Herbert Moyo

THE family of Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao has written to the government requesting that he be posthumously reinstated as commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF).

They also requested the government and the LDF to perform a “military honours ceremony” at his graveside in Mokema “befitting a soldier and officer of his rank”.

In an interview with the Lesotho Times last night, the newly appointed Lesotho Defence Force Commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela said the Mahaos’ request was being handled by the Ministry of Defence and had not yet been referred to his office.

“I will only know of the decision we are going to take when I receive a directive from the Ministry of Defence. For now, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Defence (Colonel Tanki Mothae) is in a better position to comment on the matter,” Lt-Gen Letsoela said.

However, Colonel Mothae was not reachable for comment on his mobile phone.

Lt-Gen Mahao was fatally shot by his erstwhile LDF colleagues on 25 June 2015 just outside Maseru. The LDF claimed Lt-Gen Mahao had resisted arrest for allegedly leading a mutiny when he was killed but that claim was dismissed as a hoax by a regional inquiry into his death.

Lt-Gen Mahao’s family accused the army of killing him in cold blood basing on the account of his nephews who were with him during the incident.

Lt-Gen Mahao was appointed as LDF commander on 29 August 2014 after Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane, fired Lt-Gen Tlali Kamoli for alleged insubordination. However, Lt-Gen Kamoli rejected the dismissal challenging its legitimacy and proceeded to launch state a coup attempt in August 2014. The coup attempt kick started a chain of events that led to snap elections in early 2015.

After Dr Thabane relinquished power in the wake of the 28 February 2015 snap elections, the seven-party coalition government led by Pakalitha Mosisili reinstated Lt-Gen Kamoli, arguing that his dismissal and Lt-Gen Mahao’s promotion were all illegal.

Lt Gen Kamoli was reinstated in a Government Gazette dated 21 May 2015 with another gazette issued on the same day terminating Lt-Gen Mahao’s appointment as LDF commander and reverting him to a brigadier.

Lt-Gen Mahao challenged his demotion in the High Court with the case not seeing the light of day after he was killed on 25 June 2015 by his LDF colleagues.

The LDF claimed that Lt-Gen Mahao had been shot while resisting arrest over an alleged mutiny plot.  However, the army’s version was dismissed by both the soldier’s family and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) commission of inquiry headed by retired judge Mphaphi Phumaphi.

Lt-Gen Mahao’s family accused the army of killing him in cold blood, basing on the account of his nephews who were with him during the incident.

Justice Phumaphi’s 10-member commission carried out its investigations between 31 August and 23 October 2015 and found that Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s appointment of Lt-Gen Mahao as army commander was legal. SADC recommended, among other things, that the government should investigate the killing of Lt-Gen Mahao and prosecute those found to be responsible.

In their 11 February 2018 letter to the Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka, the Mahaos requested that “by a Government Gazette, Lt-Gen Mahao must be reinstated posthumously as LDF Commander and at the rank of Lt-Gen”.

“Such a gazette is the right thing to do to correct the illegality committed by the previous government when it purported to remove and demote him from those positions without any basis in law.

“The family is also convinced that as part of righting the wrongs of the former government, it is proper for the LDF to perform the military honours ceremony at Lt-Gen Mahao’s place of interment at Mokema as befitting a soldier and officer of his rank.

“While it is common cause that the family prevented the former government and LDF Command from having any role in Lt-Gen Mahao’s funeral proceedings because we deemed them prime suspects in his planned assassination, we believe the time is now ripe for the ceremony. The changes that have occurred in government and in the command of the LDF provide an opportunity for Lt-Gen Mahao’s dignified send-off,” part of the letter states.

The family requested that the military send-off be held on and close to 25 June- the anniversary of Lt-Gen Mahao’s assassination.

The family also thanked the government for their cooperation with the family which has thus far seen the arrest of eight soldiers in connection with his murder among things.

The eight army officers are Captain Litekanyo Nyakane, Captain Haleo Makara, Sergeant Lekhooa Moepi, Sergeant Motsamai Fako, Corporal Marasi ‘Moleli, Corporal Motšoane Machai, Corporal Mohlalefi Seitlheko and Corporal Tšitso Ramoholi.

Keiso Mohloboli

HOME Affairs Minister, Tsukutlane Au, is set to meet his South African counterpart, Malusi Gigaba, to discuss the highly emotive issue of the Lesotho Special Permit (LSP) amid indications that Lesotho will request South Africa not to deport Lesotho nationals who were not granted LSPs.

The meeting was initially scheduled for tomorrow in Pretoria but Home Affairs Principal Secretary, ‘Machabana Lemphane – Letsie,  said South Africa had requested a postponement to a later date due to this week’s cabinet reshuffle which saw Ayanda Dlodlo being replaced by Mr Gigaba.

Mr Gigaba was the Home Affairs minister when the South African government introduced the four-year LSP in 2015 to enable qualifying Basotho to lawfully work, study or do business in South Africa.

The initial application process for the permit began in March 2016 and was due to end in June 2016. There were three extensions culminating in the final extension to 31 March 2017 for all applications.

A South African Home Affairs report issued in October 2017 said that 194 941 LSP applications were received out of an estimated 400 000 Basotho believed to be in South Africa.

“Out of these, about 90,225 were approved, 3 582 rejected,” the report stated.

Although 90 225 applications were approved, the figure is a drop in the ocean as it represents less than a quarter of the  400 000 Basotho estimated by the South African government to be living within its borders.

Even though most of those who applied succeeded in getting the LSP, more than 300 000 Basotho living in South Africa do not appear to have bothered to apply. They now risk being arrested and deported from that country after a moratorium on such deportations expired on 31 December 2017.

During his first stint at the helm of the Home Affairs ministry, Mr Gigaba vowed that his government would enforce deportations upon the expiry of the moratorium as Africa’s second largest and most sophisticated economy seeks to stem off the tide of illegal immigration into its borders.

However, the two countries will soon meet to discuss Lesotho’s requests which include a freeze on arrests and deportations as well as the relaxation of the LSP requirements.

Ms Lemphane – Letsie this week said that officials from both countries’ Home Affairs ministries held a preparatory meeting last week in Pretoria ahead of the ministers’ meeting which had been scheduled for tomorrow.

“Last week, home affairs officials from both countries met in Pretoria to map the way forward for Basotho who failed to get the LSP,” Ms Lemphane – Letsie said.

“We then scheduled a meeting of the SA and Lesotho Home Affairs ministers for 2 March to further discuss how the two countries would deal with LSP issues to avoid the arrests and deportations of Basotho.

“Following the cabinet reshuffle, South Africa has asked for the meeting to be postponed to a later date.”

For his part, Mr AU said he would only share with this publication the outcome of the meeting with his South African counterpart.

He has however, previously told this publication that he would request South Africa to revise the LSP in order to come up with a totally different arrangement because the current document which was “modelled on a similar one for Zimbabweans does not address the special circumstances of Basotho nationals”.

He said the government would negotiate with their South African counterparts for a special arrangement akin to that of Italy and the Vatican where citizens of the former did not need passports to work or visit the latter country.

Meanwhile, South Africa has begun the process of reimbursing Basotho nationals who unsuccessfully applied for the LSP.

According to Ms Lemphane – Letsie, “South Africa’s Home Affairs ministry noted that there were Basotho who paid the application fee but failed to meet the deadline for applying and these will be reimbursed because their applications were never processed”.

The application fee was M970.

The post Lesotho, SA to meet over permits appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE leader of the newly-formed Socialist Revolution (SR) party, Teboho Mojapela, has accused the police of “waylaying” him to “unnecessarily” grill him over the murder of Prime Minister, Thomas Thabane’s former wife, Lipolelo Thabane.

Mr Mojapela said he had been “waylaid” by two police officers soon after he had finished addressing a press conference at the AME Hall in Maseru. He had called the press briefing to inform the world about the recent shooting of one of his security officers, Potlako Nalane. The two officers then started quizzing  him about the slaying of Mrs Thabane.

Mr Mojapela said he could not understand why the police were again questioning him about the June 2017 shooting which claimed the life of Ms Thabane as he had already spoken to one of the investigating officers in the matter and volunteered the information he knew about the murder.

“I am very angry that they waylaid me when I have already told them all that I know about the case…,” Mr Mojapela told the Lesotho Times this week.

“I was first assigned a police officer to talk to in good faith over the issue. They needed me to assist with some information that could possibly help resolve the murder.

“I don’t know what else they want to know when I have already given them my side of the story….. What they did in waylaying me was very undemocratic when they claim to have ushered a dispensation that purports to respect human rights.”

Police spokesperson, Inspector Mpiti Mopeli, said Mr Mojapela had been called in for questioning over the murder but denied that he had been waylaid. He said the police officers that confronted Mr Mojapela did so to ask him to merely report to the police to be questioned about the case. Inspector Mopeli said Mr Mojapela was due to report for questioning tomorrow.

He nonetheless emphasized that Mr Mojapela was not a “person of interest” in the murder investigation but refused to say why he was being quizzed if that was the case. He said that police investigations were continuing and so far no arrests had been made.

Ms Thabane was shot dead by an unknown assailant as she was about to drive into her Ha ‘Masana home on 14 June 2017. The incident occurred just two days before Dr Thabane’s inauguration as prime minister.

A female companion of Ms Thabane also sustained serious injuries in the shooting.  Mr Mojapela did not explain what he had already told the police about the murder.  However, it is understood that Mr Mojapela had already named before the police the two suspects he claims to have masterminded the murder.

Meanwhile Mr Mojapela’s bodyguard, Potlako Nalane, is lucky to be alive after he was shot at by unknown gunmen upon his arrival at his Masowe home in Maseru on Sunday night.

Mr Nalane had just returned home from Mr Mojapela’s residence in Ladybrand in South Africa when the gunmen who had parked outside his house opened fire at his car.

“It was around 11.00 pm on Sunday when some gunmen in a twin cab vehicle opened fire on me at my house.

“I jumped out of the car and ran for dear life. I got to Thetsane Police Station after being given a lift by a Good Samaritan.

“I am very grateful to the Lord for having protected me but I am still shaken as I don’t know who is after me and I don’t even know when they will strike again,” Nalane said.

He said he believed that his assailants wanted him out of the picture so that they could easily get to MrMojapela.

He said although he appealed to the government to provide him with security, he doubted if this would happen as the police had visited him to demand firearm licences instead of helping him.

Mr Mojapela said the attack on Mr Nalane was meant to scare him into abandoning his political ambitions. He however, said he would not be deterred, vowing that “for me the sky is the limit”.

The post SR leader quizzed over Lipolelo Thabane’s slaying appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has commended its two month old Standby Force for its efforts in fostering a conducive environment for the implementation of multi-sectoral reforms required to foster long term peace and stability in Lesotho.

A high-powered SADC delegation that includes SADC Executive Secretary, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, has been in the country since Sunday to assess the progress of the Standby Force which is also known as the SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho (SAPMIL). The delegation will depart the country tomorrow after site visits to the areas of deployment.

Other members of the delegation are Zambia’s Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ambassador Chalwe Lombe, Zambia’s Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja, Ambassador Innocent Eugene Shiyo of Tanzania and South African Police Service’s Major General Charl Annandale.

Addressing a press conference in Maseru this week, SADC Oversight Committee Chairperson Matias Bertino Matondo said there were clear indicators that SAPMIL was well on course to fulfilling its mandate of creating a conducive atmosphere for the implementation of all-inclusive multi-sectoral reforms in the country.

Zambia’s Brigadier General Michael Mukokomani who is a member of SAPMIL and Angola’s Lieutenant General Americo Jose Volente who is the head of the SADC Standby Force, joined the delegation at the press conference.

Dr Matondo said the prevailing peace and stability in the country was one of the indicators that SAPMIL had so far succeeded in deterring rogue military elements that were capable of fomenting chaos.

He said other indicators included SAPMIL’s success in commencing negotiations with civil society organisations as well as self-exiled opposition leaders.  The leaders have so far thrown spanners into the reform process by refusing to return home to participate in it.

“The first and most important indicator is the fact that there is peace and stability in the Kingdom of Lesotho,” Dr Matondo said, adding, “The fact that there is peace and stability in the country demonstrates by itself that SAMPIL is here for a reason”.

“We have also been engaging the leaders in exile and also the CSOs. The civilian component of SAPMIL has been playing its role to make sure that all the grey areas among all Basotho stakeholders are addressed and as we speak, some CSOs that could not talk to each other a couple of weeks ago are now talking.”

Dr Matondo said SAPMIL was also participating in the investigations into the assassinations of army commanders Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao and Khoantle Motšomotšo in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

He also said that SAPMIL had also begun fulfilling its mandate of providing training and capacity building to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) to fully equip the police with skills to enable them to effectively resolve crimes.

“One of the main objectives of SADC is training and capacity building.

“Right now our colleagues from the SAPMIL police component are training their LMPS counterparts in the forensic techniques they need to deal with crime scene evidence,” Dr Matondo said.

The visit comes on the heels of a similar mission by the African Union (AU) Technical Assessment Mission which toured the country a fortnight ago.

The AU team also expressed satisfaction with the work of SAPMIL, saying it had helped to restore peace in Lesotho and improved the working relations among the various security agencies.

And this week, Dr Tax said she had come to Lesotho “after the AU mission because this (peace) process is not only about SADC”.

She said, the regional body requested AU’s support for the SADC mission in Lesotho.

“They (AU) accepted our proposal and they were here at our request to help us.  They were very impressed with the progress but there is also a need to continue supporting the Kingdom of Lesotho.

“The M20 million that we requested is still under negotiations because you cannot request and get resources immediately. We have to negotiate and we will see what the results will be at the end of the day,” Dr Tax said.

This was in reference to SADC’s appeal to AU member states, the United Nations and development partners to offer technical and financial support to SAPMIL to enable it to meet its budget shortfall of US$1, 6 million (approximately M20 million).

The post ‘SADC Standby Force has stabilised Lesotho’ appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) will soon meet to decide whether or not the newly-elected South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, should continue in his role as the regional body’s facilitator in Lesotho.

Mr Ramaphosa was elected president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) during its December 2017 conference and he subsequently replaced Jacob Zuma as state president a fortnight ago.

He also assumed the position of SADC chairperson. It was against the background of his new heavy responsibilities that SADC Executive Secretary, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, this week said regional leaders would soon meet to discuss whether he would continue as the SADC facilitator in Lesotho.

“We will all agree that the facilitator, President Ramaphosa, has done a very wonderful job and as of now he is not only a facilitator but also the chairperson of SADC,” Dr Tax said.

“But those are the issues which will need to be looked into. He just assumed the (South African) presidency so it is premature to say whether or not he will continue as facilitator. But we understand that we need to discuss and see what the best way forward is,” said Dr Tax at a press conference convened to outline the regional body’s assessment of the two-month old SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho (SAPMIL).

The SAPMIL, also known as the SADC Standby Force, was officially unveiled in Lesotho on 2 December 2017 as part of regional efforts to create a conducive environment for the implementation of constitutional, security sector, public service, media and governance reforms in line with the recommendations of the regional body.

A confidential report prepared by SADC ahead of the deployment of the SAPMIL revealed that the government was not happy with Mr Ramaphosa continuing as the SADC facilitator to Lesotho and it wanted him to be replaced.

While the Thomas Thabane-led ruling coalition is not happy with Mr Ramaphosa, the report revealed that opposition parties were in favour of retaining him as facilitator.

“There have also been divergent views regarding the continued role of the Facilitator in that the government expressed the need to find a replacement while the opposition is in favour of retaining the current Facilitator but to be assisted by a mediator preferably a Basotho national,” reads part of the document titled ‘Draft Integrated Mission Plan for the Deployment of the Contingent Mission to the Kingdom of Lesotho’.

And while the report does not elaborate on the reasons for the government’s position, sources have claimed that the governing parties believe Mr Ramaphosa has previously sided with the parties now in opposition by allegedly overlooking serious security threats posed by the army in the past.

Mr Ramaphosa was appointed to facilitate the restoration of peace and stability in Lesotho after the 30 August 2014 attempted coup against the first government of Dr Thabane.

During that event, the Lesotho Defence Force stormed various police stations and seized arms they claimed were to be used against civilians at a Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) rally that same weekend.

The raids claimed the life of Police Sub-inspector Mokheseng Ramahloko. Former LDF commander, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, is in court over the killing.

Mr Ramaphosa also facilitated the Maseru Security Accord in 2014 which led to external deployments of Lt-Gen Kamoli his then successor Maaparankoe Mahao and former Police Commissioner Khothatso Tṧoana pending the holding of the February 2015 snap elections. The move was aimed at fostering the restoration of cordial relations between the army and the police.

Lt-Gen Mahao was assassinated shortly after those elections. The All Basotho Convention (ABC) and Basotho National Party (BNP), who had been booted out of power, complained that the killing was a result of Mr Ramaphosa failing to address serious security concerns in the country. The leaders of the two parties had by then already fled into exile fearing for their lives.

The post SADC to review Ramaphosa mediation appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE chairperson of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Selibe Mochoboroane, says his portfolio committee will leave no stone unturned in its quest to ensure that civil servants who embezzle or mismanage public funds are brought to book.

The PAC has uncovered massive irregularities involving millions of maloti since it began grilling senior civil servants on 5 February this year. It has also sought to have four senior officials from different ministries imprisoned for misleading the National Assembly.

The portfolio committee has recommended that an official in the  Ministry of Education and Training’s Education Facilities Unit (EFU), ‘Maliteboho Makhoali, be jailed for misusing M300 000 earmarked for the development of a school in Ketane.

According to Mr Mochoboroane, the PAC makes recommendations for the courts of law to consider.

The PAC also recommended that Berea District Council Secretary, ‘Mathabang Tlali; Economic Planner, Ntsotiseng Motaung and another official identified as Mosebi Mokhubu be slapped with a one-year jail term each or a M1 000 fine for lying to the committee.

The trio had lied that the Berea District Council had constructed roads in the Ha Makoanyane area.  This was disputed by the councilor, Semekane Mzilikazi, who came rushing to parliament immediately after hearing the trio’s presentations which were aired on national radio.

This week the PAC visited Berea and established that the three roads had not been constructed as alleged by the Berea District Council officials.

In an interview with the Lesotho Times this week, Mr Mochoboroane said the Berea trip was necessary to provide the court with evidence before it could endorse the committee’s decision to have the three officers jailed for perjury.

He said the PAC was determined to ensure that all offending public servants were held accountable for their actions.

He said upon completing the parliamentary hearings, they would write a comprehensive report with clear recommendations to parliament.

He said the PAC will also regularly collaborate with the police and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) to ensure that legal action is taken against the wrong doers.

Mr Mochoboroane said it was not the first time that the PAC had uncovered massive graft, adding the culprits were not punished because of lack of meaningful follow-ups on the issues.

“This (Tenth Parliament) is very different from the others and every parliamentary committee is going an extra mile to do its job.

“Rest assured we will make follow-ups and we are already doing that by using the powers and privileges bestowed upon us as a parliamentary body. We are using those powers to penalise culprits and follow up on issues to ensure that the penalties are endorsed by the courts.”

He called on all parliamentary committees to provide concrete evidence of their findings to ensure that the ongoing parliamentary proceedings yielded meaningful outcomes.

The post Mochoboroane talks tough on thieving civil servants appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

ARMY officers have been implicated in the theft of more than M4 million meant to pay unskilled workers hired by the Forestry and Land Reclamation ministry in various community programmes known as  fato-fato projects.

This has been revealed in the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearings in the parliament. The hearings have so far unearthed serious irregularities in the use of public funds in different ministries and government departments.

The Forestry and Land Reclamation ministry runs projects aimed at rehabilitating the environment. Workers in the projects are now being paid in cash, unlike in the past when they used to be compensated with food rations in what was called “food for work” programmes.

The PAC was this week told that the ministry had lost M1, 676,865.40 which was withdrawn by representatives of two unknown companies masquerading as suppliers of products and services to the ministry.

The ministry’s Principal Secretary, Ntahli Matete, said he became aware of the loss soon after his appointment in August 2017 by the newly installed  Thomas Thabane coalition.

“The money was kept at the Standard Lesotho Bank and it was mysteriously withdrawn from our fato-fato bank account,” Mr Matete said, adding, “It was withdrawn in two tranches in December 2016 and March 2017”.

“Police investigations suggest that the mysterious withdrawals were made by two companies pretending these were payments for services provided to the ministry. The bank however, suspects that it was an inside job by a banker who has since been taken to court”.

He said the police informed him that they were still investigating the matter and they could not say at this point whether or not the banker worked in cahoots with officials from the ministry to commit the alleged offences.

Mr Matete said the ministry has since resolved to use private security companies to transport its money to prevent ministry officials from stealing the funds. He said they had also resolved to request the bank to directly pay  beneficiaries.

He  said their efforts to have the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) investigate the fato-fato projects had hit a brick wall after the anti-graft body declined saying it needed to allow the Auditor General’s office to do its work.

PAC Chairperson, Selibe Mochoboroane, told Mr Matete it was not possible for the implicated banker to have pulled off the scam on his own without any assistance from the ministry’s officials.

“Are you telling me that a banker can just withdraw the ministry’s money without any authorisation from the ministry?

“State funds do not just vanish into thin air. We need the names of the investigating officers,” Mr Mochoboroane said.

Mr Matete also revealed that the ministry had lost a further  M1, 041, 145.50,  stolen in a strong room before it was used to pay fato-fato employees.

He said the police subsequently informed him that two suspects, one of them a soldier had been remanded in custody. The soldier had been assigned to guard the ministry officials in charge of paying the fato-fato workers.

“Some of the suspects have fled the country and the police are looking for them,” Mr Matete said.

The PAC also heard how the ministry was robbed of another M600 000 at its offices in Mohale’s Hoek.

A ministry official, Sekoati Sekaleli, however said no action was ever taken to recover the money after the police’s Crime Investigating Department (CID) informed them that there was no compelling evidence to arrest the suspects in the matter.

The forestry ministry’s accountant, Sekhonyana Letsie,  told  the PAC that it was normal practice to keep money in the strong room before paying the workers.

He was backed by Human Resources Director Lomile Khasoane who said the money was usually withdrawn from the bank a day before the payments to ensure that it was verified.

The ministry also lost other amounts of M96 800, M48 700 and M17 000. It also lost other amounts ranging from M10 000 to M30 000 in the Leribe district alone during the 2014/15 financial year.

A ministry official, Majoro Khoanyane, said the Leribe losses occurred  in the 2014/15 financial year when a group of men wearing army uniforms, and suspected to be soldiers, arrived at the ministry’s district offices, overpowered the security guard and tied him up before escaping with the safe box containing the money.

PAC committee member, Moeketse Malebo, said it was worrying that army officers were heavily involved in the disappearance of public funds.

The post Soldiers implicated in M4 million theft appeared first on Lesotho Times.

…urgent action required to halt economic decline

Bereng Mpaki

LESOTHO is in dire straits and the government must “bite the bullet” and implement painful decisions to avoid political and economic chaos befalling the country, Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro has declared.

Dr Majoro made his unprecedented bold admission while unveiling an austere 2018/19 budget in Parliament yesterday.

He said the country is in a crisis underpinned by a high rate of poverty, hunger and joblessness ill health and a mismatch between the skills needed to grow the economy and those being produced by local educational institutions.  Many young people on the job market had dropped out of school at the end of primary schooling when they were 12 years old or at Form E when were only 17 years of age, meaning they lacked the requisite skills to get gainful employment.

“The fiscal resources required to redress the situation are scarce and limit any meaningful participation by the government,” said Dr Majoro in a seemingly very frank assessment of the economic and political challenges bedeviling Lesotho.

The government was effectively broke and its programmes would have to be financed by more borrowing pushing the country further towards a fiscal cliff.

“Our government now has to bite the bullet and make decisions that would be painful but which if not taken would impose political and economic chaos on Lesotho,” declared Dr Majoro, vowing that the government would nonetheless remain committed to foster an environment to create jobs in the private sector.

Although Dr Majoro did not fully explain the painful decisions that he says required to be taken to avoid chaos, he outlined a number of expenditure cutting measures including curtailing foreign travel, improved procurement procedures, price caps on goods procured by the government, rationalization of the government fleet, improved management of the wage bill through the elimination of ghost workers, among other things.

Dr Majoro unveiled a M16.5 billion budget for the 2018/19 financial year whose major highlights include  a 4 percent salary increase for civil servants and a one percent hike of VAT from 14 to 15 percent to mirror a similar increase in South Africa last week.

Old age pensioners will however not receive any increments as has been the norm over the years.

There is also little to celebrate for the general public in the budget which is more focused on cost-cutting to try and contain the increasing deficit.

There will be a phased increase in VAT on telecommunications and electricity.

Of the M16.5 billion budget, M10, 7 billion would be channeled towards recurrent expenditure while the rest would for the capital expenditure.

The government will also undertake capital projects including  road and dam construction as well as a M60 million solar plant in the Mafeteng district to provide electricity.

“The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship plans to construct 198.4km of urban roads and 1102km of rural community roads adding to 281.7 km and 37.9 km respectively achieved in the 2017/18 financial year,” Dr Majoro said.

“Low-income housing of 60 housing units are already being built in Linakotseng, Maseru and Qacha’s Nek. Bus terminals will be constructed in Leribe, Mafeteng and Semonkong.”

Themed on Pursuing Job Creation and Restoring Fiscal Stability and Sustainability, Dr Majoro said the budget was prepared against the background of the tough fiscal situation where Lesotho’s South African Customs Union (SACU) revenue share for 2018/19 financial year was expected to decline by M616.1 million from the 2017/18 financial year.

The situation has been compounded by indications that the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) will not meet its target for the second year running and it is expected that the deficit will be M684 million.

As part of measures to make up for the shortfall, VAT has been increased to 15 percent from 14 percent “to align with that of South Africa and to avoid smuggling”.

Dr Majoro also proposed to gradually increase VAT on telecommunications and electricity, which presently stand at 5 percent to align to the unitary rate of 15 percent. This coming financial year the VAT will be increased by 4 percent for telecommunications and 3 percent for electricity.

Civil servants will however, take comfort in the 4 percent across the board wage increase. This represents a marginal improvement from the 3 percent increase they were awarded in the 2017/18 financial year.

“At 4 percent across the board wage increase, the wage bill will remain high, but it will have to be complemented by additional austerity plans in the medium term,” Dr Majoro said.

However, the tax increases are likely to affect disposal real incomes as there will be increases on the general VAT and on VAT on telecommunications and electricity.

There was however, no joy for pensioners whose allowances have not been increased.

Speaking to the media after the budget presentation, Dr Majoro, said the austere budget and the failure to increase pension allowances owed to the fact government had to “bite the bullet” and make decisions that were “painful”.

He said the country was facing challenging times economically and an upward review of the pensions would only aggravate the situation.

“This budget is being prepared amid the tough fiscal position confronting the country. SACU revenue is significantly down in both nominal and real terms.

“Net International Reserves are below the target we set to maintain parity with the (South African) rand currency, government deposits have finally run out and any fiscal deficit will now have to be financed through new borrowing.

“These are new times. Our government now has to bite the bullet and make decisions that would be painful, but which if not taken would impose political and economic chaos on Lesotho,” Dr Majoro said.

So dire is the situation that Dr Majoro even proposed the introduction of a lottery as part of efforts to boost revenues. He said the government will modernise the Lotteries Act of 1975 to allow for the introduction of a government lottery.

Dr Majoro proposed to cushion vulnerable groups by ensuring that the Ministry of Social Development increases the coverage of the National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) to all community councils to cover at least 350 000 households.

“The Child Grants Programme and the Public Assistance Programme will target to increase the benefits to at least 25 percent of consumption needs,” he added.

He said given the unstable fiscal outlook, the government intended to implement a number of revenue mobilisation initiatives including the introduction of the Voluntary Disclosure Programme which is estimated to yield M225 million in additional revenue.

In terms of this programme, tax offenders would be allowed to regularise their tax affairs without incurring any penalties.

He further said the LRA would also enhance tax administration measures, targeting improved compliance by major tax contributors in a move that is expected to yield an additional M350 million.

The government will also study the introduction of levies on alcohol and tobacco and will consider their introduction in the not too distant future.

Turning to job creation, Dr Majoro said the government intends to venture into commercial agriculture where it will pay particular attention to increasing the production of meat, hides, wool and mohair.

“The government will also support the expansion of orchards and the development of a deciduous fruit industry as part of the strategy to create additional jobs.

The Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation, Trade and Industry, Small Business and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security working with banks, insurance companies, buyers, and investors will lead the roll out of fruit orchards. Their efforts will build on the successful operation of the Likhothola Orchard in Mahobong, Leribe.”

On tourism, Dr Majoro said the government will bring into operation the Butha-Buthe Tourist Centre, Sehlabathebe National Park and the Bokong Nature Reserve Chalets.

He intimated that measures to stimulate economic growth would only succeed in a climate where government and all the stakeholders vigorously worked for the implementation of multi-sector reforms as recommended by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The reforms are aimed at creating lasting peace and stability in the country without which economic growth cannot be achieved.

“Peace and stability is desired by all Basotho. The political instability and insecurity we have experienced in recent years…was made possible by the loopholes in our constitutional and political framework.

“Our government is therefore committed to inclusive reforms in which all groups of society should feel free to participate. The recent dialogue by political dialogue facilitated by the Christian Council of Lesotho and witnessed by civil society is testimony to the commitment and openness to broad participation,” Dr Majoro said.

But Dr Majoro  was also quick to caution that efforts to achieve stability would not be achieved quickly.

He warned that the task to unify society would take many years because of the “extreme polarization pursued by Lesotho politicians”.

He lamented the poor policy formulation and implementation by the government and the lack of coordination among its ministries.  The rise of government ministries had been accompanied by fragmentation of government initiatives, he said.

The post Lesotho in crisis-Majoro appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mamohlakola Letuka

THE diverse networking platform Catch-A-Vibe (CAV) set revelers at the new joint in town, “Café What”, in a groovy mood last Saturday when various artistes converged to showcase their talent.

CAV is a monthly platform where artistes who play various kinds of music meet to share and help each other grow musically.

This initiative promotes laid-back or adult contemporary music such as old school, hip pop, lounge, jazz, afro jazz, and instrumental, among other soft genres.

The platform also helps artistes to listen and appreciate other music genres and allow networking for possible music collaborations.

CAV presents a unique thrill of a party that is not exactly noise pollution but rather a soothing touch of melodies rich with life messages.

In an interview with the Weekender, co-founder, Sehlabaka Rampeta, said the platform presented nothing else but a space to party and have some fun.

HE diverse networking platform Catch-A-Vibe (CAV) set revelers at the new joint in town, “Café What”, in a groovy mood last Saturday when various artistes converged to showcase their talent.

They created this platform after realising a gap in the Maseru music sector.

“The local entertainment culture tends to have similar patterns, where they play a certain type of music but neglecting other genres. We have created a space that intermarries all the genres, especially in cases where we can have the artists who play such genres well,” Rampeta said.

Since CAV’s previous two gigs held at the Green Gate in Khubetsoana and Backyard @Lynors in Moshoeshoe 2, the laid-back gigs continue to gain momentum, making them one of the anticipated parties in town because they cater for a different kind of music lovers.

“If you remember, our last party was advertised only a week prior to the date but the turnout was encouraging. Our next party is a date not to be stood up. It will feature nothing but good music. We will have on board local artistes including DJs Talis, Da-star, Macs On theDecks, Stylus 88, The A supreme, and the talented Nkoanyane Pitso,” Rampeta said.

The post Different flavour for music lovers appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mamohlakola Letuka

EVENTS company, The Chronicles House of Events, will have Deep House music lovers dancing all day at the Feel Good Saturday’s Premier, this weekend.

The picnic will bring house music lovers together with the aim to grow and promote the genre in the country.

House music lovers will have the opportunity to reunite with some legends in the house movement.

The show will feature TshepzaDJ, one of Lesotho’s eminent House music exports who has made a name for himself beyond the Mountain Kingdom.

Also featuring at the event is none other than Lesotho’s vibrant, Thoxie, who has been in the house business since 2000. He was introduced to disc jockeying by DJ Seco and he has not looked back since then.

In an interview with the Weekender, Thoxie promised his fans new deep house beats.

“Most of my fans know how I roll, so I will not disappoint them. They should expect a lot of surprises, new music that will keep them on the floor to make up for not many joints playing house music in the country,” Thoxie said, adding there was need to create more platforms to promote and grow house music in the country.

Thoxie further explained the aim of the event was to broaden house music and grow the industry through production of various house music genres and sub- genres.

Among the big names to be feature on the day are Sir Sechaba, Kopper and Afrodeejays and Donny B the new kid on the block.

In an interview with Weekender, the event organizer, Tseko Harris said the show was about celebrating and promoting house music.

“I decided to come up with this concept because I realized that deep house music was dying,” Tseko said.

He said people that love deep house music rarely turn-up at events nowadays because their favourite music was not played.

The show is going to be hosted each month and huge house fans should expect nothing but deep house, Tseko said.

The post Feel Good Saturday’s livens house music appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mamohlakola Letuka

SOUTH AFRICAN rapper, Maggz, is launching his second album Love and Glory released last September at Cuban Linx in Maseru this Saturday.

The highly anticipated album is a follow-up to his 2009 debut album “Breakout”, which features the likes of Reason, PH, KLY, Da L.E.S and L-Tido, among others rap artistes.

Maggz has been on a promotional tour starting in Bloemfontein, Vaal and Middelburg; and Maseru will be the next stop for the acclaimed joint.

The Soweto born star started off with Saudi Western and has shown extreme growth over the past few years, working with Omen “the Chef” on his first mixtape entitled “Sorry for the Long wait”, Maggz had his fans hungry for more.

He has worked with Bongani “Bongz” Fassie, who has single handedly given him the new edge he needed to shine among the top rap artistes in South Africa and beyond through his album Breakout released in 2009.

Maggz has shared the stage with the likes of TKZee, HHP, Jozi, Da L.E.S, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and The Game.

In 2013, Maggz released his smashing hits “Change” and “No Tweets Allowed”. He was also featured on hits like “Heaven” by Da L.E.S also featuring AKA, “Good Times Back”, featuring PRO from the ShowLove Mixtape, “Sgelekeqe” by DJ Vigilante featuring PRO & MaE from Teargas.

The launch will be graced by DJs Vigilante and Mr X, both from South Africa and highly expected to keep patrons on their feet.

This launch to be hosted by Ms Kiva and Trey, will also feature other local artistes, DJs Da Starr, Bootz, Ebonics and the Cuban Linx Kartel (Trybz, NINE24 and Konsept).

In an interview with weekender, Maggz said his Love and Glory album was inspired by his day to day struggles and achievements in the music industry.

“This album was inspired by life experiences which I worked out through my creativeness to come up with the never to be missed gems,” He said.

Maggz explained that he was taking his artistic nature to another level to set up his trademark in the game of Hip Hop.

“It is heartwarming how Love and Glory has been well received; and this coming Saturday, I promise Basotho only the best fun ever. I will be churning out new songs and reminding my fans of some unforgettable classics they fell in love with years back.”

The post Maggz launches new album appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Billy Ntaote

FINANCE Minister, Moeketsi Majoro, has raised a red flag over the 19-year-long failure of the country’s largest milling company, Lesotho Flour Mills (LFM), to pay dividends to the Lesotho government, its 49 percent shareholder.

Last year the MNN Centre for Investigative Journalism quoted a former LFM board member, Ramahoana Matlosa, claiming that the company’s inability to generate sufficient profits to pay dividends had been a “deliberate strategy”.

Mr Matlosa complained that the joint venture between the government and the Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group, which holds a majority stake in LFM, did not serve the interests Lesotho.

“Seaboard indulges in extensive manipulation of financial statements and transfer pricing to paint a negative financial picture which negates the payment of dividends,” Mr Matlosa alleged.

And at a joint sitting of Lesotho’s Senate and National Assembly during the 2018/2019 budgetary estimates last week, Mr Majoro mentioned LFM as one of the government’s corporate partners that “have not consistently declared profits or dividends”.

“Basotho are very concerned about this and have openly called for a review of thee government’s shareholding in these companies.

“It is also notable that companies that have struggled with profits happen to extensively use management contracts and buy services from their holding or sister companies,” Mr Majoro said.

Established in 1979, LFM was privatised in 1998, when Seaboard  bought a controlling stake for US$10 million.

Seaboard is headquartered in Kansas and operates in South America, the Caribbean and Africa.

Insiders said that after Seaboard bought into LFM, its Bahamas-based subsidiary — Seaboard Overseas Management Company – took over procurement for the Lesotho operation.

The offshore operation is said to provide management and technical advice in the operation of the flour mill, maize mill, feed mill, sugar packaging plant and silo storage complex in Maseru.

Seaboard’s sister company, Saxonvale Investment, which holds the remaining one percent of the company, is registered in the British Virgin Islands- a tax haven.

Under the management agreement, Seaboard provides a managing director, director of finance and administration, a technical director “and such other staff as may be agreed with the (company) for a yearly US$300 000 (about R3.99-million) management fee adjusted in line with inflationary charges.”

The management contract provides that for all trips to LFM beyond the annual inspection and consultation visits, the Lesotho company must reimburse Seaboard to the tune of US$500 (about M6 659) per day per employee.

The sources said Seaboard had failed to make the profits needed to declare dividends for 19 years.

In response, Seaboard said the allegations were “misplaced and inaccurate”.

It said LFM occupies an important position in the agricultural life of Lesotho, as it purchases “the entire crop of Basotho farmers for a market-related price which protects them from having to compete with larger milling operations.

“Flour Mills also provides stability in the Lesotho agricultural sector for flour, maize and sugar – a clear reflection of how [it]serves both the government’s interests and those of the Lesotho community.”

The company also said the dividends had been used “to develop the industry and move the business and its operation forward without relying on government’s capital input”.

The post Majoro raises red flag over Lesotho Flour Mills appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Tefo Tefo

THE High Court will on 9 April 2018 hear a case in which 77 National Security Service (NSS) officers are challenging their dismissal from the spy agency.

The officers, who were dismissed about two months ago, were hired during the tenure of former Prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili until his ouster in the wake of the  3 June 2017 snap national elections which ushered in a four party coalition headed by Thomas Thabane.

The 77 officers were fired with effect from 1 January 2018 because their initial hiring was “irregular”.

Part of the letter confirming the termination of their employment states that, “After considering your irregular employment into the National Security Service (NSS) for the position of Intelligence Officer Four as stipulated in the NSS Recruitment Policy of 2012, take notice that you are hereby discharged from the service with effect from 1 January 2018.”

The officers now want the High Court to declare their dismissals as “null and void and of no force in law”.

They also want the court to order their reinstatement with full pay from February as they allege they were last paid in January 2018.

The Director-General of the NSS, Pheello Ralenkoane; the Minister of Defence and Security, Sentje Lebona; the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Attorney General are the first to fourth respondents respectively.

According to an affidavit by one of the dismissed officers, Lietsiso Mothala, “During August 2017 the first respondent wrote letters requiring us to ‘show cause’ why he should not terminate our employment with the NSS.

“We have been legally advised and verily believe the same to be correct that the Director General NSS or any of the respondents cannot lawfully terminate our contracts which were concluded before first respondent occupied office….because our employment was done by the appropriate authorities of the NSS before the present Director NSS could occupy office.

“Following our employment we all signed contracts of employment and were allocated employment numbers in the public service. We were also deployed at various posts in the NSS in different districts and earned a monthly salary.”

Mothala adds: “The Director General NSS has no lawful authority to change what his predecessor has done merely because he does not agree with it”.

The dismissed officers allege that only a court of law can set aside the employment contracts they signed with the government.

“By writing us letters to ‘show cause’ why our employment cannot be terminated, preparing lists and convening interviews, in which applicants already are employed, the Director NSS was purporting to treat our employment as non-existent and of no effect. He was clearly acting unlawfully,” Mothala alleges.

The court has since ordered the respondents to file their answering affidavits by 16 March 2018, while the 77 applicants are expected to file their replying affidavits by the 23^rd of March 2018.

The post NSS officers’ challenge their “unlawful” dismissals appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Silence Charumbira

THE Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), has launched a broadside at some civic society organisations for “inciting” local communities to reject agreed compensation packages in lieu of their displacements ahead of the planned construction of the Polihali Dam in the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP Phase II).

Three weeks ago, local communities in the Mokhotlong district vowed to stop the construction of the proposed Polihali Dam, scheduled to begin next year, if their demands for higher compensation are not met.

The communities are demanding lifetime compensation from the LHDA for the loss of their land.

However, the LHDA has said it will only compensate them for a period of 50 years at market rates in line with statutory requirements.

The Polihali Dam is due to be constructed in terms of the bi-national phase two of the LHWP.

The LHWP is a multi-phased project to provide water to the Gauteng region of South Africa and to generate hydro-electricity for Lesotho. It was established by a 1986 treaty signed by the governments of Lesotho and South Africa.

The project entails harnessing the waters of the Senqu/Orange River in the Lesotho highlands through the construction of a series of dams for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Phase I of the LHWP, consisting of the Katse and Mohale dams, the ‘Muela hydropower station and associated tunnels was completed in 2003 and inaugurated in 2004. Phase II of the LHWP is currently in progress. It consists of two separate but related components: water transfer and hydropower generation.

The bilateral project which is estimated to cost at least M23 billion, is expected to create about 3 000 jobs at the peak of its operations.

The water transfer component of Phase II comprises an approximately 165m high concrete faced rock fill Dam at Polihali downstream on the confluence of the Khubelu and Senqu (Orange) Rivers and an approximately 38km long concrete-lined gravity tunnel connecting the Polihali reservoir to the Katse reservoir.

Other Phase II activities include advance infrastructure (roads, accommodation, power lines and telecommunication) and the implementation of environmental and social mitigating measures.

The local communities in Mokhotlong, have since joined the Survivors of Lesotho Dams (SOLD) organisation and, are threatening to disrupt the dam construction if their demands for increased compensation are not met.

SOLD describes itself as a civic human rights organisation committed to promoting social justice among communities affected by dams, mines and other large infrastructure developments.

The organisation was established in 2004 after some of the communities affected by Phase 1 of the LHWP claimed that they had not been compensated while others had only received compensation several years after the completion of the Katse and Mohale dams. It seems it is the one that has particularly attracted the ire of the LHDA.

SOLD National Coordinator, Lenka Thamae, said the organisation was watching the Polihali developments with keen interest and threatened to use their “numbers to ensure that the project comes to a standstill”.

However at a meeting with local editors in Maseru last Friday, the LHDA defended its “generous” compensation policy while also seeking to address the shortcomings of the compensation packages that were offered to local communities during phase one of the LHWP.

The LHDA took a swipe at civic society organisations whom it accused of inciting villagers to reject compensation packages which the authority claimed the very same CSOs had helped to formulate. It did not name any specific CSOs but it is common cause that SOLD has been championing the onslaught against the authority.

Gerard Mokena, Polihali Branch Manager for Social Development and Environment, said there was a “broad consensus” that the authority’s compensation policy was very generous. The villagers had only indicated that they needed training in financial literacy and entrepreneurship to enable them to make the most of what they would receive from the LHDA.

He said the LHDA had responded by engaging local financial institutions to train the villagers to ensure that they were financially literate. It was therefore surprising to now hear of complaints regarding the inadequacies of the compensation packages yet these had been formulated in consultations with the CSOs, he said.

“We are not saying we are not going to listen to the people’s views but intensive consultations were held before the Phase 11 compensation policy was approved,” Mr Mokena said.

“The NGOs were happy with the policy that we developed together but it is surprising that they are now attacking the same policy that they said was well done. They agreed that there was proper public participation in the formulation of the policy,” he said.

The LHDA insists that its new compensation policy is very generous with awards as high as M2000 for each fruit tree and M11 685.06 per household for ash heaps where they dump residual coals from domestic use. The ash heaps are also used as graves for still-born babies.

The villagers will also receive M200 for every square metre of their garden land which is taken over by the project, M14.60 per square metre of arable land and M0.20 for range land. They will also be compensated for wild vegetables, medicinal plants and other assets on the range land.

The LHDA also said that it had been wrongly criticized for the local communities’ lack of access to water and electricity despite their being in close proximity to the Katse Dam and hydro power plant constructed during the first phase of the LHWP.

LHDA Divisional Manager for Development and Operations, Reentseng Molapo, said the blame should be directed at the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) and the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) who had the mandate to ensure the distribution of electricity and water respectively.

“The government only mandated the LHDA to transfer water to South Africa and to generate electricity for Lesotho but there are other institutions like the LEC which is mandated to transmit and distribute the electricity,” Mr Molapo said.

His sentiments were echoed by LHDA Chief Executive Officer, Refiloe Tlali, who said while her organisation had done well in its mandate of transferring water and generating electricity as stipulated by the LHDA Treaty, some government agencies had nonetheless failed to capitalise on the LHWP’s facilities to ensure locals benefitted from them.

The post LHDA defends compensation policy appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Mohalenyane Phakela

THE ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) had to call off committee elections for the Lithabaneng #36 constituency early this week after bloody clashes among rival factions left four supporters needing medical treatment.

During the skirmishes, the ABC legislator for the Lithabaneng #36 constituency who is also the Social Development Minister, ‘Matebatso Doti, had to be whisked away to safety by her bodyguards.

The police had to intervene after the rival party members attacked each other with knives and screw drivers.

One of the aspiring candidates, Montoeli Masoetsa, allegedly pulled out a gun during the clashes leading to the abandonment of the polls.

Police spokesperson, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, confirmed that there were clashes but said the police would act on the basis of cases reported to them.

“The police were there to ensure there was order and they immediately dispersed people once violence erupted,” Supt Mopeli said.

“It is true some people were injured but the affected should file charges so that we can help them.”

Ms Doti this week told the Lesotho Times that she “was deeply disturbed” by the violence and she had to take some time off work as a result.

The constituency is reportedly divided along factional lines with one faction backing Ms Doti and another backing Mr Masoetsa.

Mr Masoetsa was beaten by Ms Doti in last year’s primary polls to choose the party’s candidate for the 3 June 2017 snap elections.

The outgoing constituency secretary, Rethabile Rathebane, said the problems in the constituency started in May last year after Ms Doti defeated Mr Masoetsa to earn the right to represent the party in the June 2017 national elections.

Mr Rathebane said after the loss, Mr Masoetsa has been on a mission to dislodge Ms Doti by frustrating her and her supporters at every turn.

“We were supposed to hold the elections on 18 February this year in the presence of the National Executive Committee (NEC) officials but because they had other commitments, we had to postpone to 25 February and subsequently to 4 March.

“Unfortunately on 4 March, the police had to disperse the gathering due to the fight fuelled by Ntate Masoetsa and his supporters,” Mr Rathebane said.

He said that Mr Masoetsa only enjoyed the support of just two out of the constituency’s 12 branches and these caused the chaos at the Sunday meeting.

“The two branches said they did not trust the NEC representatives who were sent to the meeting. The ring-leader, Ntate Masoetsa, fuelled the argument until it got out of hand and then he pulled out his gun and chased us away,” Mr Rathebane said.

Mr Masoetsa said that he was not at liberty to comment on the matter and referred the Lesotho Times to the outgoing constituency chairperson, Thabang Shai, who also refused to comment.

However, ABC spokesperson, Tefo Mapesela, said the NEC would soon meet to discuss the matter.

“It is clear that there are those who intend to cause problems within the constituency so the NEC will soon meet to discuss the matter. However, we expect the police to act on the criminals that caused the commotion and injured others,” Mr Mapesela said.

The post ABC elections turn bloody appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

A 36-year-old Mosotho woman died on Saturday night following a hit-and-run car accident which also left her companion, an Angolan soldier with broken bones.

The Angolan soldier, who is part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force, is still nursing serious injuries at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital.

The SADC Standby Force which is also known as the SADC Preventative Mission to Lesotho (SAMPIL), was deployed in Lesotho on 2 December 2017 as part of regional efforts to create a conducive environment for the implementation of constitutional, security sector, public service, media and governance reforms in line with the recommendations of the regional body.

The mission consists of 207 soldiers, 24 police officers, 15 intelligence personnel and 12 civilian experts and two of the 207 soldiers who were allegedly drunk on Saturday night when they were involved in a car accident in Maseru.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said the hit-and-run accident occurred at Ha Foso, Berea near the Agriculture Show Grounds where some of the SADC troops are accommodated.

“We received a report that at around 10-11 pm on Saturday night, a green car, of a Bantum model, hit a 22-year-old Angolan soldier who is in Lesotho under the SADC standby forces. The soldier was in company of a 36-year-old woman who was also hit by the car and died on the scene of crime,” Supt Mopeli said.

He said the Angolan soldier and his lady friend were crossing the road from the camp side, allegedly to find a suitable place for romantic trysts as the deceased was reportedly a sex worker.

“The soldier was allegedly in company of other SADC soldiers and there were also Basotho women in their company when the hospitalised soldier left the group in company of the deceased. It is suspected that the sex workers have relocated their business to Ha Foso and that the 36-year-old was part of the sex workers,” he said.

He added: “The Angolan soldier was taken to Makoanyane Hospital while the woman died on the spot.”

Supt Mopeli was however not aware if the soldier had been transferred to Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital or not. He was also not aware if there were any more SADC soldiers who were involved in an accident over the weekend.

For his part, SAMPIL Press Officer, Adao Rodrigues, on Tuesday said two Angolan soldiers were hospitalised with broken bones.

“Based on the information that I got yesterday, it is true that there are two Angolan soldiers who are in hospital,” Mr Rodrigues said, adding, “Their legs were broken in the accident and they are being treated in hospital”.

Mr Rodrigues however, said he was not aware if any disciplinary action was taken against the soldiers as alleged by some sources privy to this development.

He said for now the focus was ensuring they were nursed back to full earth and any measures against them , if at all, would only considered thereafter.

“I am not aware of that (they were disciplined) and any kind of measures will be taken after they have been nursed back to good health. Demotion is very unlikely,” he said.

Last November, SADC Oversight Committee Chairperson, Matias Bertino Matondo told the media that they had drawn up a “strong code of conduct” for the SADC Standby Force to avoid a repeat of past incidents where some SADC troops were accused of improper associations with locals, particularly women during their tour of duty in 1998.

“Our troops are being deployed with a concrete mandate and a very strong code of conduct because we don’t want things that happened in the past to happen again,” Dr Matondo said ahead of the 2 December 2017 deployment of the standby force.

He said the concerns over the past misdeeds of SADC forces had been raised by opposition parties and civil society organisations.

“That is why we are saying that this time around we are making sure that our troops behave the way they are supposed to behave, to uphold the highest standard of morality that is the hallmark of SADC.”

There had been some concerns in the country that there could be a repeat of the 1998 episode where some SADC troops reportedly lured local women into sexual liaisons in exchange for money and foodstuffs.

This followed the September 1998 deployment of 1000 SADC soldiers from South Africa and Botswana “to intervene militarily in Lesotho to prevent any further anarchy and to create a stable environment for the restoration of law and order”.

The instability which was caused by mutinous members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) who seized arms and ammunition and expelled or imprisoned their commanding officers.

The soldiers took advantage of the dissatisfaction of some opposition political parties who refused to accept the results of the May 1998 parliamentary elections which gave the-then Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili’s Lesotho Congress for Democracy Party, an overwhelming majority of 79 out of 80 seats.

Government vehicles were hijacked, the broadcasting station was closed, and the Prime Minister and other ministers were virtually held hostage.

The Lesotho police had lost control of the situation and the South African Defence Force (SANDF) feared that a military coup was being planned.

The SADC forces were deployed in key areas and communities of interest for eight months, and many of them were accused of giving money, foodstuffs like beef and peanuts in exchange for sex.

The post SADC troops hospitalised appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Keiso Mohloboli

Gender, Youths, Sports and Recreation minister, Mahali Phamotse, was this week elected secretary general of the Alliance of Democrats at the party’s elective conference in Maseru.

This was in apparent defiance of party leader, Monyane Moleleki’s directive for her, former secretary general, Mokhele Moletsane and former Youth League president, Thuso Litjobo, to withdraw from the race for the post.

Addressing the party faithful in Maseru on Saturday at the conference, Mr Moleleki advised them against electing any one of the trio to the post of secretary general.

He said while all three were suitable for the post, their election would however, cause divisions among their supporters which could weaken the party.

“All these three are my handiwork because I am the one who politically mentored them when they joined politics more than 11 years ago. I know their capabilities and flaws. I therefore, advise you not to elect one and let the other two fall. It is your choice at the end of the day but please make sure that you don’t make decisions that you will regret later,” Mr Moleleki said.

He however, said they could be elected to other positions within the national executive committee.

Only Mr Litjobo heeded Mr Moleleki’s call and withdrew his candidature, leaving Ms Phamotse to slug it out with Mr Moletsane.

Mr Litjobo was subsequently elected Public Relations Officer.

The party’s leader post was not contested and Mr Moleleki remains in charge with Professor Ntoi Rapapa as his deputy.

The chairperson ‘Maboiketlo Maliehe will be deputised by Kose Makoa while Tlohelang Aumane was elected Treasurer.

Batlokoa ‘Makong was elected the Deputy Secretary General, while and Mr Litjobo will be deputised by Matšana ‘Malebaleba’ Masiphole.

The party’s NEC elections Chairperson, Mathe Khalane, announced on Monday afternoon that four more members would be announced as the women and youth leagues’ spokespersons on a later date.

The polls were conducted on Saturday amid squabbling among party members and claims of death threats against Mr Litjobo.

Mr Litjobo subsequently told this publication that he had been warned of the plot to assassinate him and he had since beefed up his security.

“The would-be assassins told some people who then informed of the plot against me because they felt I needed to know what was happening because I have not done anything wrong.

“I don’t know what these people are capable of doing, but my security is now very tight just in case they try to take me out,” Mr Litjobo said.

He dismissed allegations of fanning factionalism, saying such claims were made by those who were jealous of what he had accomplished in his political career.

The post Phamotse elected AD Secretary General appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

SOCIALIST Revolutionaries (SR) leader, Teboho Mojapela, who resides in neighbouring South Africa, has alleged a government plot to kill him and said he will not set foot in Lesotho without concrete security guarantees from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU).

The controversial businessman-turned-politician who fell out with Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) soon after the 3 June 2017 polls, said that he had had been tipped off about the “assassination plot” by a police officer.

He subsequently missed the official launch of his SR party in Butha-Buthe on Sunday and only addressed party supporters via the phone from his residence in Ladybrand.

Mr Mojapela repeated his claims about a plot to have the police torture him to death in an interview with the Lesotho Times on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, however refuted his claims. Supt Mopeli said the police were mandated to protect the public and not to harm anybody hence Mr Mojapela was free to visit the country anytime he chose to.

“No one is after him and besides, the police are obliged to protect lives and prevent the commission of crimes,” Supt Mopeli said, adding, “Mr Mojapela is therefore free to come to Lesotho anytime as he has always done”.

However, Mr Mojapela said he would not return to the country without security guarantees from SADC and the AU.

“I will not set foot in Lesotho until this matter has been taken up by SADC, AU and other international organisations to ensure my safety,” Mr Mojapela said.

“Naturally, I am not a fearful person but after I got a tip-off from one of the police officers that the police intended to torture me to death, I decided to stay put in South Africa.”

He said he had already reported the matter to the South African Police Service and had also applied for political asylum in South Africa.

“Although I am already resident in Ladybrand, I still had to report the matter and follow the proper channels because I am a Lesotho national and not a South African,” Mr Mojapela said.

His allegations come in the wake of an incident where the head of his security, Potlako Nalane, escaped unscathed after unknown gunmen fired shots at his car in Maseru last week.

Mr Mojapela said the shooting incident happened barely a week after he had been tipped off about a plot to eliminate him and his bodyguard.

The SR leader has also been on a warpath with Dr Thabane and his wife, publicly insinuating that the First Lady, Maesaiah Thabane, had a hand in the murder of the Prime Minister’s former wife, Lipolelo Thabane.

Ms Lipolelo was shot dead by an unknown assailant as she was about to drive into her Ha ‘Masana home on 14 June 2017. The incident occurred just two days before Dr Thabane’s inauguration as prime minister.

A female companion of Ms Thabane also sustained serious injuries in the shooting.  Mr Mojapela has already been called in by the police to explain his allegations about the First Lady.  He was again summoned last week before he instituted a failed court bid to stop the police from grilling him over his claims.

However, it is understood that Mr Mojapela had already named before the police the two suspects he claims to have masterminded the murder.

Mr Mojapela also spoke about his frosty relationship with the ABC which he claimed he funded ahead of the 2017 polls, saying Dr Thabane’s party was increasingly becoming threatened by his alleged success in courting some of its followers.

“I am a threat to this government because I have established my own party and I am getting followers from the coalition. So these people have decided to get rid of me because they can see that I will make it into government.

“Most people think that I am crazy and they are yet to see that I am very sane because I am going to turn this country around and take it out of its political misery,” he said.

The post Mojapela demands SADC, AU protection appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) yesterday suspended five of its senior management officers for six weeks to facilitate investigations into allegations of “financial and governance impropriety” that were raised by the LRA Staff Union (LERASU).

The five senior management officers are Chief Financial Officer Mangangole Tsikinyane, Chief Planning and Modernisation Officer Idia Penane, Chief Legal and Policy Officer and Acting Board Secretary Seth Macheli, Commissioner of Enforcement Realeboha Mathaba and Head of Litigation, Moutloatsi Lichaba.

An LRA statement issued last night said the suspensions, effective from 7 March 2018, followed representations that the LRA board received, from LERASU, soon after the board’s appointment by Finance Minister, Moeketsi Majoro in November 2017.

“By order of the chairman of the board, Mr Robert Likhang, today, 7 March 2018, the Board of the LRA decided to suspend, for a six-week period, five members of senior management,” part of the statement reads.

“The suspensions follow allegations of financial and governance impropriety made to the previous board by the LERASU in March 2017.

“Following the presentation, the board took a decision that, in view of the seriousness of the allegations against senior managers, a forensic audit exercise has to be undertaken.

“To that end, a forensic audit firm was appointed by the board. To facilitate the audit, the board then resolved to suspend for the six-week duration of the audit, the five officers.”

Meanwhile, Mr Setsoto Ranthocha has been appointed as the acting chief legal and policy officer and board secretary. Ms Kabanyane Tladi has been appointed acting chief financial officer and Mr Rakokoana Makoa is the new acting chief planning and modernisation officer.

Letsipa Mofilikoane and Mr Mahlomola Manyokole have also been appointed as acting head of litigation and commissioner responsible for enforcement respectively.

Efforts to obtain comment from Mr Likhang were unsuccessful at the time of going to print as his mobile phone was unreachable.

LRA Commissioner General, Thabo Khasipe, confirmed that the five had been suspended but refused to give details saying, “I wouldn’t want to comment further as this is my boss’ statement and the board is best suited to discuss this”.

Mr Khasipe was also suspended in February 2017 to allow investigations into an allegations that he “contravened his contractual obligations” by failing to pay taxes.

He was however reinstated to his position in December 2017. Last month, Mr Khasipe won a major court case after the constitutional court ruled that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not have the powers to charge him for violating tax laws.

At the time of Mr Khasipe’s suspension, there were allegations that Advocate Mathaba had been behind the tax evasion charges raised against the former after the latter was overlooked for the post of Commissioner General.  Mr Mathaba furiously rejected the allegations.

Advocate Mathaba had been acting commissioner-general for six months while the search went on for a candidate to fill the position on permanent basis after former LRA boss Thabo Letjama’s resignation in 2016.

Adv Mathaba said he had just lost his father and was therefore unable to comment on the matter when contacted last night.

“I lost my father on Monday and I am preparing for his send-off. That means I haven’t been able to apply my mind on this issue and therefore I would ask you to take it up with the LRA,” Adv Mathaba said.

For his part, Dr Macheli said he needed to get authorisation from his employer to discuss his suspension with this publication.

“I am not at liberty to discuss this matter and as an employee I believe I will have to get a permission from my employer to discuss this matter. Right now I believe these issues (suspension) are being dealt with,” Dr Macheli said.

Efforts to solicit a comment from Mr Tsikinyane and Ms Penane were unsuccessful as their mobile phones went unanswered.

The post Senior LRA officials suspended appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

Trade and Industry Minister Tefo Mapesela has called on the Commissioner of Police, Holomo Molibeli, to step down over his alleged failure to suspend police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of a protester at Kao Diamond Mine last month.

One person died and two others were critically injured on 8 February 2018 at Kao Mine after violent clashes broke out between the police and villagers who were protesting against the alleged failure by the mine to honour its promises to compensate and relocate them from the areas affected by mining operations.

Mr Mapesela, who visited the scene of the shooting in his capacity as the acting minister of mines at the time, condemned the heavy-handedness of the police which led to the loss of life.

He also threatened to shut down the mine if the authorities did not take corrective measures to address the villagers’ concerns within 90 days.

Mr Mapesela this week charged that the police had a tendency of covering up for each other whenever one of them was involved in acts of misconduct.

He said Compol Molibeli should step aside if he found it difficult to take disciplinary action against errant police officers. He also took a swipe at Police Minister, Retired Senior Superintendent ‘Mampho Mokhele, for failing to act on the matter.

“If (Compol) Molibeli can’t make decisions, he should just leave office and make room for someone who is ready to protect the people. He was not born a Commissioner of Police and if he can’t deliver he should just step down,” Mr Mapesela said, adding, “I can’t just sit back and watch this government being toppled by some rogue police elements”.

“Mme Mokhele is also a former police officer and has the executive powers to take charge of the situation but I am surprised that she also has not done a thing since this incident.

“If we stood up against the evil deeds of the past regime that include the killings of our people, then the same sin is still a sin even in this government. We can’t afford the blood of innocent people on our hands, not even by the so-called investors who don’t respect our people.”

Ms Mokhele did not respond to calls from this publication to comment on Mr Mapesela’s claims.

Mr Mapesela, who is also the ruling All Basotho Convention’s (ABC) legislator for Mokhotlong, said they came to power in June 2017 on the back of promises of ensuring good governance.

“We promised good governance and the rule of law and this was during the time when the army was persecuting the people. And now that we are in power we can’t just sit back and fail to deliver on our promises. It’s the least we owe our people.

“This government was not elected by the police alone even though they are part of the electorate and we can’t let the police bring this government down under our watch. We can’t just watch our people being killed by the police and not protect them.”

Police spokesperson, Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli, yesterday said Mr Mapesela’s call for the resignation of Compol Mopeli defies logic as the latter is currently seized with the Kao Mine issue.

“The Compol has got everything under control and investigations are ongoing. So it would be unfair to have him step down. Ultimately justice shall be served because no one is above the law,” Supt Mopeli said.

He added that “no arrests had been made yet and the implicated police officers are still at work pending investigations”.

The post Molibeli should step down: Mapesela appeared first on Lesotho Times.