Limpho Sello

OPPOSITION female politicians this week chose the Manthabiseng Convention Centre — the venue of the 12th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers in Africa Conference and Exhibition (SCCA) conference- to stage protests against the Thomas Thabane-led administration.

The protestors carried placards outside the venue of the conference which brought together first ladies and other delegates from different African countries.

They said they were unhappy with the Thabane regime’s failure to address several issues which include the recent ‘disappearance’ of the fraud-accused ‘Makarabo Mojakhomo and the June 2017 murder of the former First Lady, Lipolelo Thabane.

The First Lady, ‘Maesaiah Thabane, hosted the SCCA conference which began on Sunday and ended yesterday.

Ms Thabane was made chairperson of the Forum of African First Ladies against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers at the official opening ceremony of the chair of the SCCA in Maseru on Monday.

And even as the First Lady and the delegates discussed strategies to combat the deadly scourge of cancer which kills at least eight million people annually across the world, the opposition was protesting outside the venue of the deliberations.

The Lesotho Times witnessed the protests of the female politicians who carried placards listing several grievances which the government had allegedly failed to address. The protestors, who numbered eight, were drawn from the Democratic Congress (DC) and the Lesotho Congress of Democracy (LCD).

Among the grievances was the issue of Ms Mojakhomo who allegedly disappeared from police custody in May this year and Ms Lipolelo Thabane who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in June 2017.

Senqu Constituency legislator who is also the secretary of the DC Women’s League, Likeleli Tampane, told the Lesotho Times that they thought it best to picket outside the venue of the cancer conference after the government ignored their repeated efforts to address their grievances.

Ms Tampane said they chose the venue in the hope that they would attract the attention of Dr Thabane and Ms Thabane.

She said while the opposition regarded the SCCA conference as a good initiative which they fully supported, they however, wanted Ms Thabane to know that they were unhappy with her behaviour which they said was not in keeping with what was expected of a first lady.

“We held several press conferences and even wrote letters to the authorities where we raised our concerns about the disappearance of Makarabo Mojakhomo, the death of Lipolelo Thabane, the review of teacher’s and factory workers’ salaries as well as the lack of freedom of speech for opposition MPs,” Ms Tampane said.

“I for one, am being threatened for being vocal and speaking for our freedom and rights in this country. We are very worried.

“Our pleas have been taken for granted for far too long and we had to find alternative ways of getting the answers we deserve and the freedom we need as citizens of Lesotho.

“We also thought that (bringing the protest to the venue of the conference) was right as we would help the First Lady to find herself and know what she should stand for as the First Lady.”

Ms Thabane has already been subpoenaed by the Mojakhomo family to testify in the case they lodged before the High Court in which they want the court to order the police produce Ms Mojakhomo dead or alive.

Ms Mojakhomo was last seen by her relatives at the Police Headquarters in Maseru on 30 May 2018 where she was detained for allegedly defrauding the ‘Maesaiah Thabane Trust Fund of at least M200 000.

Ms Mojakhomo was arrested on 29 May this year and she was due in court on 31 May in connection with the fraud and theft of at least M200 000 from First Lady Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund.  She could not appear in court after the police claimed she had escaped from custody while they were preparing to take her to court.

But Ms Mojakhomo’s family have come out guns blazing insisting there is no way that she could have broken out of tightly guarded police cells. The family has since petitioned the High Court for an order for the police to produce her dead or alive.

The family has cited social media reports that she could have been murdered by the police as one of the reasons for its bid to have her produced before the court.

The government has said that it is still investigating the murder of Ms Lipolelo Thabane.

Ms Lipolelo 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.

Thato Sibolla, a companion of Ms Thabane, also sustained serious injuries in the shooting.

According to the government report to the SADC heads of state, a special team was set up on 16 June 2017 to investigate the murder of Ms Thabane and the attempted murder of Ms Sibolla.

“The team (of investigators) has conducted interviews with individuals, friends, relatives and possible witnesses.  A post-mortem was also carried out and a ‘lead’ was discovered from the deceased body (of Ms Thabane) and was also submitted to the ballistics. Another ‘lead’ was discovered from the lady (Ms Sibolla) while she was hospitalised and was also submitted to the ballistics. Investigations are on-going,” the government said in its report.

And this week, Ms Tampane said they suspect “Ms Maesaiah Thabane knows about Mojakhomo’s disappearance and Mme Lipolelo’s death”.

“We also suspect that teachers’ nurses and factory workers salaries are not being reviewed because the funds have been diverted to the Maesaiah Thabane Trust Fund. We also see her (Ms Thabane) holding parties every weekend at the State House.”

Ms Tampane further said they were worried about Ms Thabane’s behaviour of “insulting and assaulting women”. Ms Tampane also alleged that Ms Thabane also insulted doctors and nurses.

This was in reference to last week’s incident in which Ms Thabane was involved in a physical altercation with a Ha Tšolo (Maseru) woman at Maseru Private Hospital. Ms Thabane allegedly beat up the woman, ’Manthatisi Mabuthile, after a misunderstanding over the woman’s sister who was hit by one of the First Lady’s office cars which was transporting her staff from a cancer awareness road show that was held in preparation for the SCCA.

The First Lady’s office has nonetheless denied that she started the fight. Her alleged victim, ‘Manthatisi Mabuthile, nonetheless insists that she did.

On his part, the Office of the First Lady’s Public Relations Manager, Silas Monyatsi, said the protestors were simply exercising their right of freedom of speech.

“Those women were picketing in the street and they didn’t petition the office of the First Lady so it is difficult for me to comment on their concerns.

“I think they were very serious about what they were doing but I will not associate their issues with the Office of the First Lady because they did not approach the office. Again, they did not interrupt the conference as they were just out there on the street showing of their concerns,” Mr Monyatsi said.

Limpho Sello

THE First Lady, ‘Maesaiah Thabane has been warned against engaging in any scandalous behaviour that could bring the Forum of the African First Ladies against Cervical, Breast and Prostate cancer into disrepute.

Ms Thabane, who assumed the chair of the Forum at the 12th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers in Africa Conference (SCCA) in Maseru this week, was warned that she risked being fired for errant behaviour.

The warning was delivered by the founder of the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, Princess Nikky Onyeri, who hails from Nigeria. The SCCA conference was organised in partnership with the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation.

The warning comes barely a week after Ms Thabane was involved in a physical altercation with a Ha Tšolo (Maseru) woman at Maseru Private Hospital. Ms Thabane allegedly beat up the woman, ’Manthatisi Mabuthile, after a misunderstanding over the woman’s sister who was hit by one of the First Lady ’s office cars which was transporting her staff from a cancer awareness road show that was held in preparation for the SCCA.

The First Lady’s office has nonetheless denied that she started the fight. Her alleged victim, ‘Manthatisi Mabuthile, nonetheless insist that she did.

The SCCA conference which was held under the theme, ‘Making a difference in women, men and children’s lives’, began on Sunday and ended yesterday.

Ms Thabane was made chairperson of the Forum of African First Ladies against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers at the official opening ceremony of the chair of the SCCA in Maseru on Monday.

It was then that Princess Onyeri warned Ms Thabane against abusing her new position to undermine and disrespect her fellow African first ladies during her one-year term.

Princess Onyeri told Ms Thabane that her new position did not make her any superior to other first ladies and should always remember that all first ladies were equal.

Ms Thabane was further told that errant behaviour would be punished by dethronement.

“We don’t want the office of the chairpersonship to be put to shame and if there is any scandal or anything we will withdraw the chairpersonship,” Princess Onyeri said.

Princess Onyeri also informed Ms Thabane that it was mandatory for her to always consult the Forum’s directors before making any decisions on behalf of the Forum.

Princess Onyeri further said that Ms Thabane will be expected to frequently travel around the world to mobilise resources for the fight against cancer in Africa, adding that they hoped that she would not make excuses to avoid fulfilling her responsibilities.

“We hope that you will not turn us down and tell us that you are very busy,” Princess Onyeri said.

On her part, Ms Thabane expressed her delight on assuming the chair of the Forum.

She pledged to work tirelessly to equip Africans with knowledge, improve health services as well as establish and equip the African countries with cancer centres to provide good care for patients on the continent.

“In the African continent I will also make efforts to increase public awareness campaigns, advocacy and public education. I will encourage our (African) nations to screen early for cancer and to mobilise resources.

“I will work closely with my fellow first ladies, the forum of parliamentarians and the women’s caucuses and other local and international partners to beat cancer,” Ms Thabane said.

Ms Thabane noted that cases of cancer were on the rise in Lesotho and they were fuelled by the high prevalence of HIV and AIDS as well as the lack of awareness among the citizens.

She said Lesotho would embark on a campaign to raise cancer awareness and to mobilise funds to not only build treatment facilities but also strengthen current and future interventions aimed at defeating cancer.

Ms Thabane said Lesotho had made progress in the fight against cancer, adding that the government had already drafted the Radiation Protection Agency Bill which will culminate in the establishment of a specialised agency that will oversee the operation of a cancer treatment centre.

“Cancers are causing more than eight million deaths worldwide annually and cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.  Recognising that cancer is no longer only the problem of the developed world, African countries need to invest significantly in making cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment facilities and services available for their population.

“Most importantly we need to work relentlessly towards creating awareness among our people so that the effort to provide adequate medical services is backed with effective preventive measures as well as early diagnosis and treatment which factors significantly in reducing the number of deaths caused by cancer.

“My country took the challenges posed by the growing burden of cancer very seriously and started taking concrete measures under a harmonised national framework led by Ministry of Health.  The establishment of the National Cancer Control Steering Committee, the upcoming launch of our National Cancer Control Plan as well as our achievement in making cervical cancer screening and treatment services available in all health centres in the country are among the concrete steps we have taken.  We are also in the process of establishing National Cancer treatment Centre in Maseru,” Ms Thabane said.

Staff Reporter

PRIME Minister Thomas Thabane has acknowledged receiving financial assistance from the controversial British businessman Arron Banks while he was in exile in South Africa.

Dr Thabane made the admission in BBC interview which was carried on the broadcaster’s website this week.

Mr Banks has come under serious criticism in his home country for allegedly bribing government officials in Lesotho to secure a diamond prospecting licence.

This week Communication, Science and Technology minister Thesele Maseribane was forced to defend himself after British media prodded him over more than M1 million that was transferred to his personal account held with a South African Bank in 2013 and 2014.

Aaron Banks

The BBC queried why the funds were transferred to Mr Maseribane’s personal account and he said he enjoyed a good friendship with Mr Banks.

Dr Thabane also opened up on his relationship with the controversial Mr Banks, saying the latter was a good friend who helped him with money to “buy food and soap” while he was in exile in South Africa.

Asked by the BBC if he was personally assisted by Mr Banks, Dr Thabane said: “Well, I think we were good friends”.

Asked what sort of assistance he received, Dr Thabane said: “Well, I think we needed to buy food”, he said with a chuckle and added: “Seriously and to buy some soap to wash.”

Dr Thabane first fled to South Africa after the 30 August 2014 attempted coup against his first government by the Lesotho Defence Force which was then under the command of Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli. The coup followed the Lt-Gen Kamoli’s refusal to make way for the late Lt-Gen Maaparankoe Mahao who had been appointed by Dr Thabane to take over from Lt-Gen Kamoli as the army commander.

Dr Thabane fled the country again in 2015 and only returned in February 2017 to prepare for the 3 June 2017 national elections.

The BBC report also said Mr Banks also paid Mr Maseribane’s rentals while he was in exile in South Africa.

While both Mr Banks and Mr Maseribane confirm the transactions, they refute that the money was meant to influence the government into granting him a diamond prospecting licence in 2014. The BBC also said Mr Banks refuted Dr Thabane’s claims that he funded the latter.

Mr Banks is popularly known for bankrolling Britain’s exit from the European Union which has now been coined “Brexit”.

Previous reports have linked him with Mr Maseribane’s Basotho National party (BNP) whose campaigns he has previously funded to a reported £350 000 in 2012.

The BBC report indicates that while he was applying for a diamond prospecting licence in 2013 and 2014, Mr Banks transferred £65 000 (about M1 162 192) into Mr Maseribane’s personal bank account.

Part of the money, £16 000 a few weeks before his prospecting licence was granted.

At the time that the transactions were made, Mr Maseribane was Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation.

Mr Banks transferred £16 000 to Mr Maseribane just weeks before his prospecting was granted in 2014.

The BBC also interviewed South African anti-corruption investigator, Paul O’Sullivan, who was quoted as saying that he would launch a probe into Mr Banks’ dealings.

“We will be carrying out further investigations of our own, what we call forensic investigations and then I will be opening a criminal docket,” Mr O’ Sullivan told the BBC.

…as architects abandon project citing non-payment and breakdown of trust with govt

 Pascalinah Kabi

THE much-delayed project to construct a new royal palace in Maseru has been plunged into a fresh crisis after the architects overseeing the project resolved to abandon it.

The architects, Makeka Design Lab, cited a “breakdown of their relations with the Public Works ministry” as the reason for abandoning the project.

The architects alleged, among other things, that they had not been paid by the ministry for the work they had done.

The latest development is likely to cost the taxpayer heavily as the project has already spiralled out of cost from an original budget of M170 million to M450 million.

The architects’ withdrawal will inevitably cause more delays and further cost escalations to the project.

The principal secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Mothabathe Hlalele, confirmed to the Lesotho Times that Makeka Design Lab had withdrawn from the project. Mr Hlalele however, said he would engage the architects tomorrow in a meeting to get them to reverse their decision.

Makeka Design Lab founder, Mokena Makeka, last night confirmed his firm’s withdrawal from the project, saying several factors had contributed to the breakdown of trust between the two parties including the government’s failure to pay them M5 million in arrears for some of the work they had done so far.

Mr Makeka said they felt compelled to withdraw from the project to protect their reputation as they were frequently made the scapegoat whenever there were problems that beset the project.

Makeka Design Lab is the second architectural company to withdraw from the project after another South African company, Palace Architects.

Palace Architects began designing His Majesty King Letsie III’s palace in 2010 but left the project after a contractual dispute with the Ministry of Public Works.

Prior to their departure, part of the building they designed had been demolished following concerns over its failure to meet the stipulated standards.

The Public Works ministry subsequently engaged Makeka Design Lab to redesign the building while the Lesotho Steel Products company undertook the construction.

Makeka Design Lab initially communicated its withdrawal from the project in a statement to the Lesotho Times in which they cited several factors that include “financing and questionable decision-making by various stakeholders, which have led to a deterioration of relations between ourselves and our client (the Ministry of Public Works)”.

“As of the 12^th of July 2018, Makeka Design Lab has terminated the contract with the Ministry of Public Works, specifically the Building Development Services (BDS), after identifying several issues that affect our ability to deliver the highest standard of professionalism and quality for our work on the Royal Palace of Lesotho.

“The host of issues we have encountered throughout our association with the project are too numerous to name here, but include financing and questionable decision-making by various stakeholders, which have led to a deterioration of relations between ourselves and our client.

“It is therefore judicious and proficient at this stage that we withdraw our services for the client to pursue their vision to their fulfilment,” part of the statement reads.

Makeka Design Lab said the decision to end the contract had not been taken lightly but was done to ensure that the “company would not be party to any further damage or risk for activities done by others”.

“The Royal Palace has been at the heart of Makeka Design Lab for more than six years. It has been and will always be our most prestigious commission as a practice. We were initially commissioned to do interior design, then as architects and ultimately as the principal agent of the project.

“We believe that we have played a significant role in the redesign of the palace. As an international award-winning design firm, we have given our best service, implementing skills acquired over more than 20 years, despite the dire conditions that we found the project in,” the firm stated.

On his part, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Mothabathe Hlalele, said they would meet with Makeka Design Lab tomorrow “to try and persuade them to change their minds because we don’t want them to terminate”.

Mr Hlalele said the much-delayed project was at the critical stage and that it was important for Makeka Design Lab to see it through.

He said the architects’ withdrawal would derail the ministry’s plans to have completed the project by end of October this year.

“We have made an undertaking that the Royal Palace will be completed by end of October this year and we intend to keep that promise. This is why we are having a meeting tomorrow that we expect the Makeka Design Lab to attend because we don’t want them to terminate the contract.

“We are going to persuade them and we are hopeful everything will be ironed out tomorrow and they will be back on board to see this project to its finality,” Mr Hlalele said.

However, Mr Makeka said he did not think it feasible for the two parties to work together again given the breakdown in their relationship.

“How are we going to work together when the government has not paid us the M5 million that it owes?

“The client (ministry of public works and transport) would also walk out of meetings if I was not there although I would have sent qualified and competent people to the meetings. I am running a company which will continue to operate and be expected to fulfil its contractual obligations even if I am not around.

“There was also the lack of trust between the two parties which has led to an ongoing pattern of us being told officially and unofficially that we were the obstacle and all problems were bestowed upon us. I do not want to be an obstacle and people should not feel compromised because of me. Maybe they were right to say that we were not doing good job,” Mr Makeka said.

Mohalenyane Phakela

THE police must stop demanding bribes from tourists as that negatively impacts on the image of the country.

This was said by the ministry of Tourism permanent secretary Monaphathi Maraka at a recently held Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) tourism sensitisation workshop. The workshop was held on 27 July 2018 at the Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village.

The seminar was held for different police stations from the Maseru and Thaba Tseka districts which make up the country’s central region.

Mr Maraka said the practice of demanding bribes from tourists damages the tourism industry. He said instead the police have to offer tourists security instead of robbing them through demanding bribes.

“The police play a major role in tourism and their mere presence makes the guests feel safe and relaxed,” Mr Maraka said.

“However, if the same people start robbing tourists by demanding bribes especially at road blocks, the tourists have no other option but not to ever visit us again.

“The government has selected tourism as one of the key sectors that can drive our economy therefore we have to capacitate all stakeholders to boost the industry.

“The police on the other hand are the first people whom the tourists expect to welcome them with a smile at our borders and further assist them with security. We have to work together for the betterment of our country.”

Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) chief executive officer, Mpaiphele Maqutu, due to technological advancements, a negative report can be sent out instantly by unhappy tourists. He said the negative reports on social media hurt the country.

“Tourists consider security first before they visit the country even though it there may be beautiful attractions. If the tourists are treated badly they simply opt for alternative destinations next time,” Mr Maqutu said.

He said there was also stiff competition for tourists by other countries so it was prudent that the country offers the best hospitality.

Mr Maqutu said it was also crucial that the various stakeholders of the industry collaborate to root out corruption.

“We all have children and relatives who can benefit through jobs that can be created through tourism and it is up to us to promote tourism through the good services that we offer our guests.”

Similar workshops have also been held for police officers from the northern and southern regions and Mr Maqutu said the response has been positive.

LTDC public relations manager ‘Manchafalo Motṧoeneng said the police officers should act as tourism ambassadors as one of the key stakeholders who should create rapport with visitors.

She said other common problems faced by tourists include the language barrier between them and the locals, harassment by boarder staff and communities and delayed investigations whenever crimes are reported.

“There are several complaints from tourists who say that some children beg for goodies and when they fail to get them they pelt them with stones at their cars.

“Complaints have also been registered about herd boys who reportedly pull down signages to put on their kraals and tourists end up get lost. A significant number have even gone to the extent of saying they want to practise chobeliso on some of the female tourists,” Ms Motṧoeneng said.

Chobeliso is a practice of forcibly marrying a girl or woman. Often the victim is raped immediately to deter her from returning to her family. The practice is however, outlawed in the country although several communities still practise it.

For his part, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Hlalele Rampai who is in charge of the central region did not refute the allegations and said he was also a victim to one of the unscrupulous officers.

Although he did not elaborate on the incident, he said on the day he was driving a vehicle with a foreign registration when the officer demanded a bribe.

ACP Rampai however, said the officers gained vital information from the seminar and would do their best to build a reputable image of the LMPS for the betterment of the country.

“Each time officers see a foreign number plate they see an opportunity to earn a quick buck. However, there are several officers who have been dismissed for demanding bribes.

“It is also important to learn about our tourist destinations so that we are able to effectively assist tourists. It is through working together with the LTDC that we will help boost tourism in Lesotho,” ACP Rampai said.

Nthatuoa Koeshe

A WOMEN’S rights movement dubbed The Total shutdown yesterday staged a protest march to press the government to provide a one stop shop for justice for victims of gender-based violence.

At least 50 women marched from the Maseru racecourse to Sefika sa Moshoeshoe in the central business district in solidarity with women from other regional countries. The march was also used to mark the beginning of the women’s month which is celebrated in August every year in South Africa.

The march was held under the theme “My body not your crime scene”.

The women displayed placards denouncing what they called “toxic masculinity and the harm it inflicts in the lives of women”.

The demonstrators also barred men from participating in the march arguing that men are responsible for harmful dominance over women in societies.

Human rights lawyer and coordinator of the demonstration, Lineo Tsikoane, read a list of demands which they hand over to the principal secretary to the cabinet, ‘Matiheli Sekhants’o. The women said they expect a government response within 14 days.

Ms Tsikoane lamented that some victims have failed to access justice because of lack of consistency in sentencing perpetrators of certain crimes.

“Women are often made to explain their stories to a chain of police officers when ever they want to report a case of abuse and this discourages some to even report such cases,” Ms Tsikoane said.

“We want a place where our cases will be given necessary attention. We also want a hotline which victims can report such cases.”

The women demanded the government must prioritise the provision of legal aid to female victims of gender-based violence. They said some of the victims fail to get the justice that they deserve because they cannot afford good lawyers to represent them in courts.

Ms Tsikoane also said the women were worried that despite reporting to the police, some perpetrators continue to roam the streets.

“We have all kinds of perpetrators roaming the streets because our courts release them on bail while others are fined and they walk freely,” Ms Tsikoane said.

“We want that to stop because they victims never heal.”

Ms Tsikoane also accused the police of further tormenting the victims of abuse by failing to deal decisively with their complaints.

“A lot of victims complain that they are not taken seriously when they report to the police who make them feel useless for reporting and that must end.

“This march should serve as a reminder to all perpetrators that enough is enough,” Ms Tsikoane said.

She also urged women to unite and support each other.

“As women we also play a role in condoning these behaviours by making other women feel bad for speaking out about abuse and reasoning why it happened and that should also stop,” Ms Tsikoane said.

At the march, different women detailed their harrowing experiences at the hands of men. Among the common issues were rape and physical violence.

“I was raped twice and when I reported to the police I was told it was too late,” one of the young women said.

Another said her friend was raped by her neighbour and reported to the police but the perpetrator is still roaming the streets.

Also present at the march were members of the LGBTIQ community who also complained about sexual violence.

“As lesbians we come across double challenges that other women in communities face and we are told we are not women enough,” said one woman who refused to be named.

Hardly a week passes without reports of abuse of women and girls in Lesotho, a country that is ranked first in the world in terms of sexual violence against women.

Pascalinah Kabi

OUTSPOKEN former health minister, Nyapane Kaya, yesterday dropped a bombshell in parliament when he told officials from Public Service ministry he was one of the thousands of ghost workers on the government payroll.

Mr Kaya’s revelations come against the background of a meeting that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to discuss the country’s bloated wage bill.

Mr Kaya was employed in the Ministry of Education and Training until 2015. The Education ministry has for several years failed to maintain human resource records, proper accounting and reconciliation systems resulting in a situation where millions out of its annual M1, 7 billion wage bill for teachers are spent paying ghost teachers.

Mr Kaya is the Mechachane legislator and he is also a PAC. He was appointed minister of health in the aftermath of the 3 June 2017 elections which ushered in Lesotho’s third coalition comprising of the ABC, Deputy Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki’s Alliance of Democrats (AD), Communications Minister Thesele Maseribane’s Basotho National Party (BNP), and Labour Minister Keke Rantšo’s Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL).

Mr Kaya’s tenure was short-lived after Dr Thabane relieved him of his duties in a cabinet reshuffle in February this year and replaced him with Mr Nkaku Kabi.

Prior to joining politics Mr Kaya, worked as principal at Khukhune High School until March 2015.

Despite his resignation from the Ministry of Education and Training in 2015, Mr Kaya yesterday said he was shocked to learn early this year that his name still appeared on the ministry’s payroll along with that of Vuyali Tyhali, an official from the Lesotho consulate in the Gauteng province.

He said it was unfortunate that officials of the Education ministry were giving Minister Ntoi Rapapa false information regarding the issue of ghost workers within the ministry.

“Every time the minister (Prof Rapapa) issues official statements concerning ghost workers, I just feel sympathy for him because he is being misled by the civil servants,” Mr Kaya said.

“I am a ghost worker in the ministry of education. In March 2015, I left the teaching service to join politics and despite the fact that I formally resigned as a teacher, I was shocked to learn early this year that my name and that of comrade Vuyali still appear on the payroll of the ministry of education and my pay slips are being printed each month since March 2015.”

Mr Kaya however, said that although he was on the payroll, he was not receiving the salary as it was probably being paid to someone else.

On his part, PAC chairperson Selibe Mochoboroane said the IMF was deeply worried by the bloated wage bill. He said the PAC “would stop at nothing to ensure that the civil service was cleansed of ghost workers” who were draining the fiscus.

He said the IMF expressed its concerns during a closed meeting in which it pleaded with the parliamentary committee to assist the government to address the problem of the high wage bill.

“If there is anything that hurts me the most, it is the fact that even my own PAC member (Mr Kaya) appears on the list of ghost workers because the ghost workers are worsening the crisis of our bloated wage bill.

“Besides ghost workers, the IMF expressed concerns the wage bill was also increased by the hiring of a lot of civil servants who just sit and do nothing productive,” Mr Mochoboroane said.

He said despite the high wage bill, the government continued to unnecessarily hire more workers.

He cited the example of the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation which recently hired a new driver despite having 24 other drivers.

He said only eight out of those 24 drivers were actually doing meaningful work.

“Ntate principal secretary (of Public Service, Tšeliso Lesenya) what are you doing to address this problem because we are in a crisis and we need a brave man who will take a bold decision to address this problem (of a high wage bill and unnecessary workers)?

“In all honesty, the politicians are responsible for the hiring of civil servants. I am a politician and politicians are causing this country a lot of headaches in that regard. As politicians, we are fully aware of this crisis and I am saying this because I was once in government,” Mr Mochoboroane said.

Limpho Sello

THE Chinese Embassy says it is worried by the Lesotho Mounted Police Service’s lack of resources that has compromised the security of their citizens.

This was said by Lu Hanbin, the embassy’s Director of Consular Affairs in an interview with the Lesotho Times this week. His comments follow the recent murder of a Chinese businessman Cho Yang Lin in the Mafeteng district.

The late Mr Lin (34) who ran a grocery business with his wife in Mafeteng was killed on 15 July 2018 by his driver and some accomplices who are still at large.

Mr Hanbin said although they have a working relationship with the police where they meet to discuss on how the Chinese community can be protected, lack of resources has hampered the police’s work.

He said the police lack resources such as vehicles which have made it difficult deliver their duty.

“The police lack resources and the criminals are aware of such challenges hence it becomes so easy for them to go and attack because they know the situation (that it takes the police long to respond),” Mr Lu said.

Mr Hanbin said besides the death of Mr Lin the police are currently burdened with the high crime rate. He added that the crime rate was also too high because of easy access to guns by the criminals.

He however said that despite the police’s challenges, they still work closely and meet annually to discuss what mechanisms they can implement to enhance security of the Chinese business community.

“In those meetings we advise the business community to always close their shops on time and ensure that they do not keep large sums of cash which often attracts criminals. They need to ensure that they deposit the money in the banks,” Mr Hanbin.

Mr Hanbin said the Chinese business community is also planning to raise money which they can use to enhance their security through awareness campaigns.

He also said that it was important for foreign business people to be protected. Mr Lin is the second foreign businessman to be killed in a robbery this year following the death of Indian businessman Ahmed Modan earlier this year.

Mr Modan was killed at his shop in the Mafeteng district in January this year.

However, Lesotho has lately been dogged by numerous robberies and killings.

Mr Hanbin also said the late Mr Lin’s parents flew into the country from China for his burial on Tuesday. He said the burial arrangements are yet to be finalised.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli recently told the Lesotho Times’ sister paper the Sunday Express that the robbers planned their attack based on information provided by the late Mr Lin’s driver who is now in police custody.

“Mr Lin’s wife, Li Wu reported the matter at Mafeteng Police Station and an investigation was launched leading to one of the suspects being apprehended and questioned,” Supt Mopeli said.

He said the robbers waited for Ms Wu to leave the house as per their normal routine whenever he was scheduled shop for wares for their shop in Motsekuoa in the Mafeteng district.

After Ms Wu’s departure between 8am and 9am, the three men, two of whom are still on the run, entered the house and killed Mr Lin. They reportedly took around M30 000 cash and left with his body and buried it in a field in Ha-Ramokoatsi about 7km outside Mafeteng.

Supt Mopeli said Ms Wu went back home after realising that her husband was unusually late. On arrival at home, she failed to locate him while his phone was not being answered.

She immediately made a report to the police and a search ensued. The police reportedly quizzed the guard at the residential complex who said he had not seen Mr Lin but had only seen the couple’s driver entering the complex.

The driver was subsequently arrested in the evening of the same day and he led the police to the shallow grave where they had buried Mr Lin’s body.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

PRIME Minister Thomas Thabane yesterday held a closed meeting with his predecessor, Pakalitha Mosisili to discuss the implementation of the multi-sector reforms.

Dr Mosisili who is the leader of the opposition Democratic Congress (DC) met Dr Thabane as a representative of all opposition parties.

DC spokesperson Serialong Qoo last night told the Lesotho Times that the meeting was held after Dr Thabane extended an invitation to all opposition parties to discuss the reforms process. Mr Qoo said it was agreed that as former premier and head of the largest opposition party, Dr Mosisili should represent all the opposition parties in the meeting.

“The Prime Minister extended an invitation to all opposition parties, giving them 15 minutes each to meet with him. But we felt that nothing would be achieved in that short space of time and we therefore decided that we should give the time allocated to all parties to Ntate Mosisili so that he represents us,” Mr Qoo said.

He however, would not say what was discussed in the meeting.

The press attaché in the Prime Minister’s Office, Thabo Thakalekoala, also refused to give details of the meeting.

“The meeting was a closed one between the two leaders and details of what they discussed in the meeting is not yet in the public domain,” Mr Thakalekoala said.

SADC gave Lesotho until May 2019 to have fully implemented constitutional and security sector reforms.

However, the reforms process has stalled largely as a result of the constant bickering between the government and the opposition over the latter’s demands for the establishment of a government of national unity and an end to the prosecutions of army officers suspected of human rights violations among other things.

So far the only tangible developments with regards to the reforms process have been Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s speech in parliament to formally launch the reforms and the holding of the National Day of Prayer for the reforms early last month.

A government roadmap that was presented to the SADC heads of state in Angola in April this year indicated that the National Leaders’ Forum and the National Dialogue Planning Committee (NDPC) would have been convened and launched three months ago.

Foreign Affairs and International Relations minister Lesego Makgothi recently told this publication that the National Leaders’ Forum will get underway on 16 August this year.

He said this would be preceded by a “pre-national leaders’ forum” which would be held on 1 and 2 August to work on the modalities for the National Leaders’ Forum.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

EXILED leader of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) Mothetjoa Metsing is confident of returning to the country a year after he fled citing a government plot to assassinate him.

The former deputy prime minister addressed a rally on Sunday where he told his supporters that he would hold talks with the SADC mediation team in Pretoria to pave the way for his return to Lesotho.

The meeting with the SADC team that is led by former South African Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke was held on Tuesday.

Yesterday, the LCD deputy leader, Tšeliso Mokhosi, told the Lesotho Times that they had a fruitful meeting with Justice Moseneke and his team.

“We are very pleased with Justice Moseneke and his team because they gave us a chance to table our issues,” Mr Mokhosi said.

“For the first time we felt that there was someone who wanted to listen to what we had to say.

“It is in this spirit that we sincerely hope that he will bring the much needed peace between the government and the opposition as he handled our issues with such maturity and was not at all judgmental. We are indeed very happy and hope to have another meeting soon.”

Mr Metsing has been holed up in South Africa since fleeing Lesotho last August citing an alleged plot to assassinate him. The government has nevertheless refuted his claims, insisting that he fled to escape prosecution for corruption.

The opposition has set Mr Metsing’s return as one of the preconditions for its participation in the process to implement multi-sector reforms that are aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the country.

The LCD leader recently spoke of his longing to come back “as soon as possible” to participate in the reforms. He said this in an exclusive interview with the Lesotho Times.

And while addressing the Sunday rally, he restated his desire to return to Lesotho so that “all of us to look at how best we can turn a new leaf” in the country.

He said this in a telephonic address to LCD supporters who converged at Mahobong in the Leribe district.

“It is our strongest believe that God will be kind to us and as you may have learnt that the SADC facilitation team started its mission on Friday and on Tuesday (31 July) we’ll be meeting with them in Pretoria,” Mr Metsing said, adding, “it is my strongest belief that this will be a start of a journey to liberation”.

“This is a time when we need your prayers ever than before, and we shall be updating you on every step that we make as your leaders. We therefore need your oneness on this one (meeting with the SADC facilitators) and I shall be with you.

“How long shall Lesotho bleed and how long shall we be entangled in political unrest? It is sad that when we are all expected to take responsibility as the whole political leadership some refuse to do so.

“I know that I have a fair share of my weaknesses that people can point out to but I believe that the time has come for all of us to look at how best we can turn a new leaf. I know that one day I shall come back to this country because I have no other except this one and even if I may die in South Africa, my remains shall be brought back to Lesotho where they belong.”

Mr Metsing also took a swipe at the Thomas Thabane administration, accusing it of bankrupting the government, preaching the politics of hatred and unleashing the police to brutalise civilians.

“I have always maintained that I have never had a problem with the nationals (members of the ruling All Basotho Convention and the Basotho National Party) but I have always had a problem with their leaders as they are the ones who preach the politics of hatred,” Mr Metsing said.

He said for the first time in history, many civilians had died at the hands of the police.

“It is for the first time in this country’s history that we have had so many people dying due to police brutality. Basotho are taking joy in killing their own and it is time that we stood up against these acts and say it’s enough. All these atrocities should come to a stop in this country.

“These things never happened in the past and the saddest thing is when we are told that the country is bankrupt. This is the first time that this (bankruptcy) has happened and unfortunately it doesn’t affect only those in the congress (parties).

“It is also a problem for the nationals and everyone else. We are all affected and it’s time that we condemned it.”

Mr Metsing’s utterances come at a time when the police have been under fire for torturing criminal suspects. However, the police and the army were similarly accused of repression during Mr Metsing’s tenure in government.

During the one year that the Thabane-led four party coalition has been in power, the army has pledged its allegiance to the civilian government while the police have made some breakthroughs in some unresolved criminal cases. These include the arrest of military suspects accused of the June 2015 assassination of the former army commander Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao.

Mr Metsing’s suggestion that the current government is at fault for the dire financial situation is at odds with the recent revelation by Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro that the government inherited a weak “post conflict” economy where there was only M1, 5 billion in the cash reserves down from M3, 5 billion in the 2015/2016 financial year.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

FORMER Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has told his Democratic Congress (DC) party supporters to prepare for fresh elections, saying this time they must vote in large numbers to reverse the party’s defeat in last year’s polls.

Dr Mosisili said this while addressing thousands of DC supporters at a Sunday rally at Pitso House in the Butha-Buthe district on Sunday.

Dr Mosisili was at the helm of the seven party coalition whose term of office prematurely ended after it lost the 3 June 2017 snap polls that were held after he and his government lost a parliamentary motion of no confidence on 1 March 2017. Dr Mosisili’s administration had only been in charge for two years and its tenure had been scheduled to end in 2020.

Lesotho has experienced perennial political instability which has seen three governments in the space of five years from 2012 to 2017.

And on Sunday, Dr Mosisili alluded to a continuation of the instability, telling his supporters to go back to their constituencies to start mobilising for imminent polls.

“Go to your respective constituencies and start recruiting masses into the fold and build unity amongst yourselves,” Dr Mosisili said, adding, “I smell elections”.

“We all know that losing in the elections was not easy for us such that some of you even considered defecting to rival parties. We wouldn’t be in this situation (of being in the opposition) today had it not been for some of you who failed to heed to our plea to vote for the congress parties.”

Dr Mosisili did not say why he believed the elections would be held soon.

However, the DC deputy leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, yesterday told the Lesotho Times that they believed that elections were imminent because there was infighting within the governing parties and this was happening at time when the government was battling to control widespread restlessness in the populace over poor service delivery and a poor economy.

“With the dissatisfaction across all sectors of the populace on issues of service delivery, the disintegration within the parties that comprise the coalition, speaks volumes that they are not stable and this says that they are falling apart.

“Besides that, the infighting within the parties is a clear indication that durability of this government is a far-fetched idea. There are clear signs the government is headed for a collapse,” Mr Mokhothu said.

Dr Mosisili accused the Thomas Thabane administration of misrule in the one year that it has been in power.

He said although Dr Thabane had accused the previous regime of corruption, his (Dr Thabane’s government) was actually “worse (in terms of corruption)”.

“They are even politicising the public service hence the appointment of Pheello Ralenkoane as the Director of the National Security Service despite his political affiliation.

“He (Ralenkoane) is a known politician who even contested the elections under the Basotho National Party (BNP) flag. And this is not just him (Ralenkoane) but also some principal secretaries. They appointed all these politicians and yet they have the audacity to expel officers hired by the NSS just because they we said to be in the opposition.”

Dr Mosisili also accused the government of corruption in the award of tenders for the catering for His Majesty King Letsie III’s 55^th birthday celebrations last month.

He said the cost of feeding each of the 200 guests at M2 070 per person was a clear sign of corruptly inflated costs which could not be justified “anywhere on earth”.

“This again says we should accept that bad voting brings us bitter fruits. This government is as corrupt as they once accused us. This is why we even have the BNP leader (Thesele Maseribane) being accused of corruption for helping a British tycoon to secure him a mining licence,” Dr Mosisili said. This was in reference to the recent controversy where Chief Maseribane stands accused of receiving payments to help facilitate the award of a diamond mining licence to British businessman, Aaron Banks during the first government of Dr Thabane from 2012 to 2015.

Dr Mosisili further accused the government of unwarranted attacks on the judiciary and interfering with its independence instead of protecting it.

This was in reference to the ongoing efforts by Dr Thabane to have Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara impeached for alleged misconduct.

The misconduct charges include Justice Majara’s alleged failure to ensure the timeous delivery of justice as well as her controversial M27 000 per month housing deal which is way above the authorised limit of M4000.

“The sole mandate of the executive is to protect the judiciary and make ensure that it discharges its duties without fear or favour. This is the first government where a whole Prime Minister and minister attack the Chief Justice.

“We worked harmoniously with her (Justice Majara). Right now she is vulnerable and doesn’t know what to do. She is now being attacked but she is also appointing judges to protect herself. Your bad choice in the last elections has brought us bad governance. Bad governments make bad decisions like the attacks on the judiciary.”

Dr Mosisili also accused the premier of failing to rein on his wife after she was involved in a physical altercation with a Ha Tšolo (Maseru) woman at Maseru Private Hospital a fortnight ago.

“The least that this old man (Dr Thabane) could have done would have been to rebuke her but he just kept mum and this shows us that he is afraid of this kid (First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane).

Dr Mosisili also questioned the logic behind the new wool and mohair regulations which state that no one will be allowed to trade in wool and mohair without a licence from the Ministry of Small Business, Cooperatives and Marketing.

The regulations further state that “the holder of an export license shall not export wool and mohair unless it is prepared, brokered, traded and auctioned in Lesotho”.

Dr Mosisili said local framers should be allowed to freely sell their wool and mohair to whoever they wanted to sell it to.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE commissioner of police, Holomo Molibeli, says the police’s negligence enabled fraud-accused ‘Makarabo Mojakhomo to disappear from police custody in May this year.

Commissioner Molibeli said the fact that the suspect was a woman contributed to the police’s complacency as they did not employ the normal full security measures like deploying a heavy guard and handcuffing the suspect as they do when the suspect is male.

Ms Mojakhomo was arrested on 29 May this year with fraud and theft of at least M200 000 from First Lady ’Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund. She was due in court on 31 May but she did not appear after the police claimed she had escaped from custody while they were preparing to take her to court.

But Ms Mojakhomo’s family came out guns blazing insisting there is no way that she could have broken out of tightly guarded police cells. The family subsequently petitioned the High Court for an order for the police to produce her dead or alive.

The family cited social media reports that she could have been murdered by the police as one of the reasons for its bid to have her produced before the court. They even subpoenaed Ms Thabane and the Police minister, ‘Mampho Mokhele to testify before the court as their testimony “would assist the court to reach a conclusion as to whether or not ‘Makarabo escaped from police custody or was made to disappear by the police”.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the family’s lawyer, Advocate Letuka Molati, this week wrote to Commissioner Molibeli informing him that Ms Mojakhomo was alive and well in an unknown location in South Africa. Adv Molati stated that contrary to the police allegations, Ms Mojakhomo did not escape but “was abducted with the direct help of the police from the police custody”.

And on Tuesday, Commissioner Molibeli was a relieved man when he addressed the media at the Police Headquarters in Maseru.

He however, said Ms Mojakhomo had escaped because “we were negligent in that women suspects in police custody are normally not placed under heavy guard or cuffed”.

He also said he suspected that some police officers could have conspired to facilitate her escape.
“Any woman suspect is hardly ever handcuffed as we regard them as harmless by virtue of their being. But we acknowledge that there was some form of connivance in her escaping and this is a lesson to us that women can also escape.”

Commissioner Molibeli further said he was happy that Ms Mojakhomo was alive and this absolved them of the speculation that the state had murdered her just like in the case of Police Constable (PC) Mokalekale Khetheng.

PC Khetheng was last seen being arrested by Hlotse police on 25 March 2016 during a feast in Sebothoane, Leribe, for allegedly torching his senior’s house in Mokhotlong where he was deployed.

PC Khetheng’s remains were eventually exhumed at Lepereng Cemetery in the Maseru district on 11 August 2017 after the police were granted a court order by the Magistrate’s Court in light of the investigations into his disappearance and suspected murder.

Senior Superintendent Thabo Tšukulu (51), Senior Inspector Mabitle Matona (39), Sub Inspector Haleokoe Taasoane (44) and Inspector Mothibeli Mofolo (49) have since been charged with murdering PC Khetheng.
And on Tuesday, Commissioner Molibeli said he was “elated to hear that she (Ms Mojakhomo) is alive as the state was suspected of causing her enforced disappearance and the matter was likened to that of PC Khetheng”.

“I exhumed Khetheng from the very bottom where he was buried and I’d like those who were making allegations that I have killed Mojakhomo to come forward and say them again. I am not here to kill people.
“We also prayed for Mojakhomo to be found alive and we knew that the God we serve never disappoints and we would find her. And if for some reason we were expected to play a (soccer) draw with our predecessors to kill Mojakhomo because they killed Khetheng, they are still ahead of us on a one-nil score. They scored one for killing Khetheng and we didn’t score because Mojakhomo is still alive,” Commissioner Molibeli said.

He said they had always received tips of Mojakhomo’s whereabouts though they were now being made to believe that she was only found on Monday.

“Though we are given the impression that her whereabouts have only been known recently, we have our suspicions that there are people who have always known where she was all along.
“We don’t understand who she called and where she got the contacts because her cellphone is still with the police. This confirms that there are people who have always known where she is.
“We expect her lawyer to bring her in so that she may answer her fraud charges and charges of escaping from lawful custody. She owes us an explanation as to how she escaped and who had aided her because now everyone is a suspect in the matter including me.”

Commissioner Molibeli said they would call in more people to help them with investigations and he urged all those who aided her escape to confess.
“There is a high possibility that more people will be hauled in including those who were guarding her when she disappeared.”

He said although they expected her lawyer to facilitate Ms Mojakhomo’s return, they would also make their “own efforts to bring her into the country once we have established her whereabouts”.

…architect accused of using “special family ties” to King Letsie III to mask incompetence and failure to deliver on the project.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Mothabathe Hlalele, has launched a blistering attack on the architect of the proposed new royal palace building, accusing him of using his “special family ties” to His Majesty King Letsie III to mask his incompetence and failure to deliver on the project.

This follows last week’s decision by the architects, Makeka Design Lab, to abandon the project.

Makeka Design Lab founder, Mokena Makeka, last week told the Lesotho Times that his company resolved to withdraw from the project due to several factors including the government’s failure to pay them M5 million in arrears for some of the work they had done so far.

Mr Makeka said they felt compelled to withdraw from the project to protect their reputation as they were frequently made the scapegoat whenever there were problems that beset the project.

Makeka Design Lab is the second architectural company to withdraw from the project after another South African company, Palace Architects.

Palace Architects began designing His Majesty King Letsie III’s palace in 2010 but left the project after a contractual dispute with the Ministry of Public Works.

Prior to their departure, part of the building they designed had been demolished following concerns over its failure to meet the stipulated standards.

The Public Works ministry subsequently engaged Makeka Design Lab to redesign the building while the Lesotho Steel Products company undertook the construction.

Last week, Mr Hlalele told this publication that although Makeka Design Lab had withdrawn from the project, he would however, engage them to get them to reverse their decision.

But in a new turn of events, Mr Hlalele this week wrote to Mr Makeka accusing him of unprofessionalism and creating more problems for the much-delayed project through his incompetence.

Mr Hlalele said it was “most disturbing and irregular” that Mr Makeka had not formally notified the government of his withdrawal from the project, adding this was very “unprofessional coming from a person who makes such high claims about his professional ability”.

“We have noticed with great concern your decision to terminate your services on the royal palace project…I recall with great surge how in the meeting of 12 December 2017 where I expressed the dissatisfaction of my ministry about your failure to perform, you patronised us about the special family ties that you and your family has with the client (His Majesty).

“I am bringing all of these (issues) up to show you how you have constantly and blindly denied your inability to manage this project by bringing in all irrelevant issues every time the issue of your non-performance came up.

“You are also requested to formalise your decision to terminate your services by formally notifying my office in writing,” Mr Hlaele states in his letter.

The latest development is likely to cost the taxpayer heavily as the project has already spiralled out of cost from an original budget of M170 million to M450 million.

Mr Hlalele accused the architect of creating more problems than solutions, saying his incompetence would only serve to further escalate the costs of the project.

“Your tenure as the principal architect has brought more problems than solutions. Your potential as an architect was only shown as far as the concept design.

“You failed dismally to provide drawings on time to the contractor. These delays have come at a very huge cost to the client and the completion of the project. Your disregard for financial costs and issuance of unauthorised instructions is reflected in the manner in which you intentionally pushed the project out of budget.

“Your decision to desert the project and subsequently running to the media platforms is regarded by the ministry as a very immature move intended to cover your professional negligence and possible liability. You have paid more lip-service to this project than real delivery on the ground, always engulfed in showmanship and unfounded claims of your success every time you were shown your failures on the project.”

Mr Hlalele further accused the architect of disregarding advice from the ministry to engage a qualified and experienced project manager on site. He said the architect’s actions had exposed the project to unknown characters due to the company’s unpreparedness to remunerate better qualified and experienced personnel that could have added value to the supervision of the project.

He accused the architect of underhand dealings which included engaging an intelligence officer from the National Security Service (NSS) to pose as the company representative and lawyer on occasions which the company chose not to participate in key meetings on the project.

Mr Hlalele ordered Mr Makeka and his staff to stay away from the project site from now onwards.

“Yourself and your staff are requested to stay away from the site and the client’s (Public Works ministry) offices. We have learnt that there have been attempts by some of your staff to engage the office of the client on current matters of this project. We also are aware of your attempts to encourage the contractor to join you in frustrating this project by abandoning it. All of these are unacceptable, unethical and highly unprofessional practices.

“You have also compromised the security and confidentiality of this project by the manner in which you have shared its contents with various media houses. Over and above all concerns raised above, you are hereby notified by the office of the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works that you remain liable to whatever losses which have occurred due to your professional negligence.

“You are also requested to hand over all documentation of this project which is in the possession of your office including all the copies of correspondences of the project file which were copied to you during your initial engagement as the principal agent,” Mr Hlalele concluded.

Efforts to get a comment from the Makeka Design Lab were unsuccessful as Mr Makeka’s phone rang unanswered. The Lesotho Times will publish Mr Makeka’s response as soon as it is availed to this publication.

…accuses senior police officers and prominent civilians of plotting murder her

Pascalinah Kabi

FRAUD-ACCUSED ‘Makarabo Mojakhomo who allegedly disappeared from police custody under unclear circumstances has resurfaced in South Africa amid claims that she could have been assisted by some police officers to flee the  country.

Ms Mojakhomo’s lawyer, Advocate Letuka Molati, recently wrote to the Police Commissioner, Holomo Molibeli informing him that she was alive and in hiding in South Africa.

Adv Molati said that Ms Mojakhomo would only return to the country when her safety was guaranteed and in due course she would spill the beans on some senior police officers and high-ranking civilians who allegedly abducted, trafficked and conspired to murder her on the day that she allegedly disappeared from police custody.

Adv Molati would not say how Ms Mojakhomo escaped from her abductors and ended up where she is currently hiding. He said he had instructed Ms Mojakhomo to prepare a sworn affidavit which would explain everything.

However, Adv Letuka Molati could be charged with obstructing the course of justice for allegedly being part of a conspiracy to conceal Ms Mojakhomo’s whereabouts.

The case could suck in police officers and other prominent people after Adv Molati wrote to Commissioner Molibeli, stating that Ms Mojakhomo did not escape from the police custody but “she was abducted with the direct help of the police from the police custody”.

There had been intense speculation that Ms Mojakhomo might have been murdered after she allegedly disappeared from police custody where she was awaiting trial for allegedly defrauding the First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund of at least M200 000.

Ms Mojakhomo was last seen by her relatives at the Police Headquarters in Maseru on 30 May 2018 where she was detained for the alleged fraud.

Ms Mojakhomo was arrested on 29 May this year and she was due in court on 31 May.  She could not appear in court after the police claimed she had escaped from custody while they were preparing to take her to court.

But Ms Mojakhomo’s family came out guns blazing insisting there was no way that she could have broken out of tightly guarded police cells. The family subsequently petitioned the High Court for an order for the police to produce her dead or alive.

The family cited social media reports that she could have been murdered by the police as one of the reasons for its bid to have her produced before the court.

And on 3 July 2018, the Mojakhomo family’s lawyer, Adv Molati, asked High Court judge Justice Semapo Peete to give Ms Thabane and the Police minister, ‘Mampho Mokhele a chance to testify before the court as their testimony “would assist the court to reach a conclusion as to whether or not ‘Makarabo escaped from police custody or was made to disappear by the police”.

However, in the latest turn of events, Adv Molati wrote to Commissioner Molibeli informing him that Ms Mojakhomo was alive and well. Adv Molati stated that contrary to the police allegations, Ms Mojakhomo did not escape but “she was abducted with the direct help of the police from the police custody”.

“‘Makarabo Mojakhomo has instructed us, as we hereby do that she did not escape from police custody but that she was abducted with the direct help of the police from the police custody,” Adv Molati wrote in the letter that is dated 30 July 2018. The letter is also copied to Ms Mokhele, the Registrar of the High Court and the Attorney General Haae Phoofolo.

Adv Molati also states in the letter that Ms Mojakhomo had instructed him to inform Commissioner Molibeli that she (Ms Mojakhomo) would only return to Lesotho “when the time is right” to answer to criminal charges.

Adv Molati further states that even he does not know the exact whereabouts of Ms Mojakhomo, adding that the concealing of her exact location was meant to ensure her safety because her because her version of the events of 31 May 2018 – the day she disappeared from police custody- would incriminate “very high-ranking people”.

“She (Ms Mojakhomo) was advised not to disclose her whereabouts even to the author (Adv Molati) until such time that she has been put in proper witness protection because if her version were to prevail, then very high-ranking people in Lesotho, civilians and also high-ranking police officers are implicated in possible criminal charges of conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, defeating the ends of justice, human trafficking and perjury in order to conceal a suspect who is intended to be killed.

“We have advised her (Ms Mojakhomo) to file a sworn statement in which she narrates all that happened. We shall forward you her statement accordingly after she emails it,” Adv Molati wrote.

Adv Molati’s letter this week landed him in hot water with the police who on Monday summoned him to the Police Headquarters and subjected him to a two-hour long interrogation.

Adv Molati told the Lesotho Times that he wrote to Commissioner Molibeli informing him that Ms Mojakhomo would “come to Lesotho to answer criminal charges against her when the time is right”.

He said a few hours after the letter was delivered to the office of Commissioner Molibeli, police officers arrived at his workplace in Maseru and demanded that he accompanies them to the Police Headquarters.

“What happened is that on Monday, after 5 pm, I was at my workplace when the police arrived and asked me to go with them to the Police Headquarters in connection with the letter that I wrote to the Police Commissioner.

“I had stated in that letter that I instructed ‘Makarabo not to disclose her exact whereabouts, even to me, until such time that we know she is safe to come back home and that didn’t go well with the police. In fact, they accused me of helping ‘Makarabo to hide from the police,” Adv Molati told the Lesotho Times.

He said the police informed him that he had erred by instructing his client to keep her whereabouts a secret and this could be a criminal offence.

Adv Molati said he replied by telling the police that he stood by his decision that ‘Makarabo should conceal her whereabouts and he strongly felt that no offence had been committed in that regard as his main interest was to ensure that her safety was guaranteed.

“My reason for instructing her to keep her whereabouts a secret is to ensure that ‘Makarabo is safe. If her version of events of that day (31 May 2018) is anything to go by, serious criminal charges will be preferred against some people and for that to happen, ‘Makarabo needs to be put under witness protection until such time when her safety is guaranteed.

“Yes, ‘Makarabo is supposed to come back but there has to be a proper security for her because we cannot just hand her back to the police without making proper arrangements.”

He said although the interrogation was not in any way intimidating and that the police voluntarily released him, the manner in which he was brought to the Police Headquarters left a lot to be desired.

He said there was no need for police officers to arrive at his office after working hours, unannounced and demand that he accompanies them to the Police Headquarters.

“I was not informed of this operation in a good way. I work in the courts of law and the court martial (which I am involved in) is proceeding this whole week. This shows that my movements are easy to track and if this was done with good intentions, the police could have just phoned and told me to report myself to the police. I would have complied that without hesitating.

“The manner in which this matter was handled threatened my co-workers, wife and mother. My mother’s blood pressure shot up and she was really shocked by this because she does not know her son to be a criminal,” Adv Molati said, adding this made it difficult to “distinguish the good from the bad cops”.

“I always go to the police either to tip them off or at their request to provide legal opinion like in the case of music piracy where they asked me to assist them. Therefore, this working relationship between us should have counted for something.

“For lack of a better word, it is nonsensical to say that I was part of a plan to have ‘Makarabo disappear from the police. I have instructed her to write her account of what transpired on the day (she ‘disappeared’). As soon as her sworn affidavit is filed, we will know what exactly happened that day. For the record, I have no interest in working with anyone to flee from the police and I would terminate my working relationship with any client who suggests that.”

On his part, Commissioner Molibeli addressed the media on Tuesday and said that Adv Molati was one of the suspects in the conspiracy to conceal Ms Mojakhomo’s whereabouts.  Commissioner Molibeli said they called Adv Molati for questioning because of “many unanswered questions arising from his letter”.

“Everyone is a suspect in this matter, Ntate Molati included.  Hence we will treat information from Ntate Molati with suspicion. We don’t want to leave any stones unturned lest we miss something crucial in our investigations. We have reason to suspect everybody – from myself to Ntate Molati – and that is why we have written to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to investigate the conduct of the police in this matter (of Ms Mojakhomo’s disappearance),” Commissioner Molibeli said.

He said the police stormed Adv Molati’s offices unannounced because past experiences had taught them that not everyone honoured the call to report to the police.

He said police investigators decided to pay surprise visits to persons of interest to avoid a situation like that of the Socialist Revolutionaries (SR) leader Teboho Mojapela who fled the country after promising to present himself to the police for questioning.

“We found it proper to call in Ntate Molati for questioning in this fashion and how one is called in for question is solely the discretion of investigating officers who have had to learn the hard way. Once bitten, twice shy,” Commissioner Molibeli said.

Law of Society of Lesotho President Adv Tekane Maqakachane said the protocols and procedures that defined the engagements of the police and lawyers in their line of work were not clear and urgently needed to be clarified.

“We will therefore engage the police commissioner in robust discussions regarding this matter because we need to establish clear working protocols and procedures between the police and lawyers. I must however, mention that as lawyers we do not occupy any special place that would stop us from being called by the police (for questioning)” Adv Maqakachane said.

…school authorities vow to fight the horror initiation ceremony

Ntsebeng Motsoeli

A SOMBRE atmosphere engulfed Lerotholi Polytechnic grounds yesterday morning when hundreds gathered for the memorial service of 21-year-old Rethabile Mositi.

Mr Mositi, a first-year student at the college also known as Fokothi, was killed in an “initiation ritual” at the Mohakare river in Maseru three weeks ago.

Mr Mositi was just four days into his 3-year long diploma in Business Management when his life was cut short after a group of senior students took him and other new male students tried to “show them the ways of life at Fokothi.”

Among the gathered mourners, there is a woman whose shrill cries denote intense pain. She is Mr Mositi’s mother and her wails invite tears from the eyes of numerous others in attendance.

Marethabile Mositi is in the company of her immediate family members and friends who travelled from their home in Maputsoe, in the Leribe district. Most of the relatives visited the institution for the first time on the day but the visit was three years in advance and it was not in celebratory mode as they had anticipated to visit on Mr Mositi’s graduation.

But that was not to be. Apart from Mr Mositi’s mother, his uncle, Thae Mositi, although suppressing his grief, described his nephew as a responsible young man.

“Our hearts are hurting,” Mr Thae Mositi said.

“We expected good things from our child. He was already showing signs of being a great man. We were looking forward to his graduation in the next three years, thanking him for a job well done. But that will never happen and we are gutted.”

Mr Thae Mositi said the post-mortem revealed that his nephew drowned as his bruised lungs were drenched in water.

Mr Mositi is the sixth student to die in the disreputable initiation ritual at Fokothi in the last nine years.

What happens in these rituals is anybody’s guess. No Fokothi student, present or former, will ever tell one what transpires in the episodes of those practices.

Several attempts to end this practice that has resulted in the dreadful deaths have been in vain. It would seem that no threats, counselling sessions and prayers are good enough to end the horror.

The authorities and school management are fighting a losing battle and out of desperation, are contemplating to force ultimatums on those who participate in the ritual.

Speaking at the event, the minister of Education and Training, Ntoi Rapapa, said that the government is considering to impose scholarship sanctions on those who are found to have lured, coerced, volunteered or participated in any other way into the ritual.

Professor Rapapa said the Tuesday cabinet meeting discussed the possibility of blacklisting those who have been found to have participated voluntarily in the ritual either as victims or at perpetrators.

“You left your homes to come here to change your lives and those of your family members. But you will achieve that if you do not refrain from engaging in this act. Think twice before you engage in any act that would prevent you from achieving your dreams,” Prof Ntoi said.

Prof Ntoi appealed to the students, the management and all workers to come to approach his office to suggest other possible means which could end the killings.

“My office will be open for any suggestions that can help to end this.”

Lerotholi Polytechnic Rector, Spirit Tlali, said the ritual was a disgrace to the institution.

Professor Tlali said he did not believe allegations that some working staff members at the collage were participating in the ritual.

“These (deaths) have tarnished our reputation. There have been media reports that teachers and other members of the staff were participants in the acts. I have been watching and I have not seen anything that suggests such. I will not believe that until there is a tangible proof.

“I must admit that the school might not have done enough to address this problem and we are now working together with relevant authorities to fight this crime,” Prof Tlali said.

The Lerotholi Polytechnic Registrar, Hlomohang Majara, said the college council has resolved to open an inquest into the so-called “initiation ritual” that involves dipping new students in the river. The institution’s intakes are done at the pic of the winter season and dipping the new students in the river also exposes them to extreme colds.

Eight senior students have been arrested in connection with Mr Mositi’s murder.

In an interview with the Lesotho Times last week, Ms Majara said the institution’s council has decided to institute an inquest as one of the many strategies to ending the heinous killings.

“We hope to have contacted all the relevant government ministries before the end of this month to discuss the possibilities of starting an inquest as we try to end these unfortunate acts. We wish to involve the ministries of Law, Justice and that of Education to conduct an in-depth investigation into the deaths,” Ms Majara said.

Among others, Ms Majara said the investigation will include allegations that some teachers or staff members have been behind the ill treatment. She added that the public is invited to provide any information that would be helpful in the investigation.

“There have been allegations that some teachers or other staff are behind the ill treatment. There has however, not been any evidence supporting the allegations. The staff has renounced themselves from these acts. The inquest will allow the public to give information that could be helpful in finding the perpetrators,” Ms Majara said.

She said those who will be implicated in the crimes will be handed over to the police for the law to take its course. She added that students who commit the crimes will be blacklisted from accessing tertiary education from other institutions of higher learning.

“We will submit the names of the students who have been found guilty of participating in the ill-treatment to other tertiary institutions so that we frustrate their attempts enrol elsewhere. We will also notify the ministry of Development Planning so that they are not able to access scholarship. This will be a payback for destroying other people’s lives,” she said.

The ultimatum follows several failed attempts by the school to dissuade students from participating in the ill treatment.

According to Ms Majara, upon arrival, every first-year student signs a pledge to adhere to the school’s code of conduct which specifically highlights non-participation in the ill treatment. Failure to adhere to this code of conduct renders one to immediate discontinuation from studying at the college.

The code of conduct is discussed further during the freshers’ orientation where police officers are invited to create awareness on criminal acts such as bullying. Frequent prayer sessions have been held at the institution following speculation that there could some satanism cult at the institution.

Unfortunately, these efforts seem to have been in vain.

“We have made so many efforts and we have not stopped. We have specifically put emphasis on the fact the treatment is abusive and is actually a criminal offence. Unfortunately, this behaviour is still continuing.”

She said that even though the institution continues to receive applications from many students who wish to study at the college, the killings and ill treatment has tarnished the image of the school and those of its employees.

“Surprisingly we still have huge numbers of people applying to study with us. In fact, the number of applications is growing. But one could think that it may be out of desperation because Basotho children desire tertiary education and other institutions cannot take them all so they have no option but to come to us. Our confidence has been hugely affected.”

Ms Majara said that the school will hold further counselling sessions for students following the last month’s incident.

The president of the Lerotholi Polytechnique Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Union (LPTANSU), Mokili Talanyane refuted allegations that teachers or other staff members were involved in the ritual.

“We wish to inform the school management that we have got nothing to do with any abusive acts. I stand here to tell you that teachers have not participated in this. No one of us has been called for questioning during the investigations. We appeal with our management and the security systems to stop incriminating us in these criminal acts,” Mr Talanyane said.

The post Fokothi holds memorial service for murdered student appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

LESOTHO Correctional Service (LCS) Commissioner Thabang Mothepu has once again stirred controversy after he made fresh promotions at the institution this week.

Commissioner Mothepu is said to have promoted another three LCS officers on Monday despite the ongoing inquest by the Ombudsman in connection with the criteria he used to make similar promotions three months ago in May this year.

Sources within the LCS this week told the Lesotho Times that Commissioner Mothepu on Monday promoted three officers.

Although Commissioner Mothepu told this publication that he had only made “acting appointments”, the sources insisted that he promoted Superintendent Theko Mabaso (employment number 45375) to the rank of senior superintendent.

Assistant Superintendent Relebohile Mabona (employment number 53341) was reportedly promoted to the rank of Superintendent and Chief Officer Moeletsi Mosoeu (employment number 56854) was promoted to the rank of assistant superintendent.

Commissioner Mothepu is in the eye of the storm after making 50 promotions in the LCS in May this year as some LCS officers have approached the office of the ombudsman, Adv Leshele Thoahlane KC, to complain that they were overlooked for promotions on political grounds.

Adv Thoahlane has also accused Commissioner Mothepu of frustrating his (Adv Thoahlane) efforts to bring the LCS promotions saga to finality by his (Commissioner Mothepu’s) repeated failure to appear before the ombudsman to explain how he effected the promotions.

This week, an LCS officer, Sergeant Bokang Ramotena, accused Commissioner Mothepu of overlooking her for a promotion even though she had the requisite qualifications.

Sgt Ramotena also accused the principal secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Service, Ms Lebohang Mochaba of conniving with Commissioner Mothepu to promote Ms Mochaba’s “unqualified and inexperienced husband” at her (Sgt Ramotena’s) expense.

“I have been in the service way before her (Ms Mochaba’s) husband and I am better qualified but they are teaming up against me to sideline me.

“I need no favours to be promoted. I am qualified and experienced and I have served longer than her husband on who she has squandered our taxes, sending him to training programmes at our expense,” Sgt Ramotena said.

Sgt Ramotena accused Ms Mochaba of blocking her promotion on the spurious grounds that she had rejected Commissioner Mothepu’s love proposals.

“Ms Mochaba told me that the reason why I was not getting promoted is because I had rejected Mothepu’s love proposal and therefore I would never get promoted,” Sgt Ramotena said.

However, Commissioner Mothepu has denied promoting the trio of Mabaso, Mabona and Mosoeu.

“I have not promoted anyone and those are just acting appointments,” Commissioner Mothepu said this week.

On the issue of making sexual advances to Sgt Ramotena Commissioner Mothepu said, “I have never proposed to Sergeant Ramotena and I am not that petty”.

“That is not true at all and I am a very respectful man who equally respects himself. It is therefore quite unfortunate that she (Sgt Ramotena) is making such allegations.

“She (Sgt Ramotena) has had a problem with all the former LCS commissioners and it only says that the problem lies with her. I have no personal vendetta against her. There is an officer who works at the office of the ombudsman who is misdirecting her and it’s sad because, the ombudsman can’t tell me what to do here at the LCS,” Commissioner Mothepu said.

For her part, Ms Mochaba said she had no say in the promotions at the LCS.

“I do not have a say in the LCS promotions or on how the LCS should run its affairs. I got married to my husband long after he was already a correctional officer.

“I do not take (LCS) people to training workshops and I am not at all going to meddle with the LCS Commissioner’s work- not now or ever.

“I am not even going to comment on the issue of Commissioner Mothepu proposing to Sergeant Ramotena because I think that is an issue meant to remain between two people. It is surprising that she is raising this issue now when she has actually failed to raise it with the Ombudsman when she lodged her complaint,” Ms Mochaba said.

The post Fresh promotions saga rocks LCS appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

A GOVERNMENT Printers employee was allegedly tortured by the police after his arrest in connection with the leaking of a government gazette which announced the appointment of South African judge Justice Yvonne Mokgoro as acting president of the Court of Appeal.

The suspect, Mohau Lebajoa, yesterday appeared before the Magistrate court over the leaking of the government gazette. Senior Resident Magistrate Phethise Motanyane released Lebajoa on bail. He advised Lebajoa to adhere to the bail conditions which include appearing in court for remands and refraining from interfering with witnesses.

Lebajoa is accused of contravening Section 4 subsection 1 (a) of official Secrets Act No. 36 of 1967 in that he prematurely leaked a government gazette which was due for publication. He is accused of leaking the gazette to Assistant Superintendent Ramahetlane Percy Bereng, an officer at the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS).

The leaked government gazette was used by three prominent lawyers as the basis for their successful March 2018 lawsuit against the appointment of Justice ‘Maseshophe Hlajoane as the acting Court of Appeal President.

The government gazette, which was never made public, stated that Justice Mokgoro had been appointed to the post of acting president of the Court of Appeal on 27 February this year. Justice Mokgoro did not assume the position after the Thomas Thabane administration decided to appoint Justice Hlajoane instead. The appointment of Justice Hlajoane was nullified after a constitutional court challenge by three prominent lawyers.

The three lawyers Zwelakhe Mda, Karabo Mohau and Qhalehang Letsika successfully argued in March this year that the appointment of Justice Hlajoane violates the constitution because she was appointed when the government had already appointed Justice Mokgoro to the same position on 27 February this year.

Dr Thabane and his lawyers have argued that the three lawyers should be prosecuted on the grounds that they had based their case on a government gazette that had been illegally obtained as it was never officially published.

PM Thabane wants the three lawyers charged for violating the Official Secrets Act and the Internal Security Act. He also accused the trio of being a dangerous group of people who sought to destabilise the country by illegally acquiring and using confidential state documents.

It was against the background of investigations into the leaking of the government gazette that Asst-Supt Bereng and Mohau Lebajoa who works at the government printers were recently called in by the police for questioning.

Asst-Supt Bereng subsequently fled from the police headquarters while awaiting his turn to be questioned. He alleged that he had fled in fear of being tortured after seeing that Mr Lebajoa had been tortured by police during his interrogation.

Last Wednesday Lebajoa was detained by the police for questioning. He was released on the next day after his lawyer, Advocate Qhalehang Letsika, filed an urgent application for his release.

According to the court papers filed for Lebajoa’s release, his brother Retšelisitsoe Lebajoa said that he (Mohau Lebajoa) was tortured by the police during his interrogation.

“I rely on the documents that are in my personal possession and under my direct control in my capacity as the managing director of the applicant (Mohau Lebajoa),” Retšelisitsoe states in the papers on behalf of his brother.

“The applicant has made it clear in the founding affidavit that he has been tortured and subjected to inhumane and degrading punishment.

“I do not know the finer details but all I know is that he (Mohau Lebajoa) informed me that the police indicated that they suspected him to have leaked and released the gazette without authorisation given that he works at the Government Printers.

“He (Mohau Lebajoa) told me that he informed the police that at the time the gazette was printed at the Government Printers he was in hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa. I confirm that at the time of the alleged leakage of the gazette he was hospitalised at Tšepong Hospital where he was later referred to another hospital in Bloemfontein,” Retšelisitsoe stated.

Lebajoa’s brother said that it was important to note that his brother was still nursing an operation which was made on his left ear and “he informed me that the operation affected his brain with the result that when it is cold it becomes extremely painful and excruciating”.

The court papers state that on 1 August, Lebajoa was called to the police for interrogation at about midday and he left his mobile phone with his brother (Retšelisitsoe) to recharge it.

“At around 5pm I received a message from my supervisor that a certain police officer named Nkeane had requested me to deliver the applicant’s (Lebajoa) phone.

“I (Retšelisitsoe) in the papers went to police headquarters and upon arrival I was ordered to exhibit all my phones and the applicant was ordered to pinpoint and identify his phone. He complied and thereafter I was ordered to leave.

Retšelisitsoe said that about 6pm he tried in vain to call his brother as his calls were initially rejected. Later the phone was no longer reachable.

He said he then went to his brother’s residence to check if he had been released from police custody only to be told by a neighbour that he (Mohau Lebajoa) had been there with some police officers before leaving again.

“I concluded that he (Mohau) was under arrest and I decided I would go and see him the next morning.”

Retšelisitsoe says he indeed went to see Mohau the next morning and found him eating food which was different from that which had been prescribed by his medical doctor.

“Immediately after eating he collapsed,” Retšelisitsoe, adding that he took him to Katlehong Filter Clinic where he was examined by a medical doctor.

“He (Mohau) told me that he was exhausted because he had been subjected to all sorts of torture the whole night.”

Retšelisitsoe said the doctor said Mohau should be immediately released from police custody.

The post Police accused of torturing govt worker appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Nthatuoa Koeshe

THE paralysis within the judiciary which has resulted in the courts failing to expeditiously attend to criminal cases is forcing the police to free suspects, the police have said.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli this week said they were forced to release suspects before they could be tried as the law stipulates that they can only be detained for 48 hours before being brought to court.

The judiciary has been paralysed by several factors, among them the failure by the judges to address a huge backlog of cases estimated by some within the judiciary to be in the region of 4000 cases. Prime Minister Thomas Thabane is currently locked in a court battle with Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara over his attempts to impeach Justice Majara over a litany of misconduct charges.

Dr Thabane wrote to Justice Majara on 27 April 2018 and asked her to ‘show cause’ why she should not be suspended and impeached over several misconduct allegations which include her alleged failure to preside over cases for two years.

Dr Thabane further accuses the chief justice of contributing to the paralysis in the judiciary by failing to take the appropriate disciplinary and punitive measures against her subordinates who neglect their duties to speedily hear cases.

In addition, the magistrates have also complained about poor salaries and poor working conditions which prevented them from fully discharging their mandate to speedily to attend to cases. They even went on an unprecedented strike early last month to protest the government’s failure to address their long-standing welfare grievances. These include concerns about poor salaries, which are said to be way below half of those paid to High Court judges, and lack of security from criminals whose cases would have been handled by the magistrates.

It was against this background that Supt Mopeli this week said that the blame for the failure to try suspects must not be placed on the police.

He said the police were sometimes forced to release suspects before they could be tried as the law stipulates that they can only be detained for 48 hours before being brought to court.

“People might see the offenders back in their communities but they should know that this does not mean that police officers are not doing their jobs,” Supt Mopeli said, adding the law required the police to take the suspects to court within 48 hours after their arrest.

“The law further states that where there are no magistrates, the person arrested can stay longer in the police custody till there is a magistrate who can remand them. But because of the (small) sizes of cells we have in different districts, we are then forced to let some suspects go back home to wait (for trial),” Supt Mopeli added.

Supt Mopeli said there were five criminal cases that would be taken to court once the courts starting functioning normally.

One such case is that of three men who were arrested in connection with armed robbery in the Thaba Tseka district.

Police reports show that on the night of 25 July this year, the three man robbed a family in Lisemeng, Thaba Tseka after they had heard that the victim had a lot of money which was sent from South Africa.

Supt Mopeli said the suspects broke a window at the home of the family and pointed a gun at a man who was thought to have the money.

Supt Mopeli said one of the suspects was a 39-year-old man from Ha-Tikoe, Maseru who possessed a 7.65 pistol and 8 bullets.

He said the other was a 33-year-old man from Khukhune Halebetla in Butha-Buthe but resides in Maseru in Upper Thamae and is known to be a former police officer. He was also found in possession of a 7.65 pistol and 7 bullets

“The other suspect is a 33-year-old who resides in Ha Thetsane and he is a car mechanic,” Supt Mopeli said.

He said the suspects proceeded to Thaba Tseka from Maseru in a D1D van which had been taken to the mechanic for repairs.

They abandoned the vehicle at the scene of the alleged crime.

In another case, Supt Mopeli said Thaba Tseka police also arrested two men for armed robbery on 31 July this year.

One of the suspects is a 40-year-old man and the other is a 43-year-old man.

“These men appear to be serial crooks because they also have 21 other cases and they have been released on bail for some of those cases.”

In Maseru, a 26-year-old man from Hamofoka and his 42-year-old compatriot from Ha Thetsane are currently in police custody for illegally transporting wool and mohair without the required documents.

In Maputsoe, a 19-year-old learner was arrested after he allegedly stabbed and killed his fellow 17-year-old school mate.

The learner was arrested last Tuesday.

Reports show that the two learners were playing with sticks when the deceased hit the suspect. The suspect then took out a knife and stabbed him.

The deceased was rushed to Motebang Hospital where he later died.

Supt Mopeli also said that in Maputsoe, a 48-year-old security guard handed himself to the police after fatally assaulting a 21-year-old security guard who had broken into his home.

The post ‘Suspects walk free due to paralysis in the judiciary’ appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE family of fraud-accused ’Makarabo Mojakhomo has approached Amnesty International in South Africa to ensure her safety after her alleged abduction from police custody and subsequent escape from her captors.

Ms Mojakhomo, who allegedly disappeared from police custody under unclear circumstances in May this year, resurfaced in South Africa last week amid claims that she could have been assisted by some police officers to flee the country.

There had been intense speculation that Ms Mojakhomo might have been murdered after she allegedly disappeared from police custody where she was awaiting trial for allegedly defrauding the First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund of at least M200 000.

Ms Mojakhomo was last seen by her relatives at the Police Headquarters in Maseru on 30 May 2018 where she was detained for the alleged fraud.

Ms Mojakhomo was arrested on 29 May this year and she was due in court on 31 May.  She could not appear in court after the police claimed she had escaped from custody while they were preparing to take her to court.

But Ms Mojakhomo’s family came out guns blazing insisting there was no way that she could have broken out of tightly guarded police cells. The family subsequently petitioned the High Court for an order for the police to produce her dead or alive.

The family cited social media reports that she could have been murdered by the police as one of the reasons for its bid to have her produced before the court.

On 3 July 2018, the Mojakhomo family’s lawyer, Advocate Letuka Molati, asked High Court judge Justice Semapo Peete to give Ms Thabane and the Police minister, ‘Mampho Mokhele a chance to testify before the court as their testimony “would assist the court to reach a conclusion as to whether or not ‘Makarabo escaped from police custody or was made to disappear by the police”.

However, in a recent turn of events last week, Adv Molati wrote to the Police Commissioner, Holomo Molibeli, informing him that Ms Mojakhomo was alive and well. Adv Molati stated that contrary to the police allegations, Ms Mojakhomo did not escape but “she was abducted with the direct help of the police from the police custody”.

“‘Makarabo Mojakhomo has instructed us, as we hereby do state that she did not escape from police custody but that she was abducted with the direct help of the police from the police custody,” Adv Molati wrote in the letter that is dated 30 July 2018. The letter is also copied to Ms Mokhele, the Registrar of the High Court and the Attorney General Haae Phoofolo.

Adv Molati also states in the letter that Ms Mojakhomo had instructed him to inform Commissioner Molibeli that she (Ms Mojakhomo) would only return to Lesotho “when the time is right” to answer to criminal charges.

Adv Molati further states that even he does not know the exact whereabouts of Ms Mojakhomo, adding that the concealing of her exact location was meant to ensure her safety because her because her version of the events of 31 May 2018 – the day she disappeared from police custody- would incriminate “very high-ranking people”.

Amnesty International has still not responded to the questions they requested this publication to send them by email. The human rights organisation was also unreachable by telephone at the time of going to print.

However, a Mojakhomo family member this week told the Lesotho Times that they had stepped up their efforts to ensure that she was safe in South Africa by enlisting the help of Amnesty International.

“We approached them (Amnesty International) because we want to make sure that our sister is kept in a safe place while she awaits her trial as she escaped death by a whisker. We think that her abductors could still go after her lest she spills the beans on how she skipped the country.

“The meeting with Amnesty International was held last Thursday and the reception was good and promising,” said the family member who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On her part, ’Makarabo’s sister, ’Malesole Letsie, this week told the Lesotho Times that the family was eager to ensure “Makarabo’s safe return as we want her to get a fair trial like everyone else as per the constitution”.

“We want justice to be served and if she is in the wrong she will get her punishment. Her disappearance has really caused us a lot of worries and we are happy that she has been found. She is the only one who shall tell how she disappeared.

“We are waiting to hear from her lawyer when she will return. We just can’t wait to see her,” Ms Letsie said.

Last week police Commissioner Molibeli said that the police’s negligence enabled ‘Makarabo to ‘disappear’ from police custody in May.

Commissioner Molibeli said the fact that the suspect was a woman contributed to the police’s complacency as they did not employ the normal full security measures like deploying a heavy guard and handcuffing the suspect as they do when the suspect is male.

He said although they expected her lawyer to facilitate Ms Mojakhomo’s return, they would also make their “own efforts to bring her into the country once we have established her whereabouts”.

This week, police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli told this publication that they were still waiting for ‘Makarabo’s lawyer to hand her over to the police.

“We still have not withdrawn the (missing person) notice that she is a wanted person because we still don’t know her whereabouts,” Supt Mopeli said.

The post Mojakhomo seeks international protection appeared first on Lesotho Times.

… five women brutally murdered in horrific shootings

Ntsebeng Motsoeli

THE deadly events of the 23^rd of July 2018 in Ha-Mokauli, Maseru appear to have been taken straight out of one of those thriller movies that have become the hallmark of the Hollywood movie industry.

It was the stuff of a Steven Spielberg movie or even a Stephen King horror novel as the sunset and darkness slowly enveloped a generally quiet village. Fires had already been lit in every homestead as families prepared the evening meals. Children huddled close to the crackling flames for warmth in the wintry chill.

In one or more homes, grandmothers regaled their grandchildren with tales of their youthful beauty which made the young men to hold their breath. And faced with the contours, ridges and wrinkles which age has wrought on their grandmother’s faces, the grandchildren struggled to superimpose on those faces the beauty that once was and was now being recounted in the tales of a bygone era.

It was not only a bygone era of beauty, it was a bygone era of peace and respect for the sanctity of human life which had also been lost along the way.

And that day- 23 July 2018 will remain forever etched in the collective memories of the Ha-Mokauli villagers some 25 kilometres south of the capital, Maseru.

At about 6 pm on that fateful evening, the sound of gunfire sent the villagers scurrying for cover behind and below anything that could shelter them.

The loud gunshots lasted for about 30 minutes and thereafter there was an eerie silence. When the shocked villagers finally came out of their hiding places, they were met with the gruesome sight of the five bodies of women who had been gunned down in their own homes. Another woman was writhing in pain together with a two-year-old toddler who had a bullet lodged in her arm.

The gunmen had already disappeared without a trace, leaving no explanation for the trail of corpses, blood, orphaned children and broken-hearted families.

The Lesotho Times recently visited the village and to this day, it is evident that the villagers have not shaken off the gruesome events of the day when their loved ones were murdered in cold blood by the merciless killers.

In keeping with Basotho customs, the Lesotho Times crew made their first stop at the house of the village chief, Mokhalinyane Sekhonyane.

This was all the more necessary especially at a time when the villagers would be suspicious of strangers in their midst.

Dressed in blue overalls that one would associate with a car mechanic or workman, Chief Sekhonyane, who appears to be in his late 40s, trudges towards the entrance of his homestead where the Lesotho Times crew is already awaiting him.

Area Chief Mokhalinyane Sekhonyane

The chief and the villagers are at loss as to what could have caused the brutal murders of the women. Some Famo musicians and their followers have been known to engage in deadly conflicts. Could it be one of those Famo killings, the chief asks rhetorically.  Or could it be that these were revenge killings after the murder of a female villager a few months ago? Still, everything does not make much sense for the chief because normally such killings do not target women.

And even if he and other villagers have witnessed violence and deaths before, the latest instalment in the orgy of brutal killings is something that Chief Sekhonyane struggles to come to terms with.

“The darkness was setting in when the peace and quiet was suddenly disturbed by the sound of gunfire,” Chief Sekhonyane tells this publication.

“At first, I thought it was my iron roof being blown off by the wind but we soon realised that guns were being fired.

“I knew then that people were dying. For years now, we have had a problem of people being shot dead by unknown gunmen. I knew when I heard the gunshots that someone had been killed.”

The chief’s worst fears were confirmed when he received a phone call informing him that a villager had been killed.

Afraid for his life but saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of fellow villagers, Chief Sekhonyane had to leave the shelter of his home to investigate the unfolding situation. It was then that they discovered to their horror that four more people had also been massacred.    Another family had been attacked but was fortunate to escape unscathed.     Another family had their car burned to a shell.

“We thought we would just be attending to one incident but four other people had been killed. In one family a mother and her 20-year-old daughter were killed, in another a woman was killed while her 21-year-old daughter was injured. Another woman was also killed and her two-year-old daughter was shot in the arm.

“I was overwhelmed and I did not know which family to attend to first. They all needed my attention. I was all over the place. Luckily the police had already arrived and were already attending to the deceased.

“The injured woman was rushed to Scott Hospital in Morija where she was referred to Tšepong (Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital).”

These are not the first violent deaths that Chief Sekhonyane and the villagers have witnessed. The orgy of violence has been going on since 2012. But no matter how many times the killings occur, there is just no getting used to them.

“I am shattered. This year alone 11 people have been shot dead. We have had this problem of gun violence since 2012. We have tried everything to stop it. We have held village gatherings to talk to our people to end this violence and surrender their weapons to police but that has not helped.

“Almost every family in this village has had their loved ones killed. It is so frustrating that more killings happen even after all the efforts we have made. I do not know what to do now,” Chief Sekhonyane says with wells forming in his eyes.

The police have patrols in the area but that is no consolation to the family of ‘Maisang Tilo whose 25-year-old granddaughter, Retšepile Tilo is one of the deceased. The 67-year-old Ms ‘Maisang Tilo was preparing supper on an open fire outside her hut when she spied two armed men who shot at her herd boy as he ran for cover.  She and her son immediately hid behind their hut.

Retšepile and her daughters aged five and two were in the main house when the gunmen arrived.

“They (gunmen) approached the main house where Retšepile and the girls were sitting. There were gunshots and at that point there was no doubt in my mind that they had killed her and the children. I could hear their footsteps as they came towards us. I felt numb and conceded that it was over for us as well.

“My son tried to run but they caught him. They asked him where his older brothers were and he told them that they were away in South Africa. They let him go and left afterwards. I eventually came out of my hiding place and rushed to the room where Retšepile and children were. She (Retšepile) lay lifeless on the floor. In desperation, I shook her and called out to her to wake up. But she was gone,” Ms Tilo said.

Ms Tilo’s son, Malakia, was murdered in 2012 and after the loss of Retšepile, she says she has given up on life.

“This is the second time they have murdered my children. I do not know what they want. They killed my son who was our breadwinner and now they have come for my granddaughter who has left behind these young children,” said the grieving Ms Tilo.

She said they could not eat, clean and bath for two days after the killings and they had to call on her Maseru-based daughter to come down and help them with the household chores.

“We could not eat or clean or bath for two days. I asked my daughter to come and help because I had no energy to do anything. She then realised that the youngest girl had been injured on the arm. We took her to Scott Hospital where it was discovered that there was a bullet in her hand. However, they said they would not take it out because it was stuck in a place where it would not be harmful to her.

“We live in fear day and night. We do not know who has done this and if they are planning to attack us again. We feel better when we have visitors like you but when people leave and darkness spreads across the land, we get terrified. This is not a life. We cannot live like this.

“I have also lost hope in the police. My son was killed in 2012 and no one has been arrested to date.”

Two homesteads away from the Tilos is the Setemere household where 54-year-old ‘Mateboho Setemere was killed and her 21-year-old daughter, Malitaba Setemere, injured.

Ms Setemere’s eldest daughter, Rethabile, tells of the trauma that has affected her hospitalised sister to the extent that she has vowed never to return home.

She (Rethabile) cannot wait until her mother is buried so that she can go back to her home in Ladybrand in South Africa.

“I just want to leave this place. I can no longer stay in my parents’ house which was once a comfort zone for me. My sister says she is going to drop out of school because she can no longer live here. I understand why she wants to leave. We have to look over our shoulders everywhere we go because they might be following us. We are suspicious of strangers,” Rethabile says.

Another villager, ‘Machabise Solane (52) says she is lucky to be alive after the attackers’ bullets missed her and her children.

The multiple bullet marks on Ms Solane’s house, furniture and the shattered window are evidence that the gunmen were out for blood.

Ms Solane says she has not been able to sleep in her own house since that fateful night.

“I am scared that they will come back and kill us all. Every night I take my children and seek accommodation at my neighbours’ place. If I had anywhere else to go, I would pack my bags and take my children and leave this village.”

Her neighbour, Relebohile Tilo’s family was also attacked and her car was set alight.

Ms Tilo says she is thankful that she, her father-in-law and her two children survived the attack.

“My husband used his savings to buy a car so that we could transport our elderly father to hospital for check-ups. However, we are more thankful for the saved lives. The car is only a material object,” Ms Tilo says.

At the Montjes’ homestead, the atmosphere is also sombre on account of the fact that the 45-year-old ‘Matsepiso Montje, and her 20 year-old daughter, Ithabeleng Montje were killed on the fateful night.

Ms Montje, whose husband was killed in 2016, is survived by two children, a boy and girl aged 13 and five respectively.

Ms Montje’s mother and mother-in-law were so distraught that they even turned down an interview.

“We are afraid that we might say things that they (the killers) will not like and they might come back for us,” says Ms Montje’s mother.

‘Mamthandazo Tsemase also counts herself lucky after she came face to face with the gunmen who decided to spare her life.

Her 47-year-old mother-in-law was not so lucky and she died in a hail of bullets after the attackers broke into their house and found them hiding in one of the rooms.

The slain woman was still mourning her late husband, Makhaola Tsemase, after his brutal murder in March this year. Mr Tsemase was shot dead by unknown gunmen who are still at large.

“We were beginning to come to terms with my brother’s death and now they kill his wife. My brother’s children are now orphaned. What could we have done wrong that cannot be forgiven,” Mr Tsemase’ sister, ‘Matlotliso Lekhoaba asks.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli says no arrests have been made and the police are still following the leads to find the killers.

“Investigations are still going on. No arrests have been made. Police officers have been deployed to keep watch on the area,” Sup Mopeli said.

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