LEPOSA that it says its members would not be deterred by the deadly Covid-19 which has infected 946 people and killed 30.

“On the basis of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, please note and recall that as police officers, we have already signed a death contract by being police officers. In the result, whether we die of Covid-19 or any other way, that is still part of our oath of office as police officers,” Insp Motloli said.

On 10 August, Insp Motloli wrote to Dr Majoro and his deputy Mathibeli Mokhothu warning them that the situation unfolding in the LMPS could soon explode into a full-fledged conflict if not contained timeously.

Dr Majoro had not yet responded to LEPOSA’s letters by yesterday. He has however, established a ministerial sub-committee to deal with the conflict between Commissioner Molibeli and LEPOSA.

The committee met with Compol Molibeli and some senior officers on Monday and also met with LEPOSA representatives yesterday.

Meanwhile, Compol Molibeli has allegedly asked the Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL) to mediate between him and LEPOSA.

According to authoritative sources, Compol Molibeli and the CCL leaders held a lengthy closed-door meeting at the CCL offices in Maseru on Tuesday.

“He is exploring all angles to see how best this conflict between him and LEPOSA can be resolved. He is now under immense pressure to put this issue to bed as some ministers have now joined the LEPOSA chorus and want him fired,” a source said.

The source said it was too early to tell if the church leaders will successfully assist Commissioner Molibeli in his mission to stabilise the police force.

The source said the church leaders were expected to meet with LEPOSA representatives between today and tomorrow.

The funds that Compol Molibeli is accused of misappropriating were redirected by Ministry of Police and Public Safety principal secretary, Matela Thabane, allegedly to avert delays in payment of June 2020 salaries.

According to a 6 June 2020 memo signed by Mr Thabane and addressed to Compol Molibeli, the police service experienced serious financial constraints earlier this year.

“In order to avoid delays in payment of June 2020 salaries as a result of the funding shortfall, the office of the Principal Secretary authorises the use of funds from the following vote to cover the shortfall: LMPS administrative vote number 049-05-02-11-100-0000-00000-411101-01,” Mr Thabane said.

“The amount to be utilised from this vote is M374, 551.85. Your good office is invited to note that funds under this vote were allocated to cover specific expenditure such as five percent salary adjustments and salaries for vacant positions (pathologists),” Mr Thabane said.

The post LEPOSA piles pressure on Majoro to sack Molibeli appeared first on Lesotho Times.

…faces fraud charges

Mohalenyane Phakela

PROMINENT car dealer, Phoka Mofubetsoana, of Phoka Clearing and Forwarding Agency, who fled the country in April last year after duping customers of close to M1 million, has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

It had been over a year since Mofubetsoana failed to deliver vehicles to clients who had paid him to order cars on their behalf from Japan. Clients who reported Mr Mofubetsoana to the police last year estimated that they had ordered vehicles costing M950 000.

And this week, deputy police spokesperson Sub-Inspector ‘Makeabetsoe Mofoka, told the Lesotho Times that Mr Mofubetsoana was arrested at his home in Teyateyaneng on Saturday.

“The said individual was arrested on Saturday after the police had received a tipoff that he was at his home in Lithabaneng (in Teyateyaneng),” Sub-Insp Mofoka said.

“He was released into the custody of his lawyer today (Monday) and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday (tomorrow). He stands accused of committing fraud.”

It is unclear when Mr Mofubetsoana returned to the country. It is also unclear whether he will be able to reimburse the clients that he is owing.

Mr Mofubetsoana fled the country fearing for his life after failing to deliver vehicles to some of his clients who had already paid for them. The clients were baying for his blood when he fled the country.

Before fleeing, he had issued a statement alleging that he had alerted the Commissioner of Police Holomo Molibeli, of his intent to close shop. In the same statement, he also assured his clients that they would get the vehicles which they had ordered from Japan or would be refunded.

However, police spokesperson, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli then denied that Mr Mofubetsoana had reported his position to the police as alleged in his statement.

“He (Mr Mofubetsoana) never reported to the police as he said in his statement. What happened is that his dissatisfied clients came to complain and we asked him to report to us as the matter was being investigated.

“When we spoke on the phone, Mr Mofubetsoana said he was on his way to the police as the commissioner had already called him but he never showed up. Instead, he told us that he had skipped the country fearing for his life as there were threats on his life,” Supt Mopeli said.

“We are talking of an estimated M950 000 and this could be more because more people are still coming to open cases. Now that he (Mr Mofubetsoana) has fled, he could be charged with fraud and money laundering, but we are still investigating,” Supt Mopeli said at the time.

The post Car dealer Mofubetsoana resurfaces appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Bereng Mpaki

THE police are investigating an incident in which the newly opened Pick n Pay store at the Masianokeng Lifestyle Centre was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money and goods by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday evening.

Police spokesperson superintendent Mpiti Mopeli yesterday said the police responded to a distress alarm on Tuesday evening and arrived at the store after the assailants had ran off.

He said they do not yet have any leads on the identities of the robbers but have launched their investigations.

“We have opened an armed robbery case on the incident and have kicked off investigations,” Supt Mopeli said.

Store manager, Kojang Malahleha, said the daring robbers did not even wear balaclavas. She said they took off with an undisclosed amount of money after vandalising and uprooting cash registers before running away on foot.

She said the thieves also took off with a few light goods including brand-new mobile phones.

Ms Malahleha said they were shaken by the incident but were grateful that there were neither injuries nor fatalities in the robbery which lasted about 20 minutes.

She said her workers were able to run out of the store while others managed to hide inside.

The robbers left the floor littered with bullet shells after firing several shots at the roof to frighten the staff and customers.

“The armed assailants stormed into the store and ordered everybody to lie down while they carried out the robbery. We do not know how many they were.

“They took money from the till drawers and some goods including cellphones. We do not as yet know how much money they took but the police have since recovered a till drawer that the robbers dropped while they were running away. We do not know how much money was in it.

“A second till drawer has also been found abandoned in the nearby village and we do not know if it had any money in it. We will only know how much was stolen after we have reconciled our records with what is left,” Ms Malahleha said.

The shop opened just eight days ago but Ms Malahleha said while they were hurt by the robbery, they would not be forced to stop operations.

“The incident has shaken us but the biggest setback for us would have been if our staff members and patrons were injured and thankfully, there was no such.

“What was stolen is replaceable unlike people. That is one thing that I am celebrating this morning.”

She said they have since resumed operations after beefing up security. A police post building within the shopping centre is nearing completion.

“While the incident has traumatised us, I look at it as a wakeup call for us to tighten our security and we have already done that. We have since resumed operations at the store and the only minor challenge we have is that we are unable to operate some of our vandalised cash registers that need replacements.”

She said the police were able to retrieve the CCTV footage from the store and they were hopeful that the perpetrators would soon be arrested and brought to justice.

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’Marafaele Mohloboli

FORMER prime minister and All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader Thomas Thabane has threatened to leave the party soon if its national executive committee (NEC) does not reprimand Agriculture and Food Security Minister Tefo Mapesela for insulting him and his wife.

The sharp-tongued Mr Mapesela recently launched a broadside against the former first lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane and her husband in apparent retaliation to Ms Thabane’s own attack on First Lady ‘Mamusa Majoro.

Ms Thabane attacked Ms Majoro during an interview on a local radio station on Friday. During the interview, Ms Thabane, herself known for taking no prisoners, ridiculed Ms Majoro for celebrating Women’s Month calling it a foreign concept.

She said Women’s Month was not celebrated in Lesotho.

This attracted the rage of Mr Mapesela who recorded an audio which has been circulating on social media lambasting Ms Thabane. So brutal was the attack that he called her a “dunderhead” who did not know anything about Women’s Month because she was preoccupied with assaulting nurses and demeaning principal secretaries.

In 2018 ‘Maesaiah allegedly assaulted a doctor on call at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital for delaying attending to a patient who had been brought in by her bodyguards, who had hit him in a road accident. She also made headlines for publicly attacking “non-performing” public officials during her husband’s tenure as premier, which ended in May this year.

During her Friday interview, Ms Thabane also accused the new government led by Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro of inconsiderately “oppressing the needy” by enforcing stiff Covid-19 regulations.

“We see people who know nothing about Covid-19 being given a platform to sensitize the nation yet they do not even have the slightest idea on health issues… It is quite absurd how people make senseless laws when they are in power. I wonder whether they ever think before making decisions,” Ms Thabane said in apparent reference to the government’s Covid-19 lockdown regulations which have imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Thabane said her fund, the ‘Maesaiah Thabane Trust Fund, could not sit and watch while the government continued “hurting” people with restrictive laws instead of protecting them. The trust fund has in the past been involved in different charitable initiatives.

“Not that we are undermining the seating government. Instead, I humbly request that they (government) be lenient on us and let us do our job as a trust fund,” said Ms Thabane.

In retaliation, Mr Mapesela said Ms Thabane “genuinely doesn’t know about Women’s Month” because she bulldozed her way into the role of First Lady.

“… she just hopped on board. She will never be First Lady again. Leave Ms Majoro alone and let her work. She (Ms Thabane) should stay at home and wait for her trial,” he said referring to the anticipated Lipolelo Thabane murder trial in which Ms Thabane is one of the suspects.  She is currently on bail over the charge.

“Stop dreaming about being the first lady. You are just a dunderhead,” Mr Mapesela charged.

He added: “She should just take her old man along with her and leave ABC. She should go and get cleansed, probably she is saying all these things because she is itching from the lice that she got from the holding cell”.

“…Leave our party with that old man of yours,” Mr Mapesela said.

On Tuesday, Mr Thabane also phoned in during a programme at the same station, and said he would soon leave the ABC because it was clear to him that the party’s NEC had sent Mr Mapesela to insult him and his wife.

“This utterance that I and my wife should leave the party was made on Friday and today is Tuesday and neither the NEC nor the prime minister have condemned him. This means that this person (Mr Mapesela) has been sent by the party’s authorities. Shortly, I shall leave (the party),” he said.

Although he was ousted as prime minister in May, Mr Thabane remains the leader of the ABC.

ABC spokesperson, Montoeli Masoetsa, this week said the NEC did not condone Mr Mapesela’s utterances. He said it was wrong for Mr Thabane to suggest that the NEC had sent Mr Mapesela to attack him.

“We heard Mapesela’s utterances and we are addressing that matter. We have in the past dissuaded our legislators from using social media to destabilise the party. It is therefore not true that we sent Mapesela to attack Ntate Thabane, who is also a member of the NEC.

“Sadly, Mapesela has in the past behaved in this manner even during Ntate Thabane’s reign. He (Mr Thabane) never reprimanded him (Mr Mapesela) and suddenly he is blaming us. That’s unfair,” Mr Masoetsa said.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Mr Mapesela said Ms Thabane was “silly”.

“That lady is silly. She is very silly, she needs to be told that,” Mr Mapesela said.

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