Local News Archives - Lesotho Times

Pascalinah Kabi

PRIME Minister Thomas Thabane says the National Leaders Forum will go ahead today as planned with presidents Hage Geingob (Namibia) and Edgar Lungu (Zambia) expected to attend on behalf of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Dr Geingob and Mr Lungu will attend in their capacities as SADC chairperson and SADC Chairperson of the Organs on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation respectively.

Dr Thabane also called on the public to shun all politicians who work against the implementation of the multi-sector reforms.

He said this while addressing journalists in Maseru early this week soon after his return from the 38^th SADC summit of heads of state and government that was held in Windhoek, Namibia on Friday and Saturday.

His remarks come against the background of last week’s decision by the opposition to boycott the much-postponed National Leaders Forum which is one of the critical initiatives aimed at resuscitating the stalled reforms process.

Addressing the media this week, Dr Thabane said the National Leaders Forum will go ahead as planned with “only peace-loving people” who have heeded the call of SADC taking part in the proceedings.

He said presidents were expected to attend or send representatives to the forum.

“The SADC summit urged Lesotho and all stakeholders to ensure that the National Leaders Forum, scheduled for 23 to 24 August 2018 takes place as planned and called upon all stakeholders, including those who reside outside to participate,” Dr Thabane said on Monday.

“The forum will take place in the presence of the SADC chairperson and chairperson of the Organs on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The two chairpersons will either attend or send their representatives.”

Dr Thabane said the Multi-stakeholder National Forum will take place from 9 to 12 October this year as part of efforts of ensure that the reforms are fully implemented.

The premier further said the summit noted and appreciated efforts by the government to implement the SADC recommendations including those calling for the arrest and prosecution of all those who had committed serious offences in violation of human rights.

“SADC has called on every Mosotho to take part in discussions of peace-building. Those who want peace will come and take part in this (reforms) process and those who want something other than peace will pursue whatever they want outside Lesotho. We therefore call on the nation to shun whoever is working against this process.

“We invite everyone who feel they have something to say about this process and if anyone does not want to come we are going to apply the principle of majority rule, where we will follow what the majority of the people want. That’s how the world functions and the reforms will be implemented,” Dr Thabane said.

His remarks come against the background of last week’s decision by the opposition to boycott the reforms process.

The exiled leader of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Mothetjoa Metsing, wrote to the head of the SADC facilitation team to Lesotho, Justice Dikgang Moseneke, last Wednesday and stated that the opposition would boycott the reforms process including the National Leaders’ Forum if the government did not meet their demands.

But the regional body would have none of it and instead it warned at the weekend summit that it would not tolerate further delays to the reforms process from any quarter.

“The summit noted with concern that, despite a number of SADC initiatives in the Kingdom of Lesotho, progress on the implementation of the reforms roadmap, and national dialogue remains very slow,” regional leaders said in a communique that was issued on Saturday.

“The summit urged the Kingdom of Lesotho and all stakeholders to ensure that the National Leaders Forum, scheduled for 23 to 24 August 2018 takes place as planned and called upon all stakeholders, including those who reside outside to participate.”

In a less diplomatic tone, the regional leaders said they had “resolved not to entertain any further delays in the implementation of reforms and national dialogue and called upon SADC member states to take necessary measures against those with intentions to delay, or threaten to derail the Reforms and the National dialogue processes”.

The SADC leaders also called upon the government “to put in place a programme with clear milestones for the implementation of priority activities on the reforms roadmap and national dialogue”.

However, supporters of the opposition parties have come out guns blazing against the SADC heads state. The opposition supporters on Monday addressed an open letter to the SADC chairperson, Dr Geingob, accusing the regional body of bias against Mr Metsing and the opposition in general.

“We read with an utter consternation the communique of the 38^th SADC Summit which was held in Namibia on 17 to 18 August 2018. Our disappointment emanates from clause 22 of the Communique in which the SADC Summit ‘resolved not to entertain any further delays in the implementation of the reforms and national dialogue and called upon SADC member states to take necessary measures against those with intentions to delay or threaten to derail the reforms and national dialogue processes’.

“Although the clause is amenable to a multiplicity of interpretations, our own interpretation is that its crafters were specifically targeting the Lesotho coalition of opposition parties and more in particular Mr Metsing,” opposition supporters wrote on Monday.

They further stated that the opposition had made a “democratic choice” not to participate in the reforms and their choice “is a not a threat to the reforms process”.

“Our view is that SADC and the government can happily continue with the reforms without issuing unwarranted threats to anyone who is not willing to participate.

“We find it regrettable that the regional organisation of the stature of SADC which prides itself as an advocate of democracy cannot accommodate differing views and use coercive bullying tactics to trample upon people’s conscience. Freedom of conscience is entrenched in the constitution of Lesotho and it is, ipso facto, a democratic right of every citizen whether in government or in the opposition.

“It is our belief that those who are not willing to participate in the reforms because the government does not want to accede to their demands commit no crime and should not be coerced to do so. Hence it would not be fair on the part of SADC to interpret their abstinence as a threat or derailment geared towards reforms and national dialogue processes since these can still continue without their participation. It is our view that SADC should endeavour to assist the government to implement the reforms while at the same time respecting the views of those who have their own reservations,” the opposition supporters further stated.

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…conference seeks solutions to the infighting that has rocked the ruling party in recent months

Pascalinah Kabi

THE ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) will tomorrow hold a “sabbatical conference” aimed at finding solutions to the infighting that has plagued the 12-year-old party in recent months.

Embattled ABC chairperson Motlohi Maliehe expects that the conference will also decide his fate after he refused to appear before a disciplinary committee to face misconduct charges in relation to his public attack on the First Lady Maesaiah Thabane in May this year.

The two-day conference, which will be held at Holy Trinity High School in the Quthing district, will be attended by delegates from all the party structures including the national executive committee (NEC), legislators, councilors and constituency representatives.

The conference comes against the background of escalating infighting within the ABC. Only last week, ABC leader and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane warned that the strife-torn party was “drifting towards hatred, killings and corruption”.

Dr Thabane said it pained him that barely a year after assuming power in the 3 June 2017 elections, the ABC is riddled with serious in-fighting which has even affected its capacity to deliver services to the electorate.

Dr Thabane said this while addressing a rally in Ha ’Makhoroana in Mapoteng in the Berea district and his comments came against the background of escalating tensions and infighting within the ABC which were most recently manifested at the party’s leadership conference in Berea a fortnight ago.

Legislators Nyapane Kaya and Malimong constituency legislator Leshoboro Mohlajoa exchanged harsh words and almost came to blows at the Berea conference. The duo got involved in a heated argument after the party’s NEC resolved to bar Mr Maliehe, from chairing the Berea conference.

Mr Maliehe was barred from chairing the conference on the grounds that he had pending appearance before the party’s disciplinary committee over his public attack on Ms Thabane in May this year.

Mr Maliehe accused Ms Thabane of fomenting chaos in the party and in the government through “constant meddling” in the work of ministers and officials. He demanded that the First Lady stops meddling in state affairs forthwith or risk derailing the government.

The ABC chairperson accused the First Lady of derailing the government by seeking to control ministers and how they should perform their duties. He further accused Ms Thabane of violating the constitution and “abetting corruption” by instigating the removal of ministers who refused to comply with her demands.

His utterances provoked an immediate response from ABC leader and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane who was quoted in some sections of the media as having said that Mr Maliehe should pack his bags and leave his party and government positions.

Dr Thabane eventually made good on his threat by firing Mr Maliehe from his post as Tourism minister last week. Mr Maliehe’s dismissal coincided with his revelations that the State House, the prime minister’s official residence in Maseru, was used as a secret venue by a group of party stalwarts who plotted to assassinate him. Mr Maliehe said this in a written response to the ABC’s NEC which had asked him to ‘show cause’ why he should not be suspended for attacking Ms Thabane.

Mr Maliehe still faces the prospect of being booted out of the ABC as he has a pending disciplinary case in connection with his attacks on Ms Thabane. He was supposed to appear before the disciplinary committee on Tuesday but he declined to do so, arguing that his fate could only be decided by the conference which gets underway tomorrow in Quthing.

Asked whether or not the conference will discuss the Maliehe case and other concerns that have been raised by party members, ABC Secretary General Samonyane Ntsekele this week said, “We will listen to what the conference wants and proceed as directed”.

Mr Ntsekele further said the conference would discuss the achievements of the party and the challenges since its formation in 2006.

“We expect all the ABC delegates from the 80 constituencies to attend this crucial introspection conference in Quthing on 24 to 25 August 2018.

“The conference is going to look back on the road we have travelled as a party, that is, the achievements and challenges that we are facing. We are also going to put all our minds together and come up with solutions to those challenges,” Mr Ntsekele said.

The ABC has also decided on 1 and 2 February 2019 as the dates for its elective conference which will be held at the Lehakoe Recreation Centre in Maseru.

The February dates are contained in a recent circular from Mr Ntsekele to the ABC leadership structures.

“Pursuant to the ABC constitution which states that the national executive committee elections will be held after every five years the NEC resolved in its 8 August 2018 sitting to officially announce that the elections will be held on 1 to 2 February 2019,” part of Mr Ntsekele’s letter states.

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…as regional leaders reject PM Thabane’s pleas for an extension

…Ramaphosa also taken to task for being too lenient with the opposition

Staff Reporter

SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC) soldiers are now set to leave Lesotho after regional leaders rejected Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s bid to extend their mandate by a further three months.

The Lesotho Times has authoritatively established that the leaders poured scorn on Dr Thabane’s bid to have the mandate of the soldiers extended beyond the fast approaching deadline of November 2018, telling the Prime Minister that it was high time Lesotho put its house in order and implemented the multi-sectoral reforms recommended by the regional body to achieve durable peace and stability in the Kingdom.

The soldiers are deployed in Lesotho under the auspices of the SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho’s (SAPMIL). They are also alternatively known as the SADC Standby Force to Lesotho.

Authoritative sources within the government and SAPMIL said Dr Thabane had asked for the extension during the 38th SADC summit of heads of state and government held in Windhoek, Namibia last Friday and Saturday.

The sources said that Dr Thabane had asked for the extension in view of the fast approaching November deadline for the departure of SAPMIL but the regional leaders would have none of it. Instead, they reportedly told him to ensure that his government and other stakeholders fully utilised the remaining months of SAPMIL’s tenure to implement the much-delayed multi-sector reforms.

The sources also said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had been taken to task at the weekend summit for allegedly being too soft on the exiled opposition leaders whose refusal to return to Lesotho had stalled the reforms process.

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

The standby force is comprised of 217 soldiers, 15 intelligence personnel, 24 police officers and 13 civilian experts.

The standby force completed its original six-month mandate in May this year but this was subsequently extended to November 2018 to enable it to assist Lesotho in the implementation of the reforms which were recommended by SADC in 2016.

The SADC force was essentially deployed to prevent rogue Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) soldiers from destabilizing Dr Thabane’s coalition as it went about implementing the SADC recommended reforms to curb perennial instability in the Kingdom.

The reforms include holding rogue LDF members accountable for their past atrocities and helping mould the LDF into a professional force via some targeted re-training.

The standby force would also help in the investigation of the 5 September, 2017 assassination of army commander, Lieutenant General Khoantle Motšomotšo, by his subordinates, Brigadier Bulane Sechele and Colonel Tefo Hashatsi as well as the earlier killing of another LDF boss, Maaparankoe Mahao, among other tasks.

The official SADC communique released shortly after the summit stated that the regional bloc was concerned by the delays in the implementation of the reforms.

“The summit resolved not to entertain any further delays in the implementation of reforms and national dialogue and called upon SADC member states to take necessary measures against those with intentions to delay, or threaten to derail the reforms and the national dialogue processes”.

In their usual diplomatic manner, the regional leaders further stated that “the summit urged the government of Lesotho to put in place a programme with clear milestones for the implementation of priority activities on the reforms roadmap and national dialogue, while recognising that the SAPMIL and Oversight Committee tenures end in November 2018”.

However, the sources said the SADC heads of state were far from diplomatic behind closed doors and they flatly refused to entertain Dr Thabane’s plea for an extension to the SAPMIL tenure.

“The regional leaders flatly refused to budge and instead read the riot act to the government and the opposition, telling them to be serious about the reforms process starting with the National Leaders Reform (which starts today).

“They told Dr Thabane to ensure that his government and other stakeholders utilise this period until 20 November when SAPMIL’s tenure ends to cover as much ground as they can in the implementation of the reforms,” one source said.

Another source said that SADC had decided on the hardline stance to force the government and the opposition into implementing the reforms.

“The (regional leaders’) feeling was that the two parties would continue to bicker and procrastinate at a great financial cost to the region if the tenure of SAPMIL was extended.

“But even with this tough stance by the heads of state, it is unlikely that the constitutional and security sector reforms would have been fully implemented by the May 2019 deadline. There is so much ground to be covered to build consensus among stakeholders,” the source said.

The Press Attaché in the Prime Minister’s Office, Thabo Thakalekoala, yesterday said, “I cannot comment on the content of the meeting if at all what you are referring to was discussed in the SADC meeting”.

“I can only refer you to the SADC Communique which is the official record of the decisions taken at the Summit. Anything that is not contained in the communique I cannot comment.”

Another source said that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was also taken to task at the weekend summit for allegedly being too soft on the exiled opposition leaders whose refusal to return to Lesotho has stalled the reforms process. Besides Mr Metsing, other opposition leaders currently in exile are LCD deputy leader, Tšeliso Mokhosi and Teboho Mojapela of the Socialist Revolutionaries party.

“President Ramaphosa was also urged to employ a tough stance on the exiled leaders to ensure that they return to Lesotho for the reforms to proceed. South Africa was told not to offer the opposition leaders political asylum so that they can return home for the reforms.

“That is why the communique of the summit warns of measures against those who seek to delay or derail the reforms.

The SADC leaders are of the view that the exiled leaders are only concerned about evading justice as they have pending criminal cases,” the source said. The opposition in general is also seen thwarting the progress of the reforms for its own politicking ends.

The SADC position was communicated just three days after the exiled leader of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Mothetjoa Metsing, said that the opposition would boycott the reforms process including today’s National Leaders’ Forum. Mr Metsing said this in a 15 August 2018 letter to the head of the SADC facilitation team to Lesotho, Justice Dikgang Moseneke.

In addition to the usual opposition demands which include the formation of a government of national unity, the release from remand prison of murder-accused former army commander, Lieutenant Tlali Kamoli and the dropping of criminal charges against him, Mr Metsing issued new conditions for the opposition’s participation in the reforms process and these include guarantees for the safety of fraud-accused ’Makarabo Mojakhomo.

However, SADC refused to entertain the opposition demands and told Mr Metsing and his colleagues to participate in the reforms processes beginning with today’s National Leaders’ Forum.

According to the government roadmap for the implementation of the reforms, the National Leaders’ Forum is aimed at “contributing to trust and confidence building among the country’s top political leaders by providing a forum where the leaders can check-in with each other from time to time as necessary in order to promote the reforms”

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…Regional leaders turn down govt request for an extension of standby force’s tenure

Staff Reporter

REGIONAL leaders reportedly turned down Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s request for an extension of the SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho’s (SAPMIL) tenure in Lesotho by a further three months.

Sources within government and SAPMIL said Dr Thabane asked for the extension during the 38^th SADC summit of heads of state and government that was held in Windhoek, Namibia on Friday and Saturday.

The sources also said that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was also taken to task at the weekend summit for allegedly being too soft on the exiled opposition leaders whose refusal to return to Lesotho has stalled the reforms process.

The standby force is comprised of 217 soldiers, 15 intelligence personnel, 24 police officers and 13 civilian experts.

The standby force completed its original six-month mandate in May this year but this was subsequently extended to November this year to enable it to assist Lesotho in the implementation of the reforms which were recommended by SADC in 2016.

The SADC force was essentially deployed to prevent rogue Lesotho Defence Force soldiers from destabilising Dr Thabane’s coalition as it went about implementing SADC recommended reforms to curb perennial instability in the Kingdom.

The reforms include holding rogue LDF members accountable for their past atrocities and helping mould the LDF into a professional force via some targeted re-training.

The official SADC communique released shortly after the summit stated that the regional bloc was concerned by the delays in the implementation of the reforms.

However, the sources said the SADC heads of state were far from diplomatic behind closed doors and they flatly refused to entertain Dr Thabane’s plea for an extension to the SAPMIL tenure.

Another source said that SADC had decided on the hardline stance to force the government and the opposition into implementing the reforms.

“The (regional leaders’) feeling was that the two parties would continue to bicker and procrastinate at a great financial cost to the region if the tenure of SAPMIL was extended.

“I can only refer you to the SADC Communique which is the official record of the decisions taken at the Summit. Anything that is not contained in the communique I cannot comment.”

“That is why the communique of the summit warns of measures against those who seek to delay or derail the reforms.

The SADC leaders are of the view that the exiled leaders are only concerned about evading justice as they have pending criminal cases,” the source said.

However, SADC refused to entertain the opposition demands and told Mr Metsing and his colleagues to participate in the reforms processes beginning with today’s National Leaders’ Forum.

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Nthatuoa Koeshe

THE Road Fund has announced a 33, 3 percent increase in toll fees with effect from 1 September this year.

The last increment was made seven years ago in 2011.

Road Fund chief executive officer, Nkekeletse Makara said light vehicles will now pay M40 up from M30.

He said toll fees for medium heavy vehicles (two axles) will increase from M60 to M80 while large heavy vehicles (three axles) will now pay M120 up from the previous fee of M90. Extra-large heavy vehicles (four or more axles) will now pay M280 up from M210.

Mr Makara said the toll fees were supposed to be increased on an annual basis but they had not been increased for seven years due to unspecified challenges.

“The last review of the toll gate fees was in 2011 but despite proposals to review these toll gates being made in subsequent years they were deferred,” Mr Makara said.

He said the delay in increasing the charges has increased the maintenance gap while the road condition deteriorated thereby significantly increasing the maintenance cost.

“The road fund is mandated to collect road user charges including toll gate fees,” he said.

“The collected road user charges have in the years fallen behind and the ever-rising road maintenance needs have not been attended due to the delay in this increment,” Mr Makara said.

Mr Makara said the Road Fund collaborates with other agencies to execute its mandate of maintaining roads. He said they also work with organisations such as the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) which collects the toll gate fees, Maseru City Council and the Ministry of Local Government.

Mr Makara further said that a government gazette detailing the adjustment in toll fees will be published before Saturday 1 September and they would also distribute pamphlets to the public to ensure compliance with the new fees.

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Nthatuoa Koeshe

TWELVE Lerotholi Polytechnic students were recently arrested at the Mohokare River in Maseru on suspicions that they were conducting the infamous initiation rites which have resulted in the deaths of some first-year students over the years.

Last month, the body of 21-year-old Rethabile Mosito was discovered at the institution’s football pitch in the early hours of 21 July morning. He was the sixth student to die since 2009 as a result of the polytechnic students’ initiation culture.

The school authorities have threatened stern action against any students who participate in the infamous initiation rituals.

Acting on a tip-off on 24 August, the police arrested 12 students who were found at the river where they allegedly conduct the initiation rituals. Other students fled from the scene.

The suspects are aged from 18 to 27 and they remain in custody as police continue with their investigations.

Police Spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said the police were still looking for others who were involved in Mr Mosito’s death.

In another case, Supt Mopeli said Mamokhoane Mofolo, 24-year-old woman from Khabele Qholaqhoe in the Butha-Buthe district, appeared before the magistrate’s court on 23 August to answer to charges of murdering her 12-year-old sister in-law.

Mofolo allegedly assaulted the 12-year-old with a plastic sjambok on 20 August at about 10 pm on suspicion that the now deceased girl had stolen M510 from her.

Supt Mopeli said the girl was admitted in hospital but she later succumbed to her injuries.

Mofolo was remanded in police custody.

In another case, nine men aged from 18 to 30 appeared before the Mokhotlong Magistrates’ Court on 23 August 2018 for killing two men aged 35 and 18.

The suspects assaulted the deceased who they suspected to have masterminded an armed robbery at a construction business in Mokhotlong on 22 August where M13 000 was stolen.

The magistrate remanded the nine suspects in custody to the 5^th of next month for trial. Fifty-one-year-old Mokotjo Letseka, from Mount Moorosi was slapped with a 10-year jail term by the Mokhotlong Magistrates Court on 21 August for raping a 17-year-old girl at a Quthing boarding school.

Letseka sneaked into the girls’ dormitories at about 2:30am and raped the victim. He reportedly ordered the girl not to make noise but she screamed and other learners alerted their matron.

The police arrested Letseka at a later date.

A 42-year-old man from Qoaling in the Maseru district, Tieho Sello, handed himself to the police on 21 August after killing a 42-year-old woman for failing to pay back a debt.

He handed himself to the police a day after the murder.

Mr Sello appeared in court on 22 August and the Maseru Magistrate’s Court remanded him in custody to the 5^th of next month for trial.

Mr Sello allegedly attacked the deceased and stabbed her with a knife at about 6pm on 20 August and she died instantly.

In another case, 25-year-old Mpono Mosola was on 21 August 2018 sentenced to a year in prison after being found in illegal possession of 129, 9 kg of marijuana at the Hamohlapiso Bridge.

Mr Mosola failed to present the rightful documentation for the possession of the marijuana.

The court initially gave him an option to pay M2000 fine which he failed to pay.

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Mohalenyane Phakela

THE Metolong Authority says it has spent millions of maloti to compensate 2539 out of the 2786 families that were affected by the construction of the Metolong Dam on the outskirts of Maseru.

This was revealed by the Metolong Authority chief executive officer, Lebekoane Ntoi, during a workshop in Maseru which is expected to end today with the authority officially handing over the management of the Metolong Dam Water Supply Project (MDWSP) to the Ministry of Water.

“The resettlement and compensation’s overall objective was to ensure that people who were negatively impacted by the MDWSP through tangible losses are compensated in a participatory and timely manner in line with the laws of Lesotho and international best practices,” Mr Ntoi said.

“Fortunately, only six families had to be relocated and among them only one had to be moved to another village which is from Ha Seeiso to Ha Matala. Other movements remained in the same villages they had initially occupied. We built three bedroomed houses of the same value for all the six families but which were above the standard of the houses they had previously owned.

“However, 247 families are yet to be compensated because we faced challenges with them. Part of the reasons were unresolved disputes over land, grievances against the compensation policy and rates as well as other land owners’ whereabouts which were unknown.

“The other challenge is that for some villagers, only a small portion of their land was affected and they have said they do not want the compensation money as it is too little.”

Mr Ntoi also said some of the community developments by the Metolong Authority include the construction of the Liphiring bridge, Sefikeng bridge, the Ha Motṧoeneng-Metolong Road, rural electrification and tapped water supply in the villages around Metolong.

The resettlement and compensation officer, Mosiuoa Mohlomi, said that they gathered all the information about the affected property and damages to fully compensate concerned parties.

“Other villagers were partially affected while others had their property completely damaged. The compensation process included asset identification, survey, signing compensation agreement forms and verification of collected data among others.

“We compensated communal properties where Ratau villagers were paid M8 944 225, 49 while those in the Motanasela area were paid M1 212 981, 48. The outstanding amount is around M1 million and this was delayed because of the disputes over village boundaries in Ratau.

“We however, engaged a legal service office to expedite dispute resolution, involved local community leaders in identifying and locating the unknown villagers and assisting affected parties in acquiring needed documentation. Throughout the process we discovered that people preferred to be compensated with money over land,” he said.

The dam was constructed by a Chinese company Hydropower Engineering and construction company Sinohydro under the supervision of the Metolong Authority starting in October 2011.

The Metolong programme forms the first phase of the Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme which aims to ultimately bring water to all the communities living within the Lowlands regions.

After the completion of the first phase of the dam, the authority began supplying water to Mazenod, Roma and Morija in September 2014. The Teyateyaneng, Maseru High South reservoir in Lithabaneng and the Lesotho Sun reservoir started receiving water in 2015.

The authority handed over the plant to the Water and Sanitation Company (WASCO) in August 2016 and the dam only realised its full capacity in April this year when it carried 63 million cubic litres of water.

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Ntsebeng Motsoeli

THE Labour Commissioner, ‘Mamohale Matsoso says that there is need for an overhaul of the work permit system to do away with possible malpractices in the department.

Ms Matsoso said the current system has loopholes, adding that she had been unfairly accused of corruption in the issuance of work permits.

Last week Ms Matsoso and some ministry officials were accused by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of being part of a syndicate that fraudulently issues work permits in exchange for bribes from foreigners.

Ms Matsoso said while she felt bullied and vilified in last week’s PAC session with the Ministry of Mines, her ordeal gave her an opportunity to push the authorities to modernise the system of issuing the work permits.

She added that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) had attested to the fact that Lesotho’s work permits system was outdated and needed a complete overhaul.

“During our discussion with the IOM in 2016, they said that our system is outdated,” Ms Matsoso said.

“The current system does not conform to international best practises. It is still manual so if you want a document you have to go through a heap of files. It needs to be computerised. We still rely on the police to issue work permits.”

Ms Matsoso said the IOM has also indicated that there should be a political will for the overhaul to be implemented.

“But their (IOM) reaction has been that without a clear political will they cannot even begin to analyse the system. We have learnt that they have already assisted Tanzania to computerise their work permit system. They have said they were ready to talk in reality about it if there is political will in government because it needs a complete overhaul.

“The IOM said it is a project that involves funds of very significant magnitude, costing millions. They did not give the exact figure of the money that would be needed but said it would be a project that is as big as the national identification system. It is something that you cannot just improve by changing few provisions of the law there and then,” Ms Matsoso said.

She said that the law was rigid so much that no distinctions were made on emergencies and other situations where work permits were required. She said the current law requires one to have a work permit even for short-term engagements which she said was not really necessary when the applicant is just rendering a service but not taking up a job.

“This is the rigidity of the law. If we were to apply this law, technically no one would come to help the country in times of emergency. I used to write letters to acknowledge the presence of such people who come on short-term engagements but I stopped once I realised that some officers were accessing my office stamp to issue such letters fraudulently.”

Ms Matsoso said that she was hopeful that the allegations levelled against her would inspire the authorities to work on the old-fashioned work permits system.

“Maybe this noise will stir our principals to start looking realistically at our situation. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) has also spoken on the work permits but there is no work on the ground to overhaul the system.

“There is no movement. However, we will see what happens once this dust has settled. My intention is to use this opportunity again to knock on the principals’ doors to plead with them that some work has to be done on the system.”

Ms Matsoso refuted the allegations that she was part of a syndicate that fraudulently awarded work permits, adding that there were checks and balances that ensure that there was transparency.

“We use a procedural system which allows us to ensure that there is transparency. The work permit applications go through the National Employment Services, my office, the office of the deputy principal and then to the Minister for final approval. I am not part of any syndicate. We try as much as possible to work in a transparent way,” Ms Matsoso said.

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Bereng Mpaki

THE government allegedly lost M119, 5 million revenue which could have been collected in royalties from Letšeng Diamonds from 2009 to 2012, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently heard.

According to the Auditor General’s report of 2014, Letšeng has been paying royalties at the rate of eight percent instead of the 10 percent stipulated by the Mines and Minerals Act of 2005.

This, according to the auditor’s report, has led to a shortfall of M119, 5 million in revenue that could have been collected by the government.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, diamond mining companies have been undercharged royalties at the percentages ranging between four percent and eight percent on precious stones. From a sample of royalties received for four years from 2009 to 2012, it was revealed that Letšeng Diamonds had underpaid by a total of M 119 544 694 resulting from application of eight percent royalties instead of 10 percent.

“Management was advised to investigate the matter and review the mining leases for application of correct rates,” the audit report says.

Commenting on the issue, the Commissioner of Mines, Pheello Tjatja, said that “Letšeng Diamonds was awarded a mining lease in 1999 and the agreement stated that Letšeng will pay diamond sales tax at a rate of seven percent. There is also a clause saving it (Letšeng) from the implications of future laws,” Mr Tjatja said.

PAC chairperson Selibe Mochoboroane said the Mines and Minerals Act appeared to be contradictory in that while it fixed the royalties at 10 percent for precious stones, it also allowed the Mining minister to make an arbitrary decision to lower that rate.

“While Section 59 (2) of the said Act stipulates that royalties payable should be 10 percent for precious stones and three percent for other minerals or mineral products, Section 60 (1) of the same Act goes on to say that “the Minister may, in the public interest, remit all or part of any royalty payable on any mineral or mineral product for such a period he may determine”.

“This law seems awkward to me if it gives the minister permission to break the provisions given by the same law arbitrarily. I have never seen such a thing,” Mr Mochoboroane said.

The chief legal officer in the Mining ministry, Mathalea Lerotholi, said the minister had been given the authority to waive the 10 percent and settle for lower royalties in the public interest.

Meanwhile, the PAC also took the ministry to task over the records of mining companies which showed that royalties amounting to M27 million had been transferred to the Commissioner of Mines yet there was no evidence of the receipt of funds in the ministry’s records.

The audit report indicated that the ministry did not furnish auditors with records to confirm the receipt of the money from mining companies.

Section 801 (2) of the Financial Regulations 1973 states that: “It is the duty of the chief accounting officers and other revenue collectors to ensure that revenue which is payable to them is collected promptly and that all collections of revenue or other receipts are properly brought to account.”

“Records of mining companies showed that royalties amounting to M 27 472 971, 48 have been transferred to the Commissioner of Mines and there was no evidence of transfer of funds. The records of the commissioner did not show evidence of receipt of such funds.

“It was recommended that management should ensure that royalties due were collected and properly recorded in the appropriate books and all overdue royalties were followed up and collected accordingly.”

Mr Tjatja replied by saying he did not have the correct information regarding the transactions as they were made before he assumed office.

The post Govt loses M120 million from royalties appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

DEMOCRATIC Congress (DC) leader and former prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili fired a broadside at Prime Minister Thomas Thabane accusing him of abusing his authority to ensure that the First Lady enjoyed unfettered powers in the awarding of government tenders.

Speaking at a weekend in Ha Mamathe in the Berea district, Dr Mosisili said Dr Thabane fired the then minister of health, Nyapane Kaya and his Public Works and Transport counterpart Lehlohonolo Moramotse to pave way for his wife to exercise control in the awarding of lucrative tenders in those ministries.

Although Dr Mosisili did not mention Ms Thabane by name as referred to Dr Thabane’s “dear one” at the rally, the DC chairperson, Motlalentoa Letsosa, subsequently told this publication that he was referring to the First Lady.

“It is very clear that Ntate Mosisili are talking about the First Lady and you can quote me he meant Ms Thabane,” Mr Letsosa said.

Messrs Kaya and Letsosa were sacked in February this year and replaced with Nkaku Kabi and Maliehe Prince Maliehe respectively. Prior to the dismissal, Dr Thabane had indicated that he would soon get rid of some ministers who were either corrupt or failed to discharge their mandate.

But on Sunday, Dr Mosisili told his supporters that Dr Thabane only fired the duo to clear the way for the First Lady to have the final say in the awarding of tenders at the two ministries.

“The Prime Minister fired two ministers barely a year into the tenure of the current regime on the grounds that there were corrupt elements in his cabinet,” Dr Mosisili said.

“Were these people (Messrs Kaya and Letsosa) indeed corrupt? No, he fired them because they were heading ministries which have potentially lucrative tenders.

“There are several lucrative catering tenders at the Ministry of Health and so the Prime Minister had to fire Kaya to ensure that his dear one has excessive powers and influence on the awarding of such tenders. I refuse to believe that Kaya was that corrupt. Even Moramotse was not corrupt and he was just unfortunate in that he didn’t fit in the big plan of awarding road construction tenders worth millions to the Chinese nationals,” Dr Mosisili added.

The former premier questioned Dr Thabane’s decision to engage Xie Yan, a naturalised Mosotho of Chinese descent, as his economic adviser.

Dr Mosisili accused Dr Thabane of filling crucial government positions with foreigners of questionable backgrounds.

He said Dr Thabane and Mr Yan were solely to blame for the ongoing dispute between the government and the wool and mohair farmers over the new regulations which made it mandatory for all wool and mohair to be exported to international markets from Lesotho. Over many years, farmers have had their wool and mohair exported from South Africa on their behalf by South African brokers BKB.

Dr Mosisili’s claims were denied by the Prime Minister’s Press Attaché, Thabo Thakalekoala, who said in any event, the premier had the prerogative to hire and fire ministers.

“The fact that Ntate Mosisili is a former prime minister does not give him any right to question the decisions of the prime minister. He (Mosisili) fired ministers during his tenure and Ntate Thabane never questioned his decisions.

“It surprises us that Ntate Mosisili knows the premier’s reasons for firing the ministers. He must join the ruling All Basotho convention ABC if he wants to have a say in the issues relating to the current administration,” Mr Thakalekoala said.

The post Thabane abused his powers: Mosisili appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE fall-out from last week’s tension-filled All Basotho Convention (ABC) party conference in Quthing continued this week with outspoken senior legislator and former Health minister Nyapane Kaya saying the party leadership had become violent and incapable of resolving its challenges.

Mr Kaya’s sentiments sharply differed with those of party spokesperson Tefo Mapesela who said the weekend party conference was a major step towards addressing issues affecting the 12-year-old party.

The weekend conference, which had been called to enable party members to introspect and seek answers to the infighting and other challenges that have plagued the 12-year-old party, degenerated into chaos and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane had to be rescued by his bodyguards from rowdy members.

The bodyguards were forced to step in and eject from the conference room party members who heckled Dr Thabane after he took to the podium and pleaded with them to allow ABC deputy chairperson Kemiso Mosenene to chair the proceedings in place of suspended chairperson Motlohi Maliehe.

The outspoken Mr Maliehe was on Thursday suspended from his position for 12 months by the ABC’s national executive committee (NEC) after he declined to appear before a disciplinary hearing in connection with his blistering public attack on the First Lady, Maesaiah Thabane, in May this year.

But the battle lines have since been drawn after Mr Maliehe told this publication that he would defy the suspension and tackle Dr Thabane head-on until the latter accepted defeat and stepped down as party leader.

The outspoken Mr Kaya who is seen by many as an ally of Mr Maliehe this week told this publication that he had been manhandled by five heavily armed men at the conference for refusing to join the rest of the ABC legislators at the high table.

The former health minister said he was shaken to the core by the “latest tactics used by the ABC leadership” to instill fear in party members who refused to be silenced and continued speaking out about the party’s problems.

“I was sitting with the rest of the delegation from my (Mechachane) constituency when people started shouting saying Ntate Mosenene should not chair the conference. Ntate Mosenene called out my name and said I should go to the podium and sit with the rest of the legislators but I didn’t go there.

“The ABC youth league leader, Taelo Ntsokotsane, then approached me and asked that we talk but I refused. Jane Mohoalohoalo (a senior ABC member) also made similar demands and at that point I felt unease.

“Suddenly, without warning five hefty men including one former bodyguard of our leader (Dr Thabane) came over and told me to immediately join the rest of the legislators at the high table,” Mr Kaya said.

He said he refused to budge because he had not been shown where exactly he was supposed to seat. He further said his refusal angered the quintet who manhandled and attempted to drag him to the podium until he was rescued by fellow party members.

“As they dragged me I could feel they had guns on them. They pulled me so hard and it was really physical. I decided to leave the hall because I suspected that there would be bloodshed and I didn’t want it to spill to innocent people.

“They followed me and we exchanged words. I told them to kill me if they wanted to and they said they would not do so. One of the MPs came out with the prime minister’s security details and demanded that we talk. I refused and sat in my car until in the morning when the conference ended”

He said it was unfortunate that the party which was “once a beacon of hope for many Basotho praying for an end to impunity” had resorted to force to instill fear in outspoken members to ensure that critical, burning issues were swept under the carpet.

Mr Kaya and Mr Maliehe have been outspoken about alleged corruption within the ABC and in government. Mr Maliehe has gone so far as attacking Ms Thabane and accusing her of fomenting chaos in the party and in the government through “constant meddling” in the work of ministers and officials. He demanded that the First Lady stops meddling in state affairs forthwith or risk derailing the government.

This week, Mr Kaya said it was in the best interests of the ABC leadership to listen to its members instead of intimidating them into silence.

Asked if he had raised his concerns with the party leadership, Mr Kaya said the party environment was not conducive for dialogue and they had tried in vain over many months to engage in dialogue with “people who only want to hear what they want”.

“Issues are raised but they are ignored. Dialogue isn’t one of the pillars of democracy practiced in the ABC,” Mr Kaya concluded.

His claims were however, dismissed by Mr Mapesela who said it was important for people to understand that the premier’s bodyguards were only at the Quthing conference to protect him as demanded by the law.

“No bodyguard forcefully ejected ABC members. It was the ABC youths who ejected a small clique that made noise in the conference hall. I don’t know that Mr Kaya was manhandled but I know that he was among the people singing the re bitselitsoe masaoana song (loosely translated to mean that ‘we were called here for nonsense’).

“I don’t know what he means when he says that the ABC used force to instill fear in people criticising the leadership,” Mr Mapesela said, adding Mr Kaya was out of order and had no respect for the party and its leader.

Mr Mapesela said the Quthing conference achieved its objectives and it was a much-needed process towards resolving challenges that faced the party.

“The conference elected a team of people to minute every single concern that was raised and those concerns will be dealt with, so this was a successful conference,” Mr Mapesela said.

The party will however, have to contend with Mr Kaya and Mr Maliehe. The latter, who was suspended from his position as chairperson for 12 months, has refused to accept the decision.

He said the heckling of Dr Thabane was proof that “ABC members want a new leader and they will vote for a person of their choice”.

“It was also an indication that I have defeated Thabane and I am now going to fight him. My suspension is a clear indication that they do not want me to stand for NEC elections in February.

“I am going to stand for elections, I am also going to continue with my leadership roles in the party and I am going to hold a rally soon. Thabane has lost and must accept defeat. It is time for him to go and let the ABC elect its own leader,” Mr Maliehe said over the weekend.

The post Mapesela, Kaya speak on ABC chaos appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

AFRICAN Union (AU) leaders will only decide whether or not to extend the tenure of the SADC Preventative Mission in Lesotho (SAMPIL) and the SADC Oversight Committee after receiving a report from the latter committee in October this year.

This was said yesterday by the visiting AU Peace and Security Council chairperson Susan Sikaneta.

The 15-member AU Peace and Security Council has a mandate to promote peace, security and stability on the African continent. It is in the country to get firsthand information regarding the political and security situation in Lesotho as well as an appreciation of the activities of SAMPIL, its progress and challenges in the implementation of its mandate.

Ms Sikaneta said the mission had the added responsibility mandated to add political weight to the SADC efforts to expedite the implementation of the multi-sector reforms aimed at achieving stability in Lesotho.

Her remarks follow the recent 38th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in Windhoek, Namibia where the regional leaders announced that the tenures of the SADC Oversight Committee and SAPMIL would end in November.

A communique issued at the end of the two-day summit stated the regional leaders “urged the government of the Kingdom of Lesotho to put in place a programme with clear milestones for the implementation of priority activities on the reforms roadmap and national dialogue, while recognising that the SAPMIL tenure ends in November 2018, a report of which, is to be submitted to the (SADC) chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation by 30 October 2018”.

Last week, SADC sources told the Lesotho Times that Prime Minister Thomas Thabane issued an impassioned plea to the SADC heads of state to extend the SAPMIL mandate by a further three months.

However, his pleas were rejected by the SADC leaders who instead told the premier that it was high time Lesotho put its house in order and implemented the multi-sectoral reforms to achieve durable peace and stability in the Kingdom.

But the tenure of SAPMIL could still be extended after Ms Sikaneta said a final decision on the future of the two committees in Lesotho will be taken by AU leaders after receiving a report from the SADC Organ on Politics.

“Of course, the question was raised that the SAMPIL mandate may end by November this year but I must say that the SADC heads of state have not declared so,” Ms Sikaneta said.

All they (SADC leaders) are hoping for is to receive the (SADC Oversight Committee) report on the state of things in Lesotho by 30 October and they will look at that report and determine whether or not the mandate should be renewed. So that is an issue that is still pending and depending on how things move between now and October. We cannot say that the mandate is going to end because it is up to the leaders to say so,” Ms Sikaneta said.

She said their tour had enabled them to appreciate firsthand some of the challenges experienced by SAPMIL that included lack of technical equipment to discharge their functions.

“We have taken this up (the issue of equipment) and we will make sure that we give to SAMPIL what they need to assist this country better in terms of preserving security and peace.”

She said the AU Peace and Security Council had observed that there Lesotho still needed to address the challenges of polarisation and politicisation of the civil service and other key state institutions.

She said the country needed to have clearly defined roles and mandates for the Lesotho Defence Force, Lesotho Mounted Police Service and the Lesotho Correctional Service.

“We have agreed with all the stakeholders that this should be done because once we have all clear roles, everybody will know what they are expected to do and there will be no overlapping and stepping on each other’s toes,” she said, adding they would soon prepare a report for the consideration of the AU leaders.

The post AU to decide on SAPMIL tenure appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE All Basotho Convention Youth League (ABCYL) has thrown its weight behind party leader Thomas Thabane, saying it will do everything in its power to ensure he is re-elected at the party conference early next year.

The ABCYL also threatened to deal with suspended party chairperson Motlohi Maliehe and those who backed him in his defiance of Dr Thabane. They described Mr Maliehe as a “rebel” who ought to be disciplined.

ABCYL spokesperson Mphonyane Lebesa announced the youth league’s position at press conference in Maseru this week.

The ABCYL resolution follows the weekend party conference in Quthing which degenerated into chaos and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane had to be rescued by his bodyguards from rowdy ABC members.

But the battle lines have been drawn after Mr Maliehe told this publication that he would defy the suspension and tackle Dr Thabane head-on until the latter accepted defeat and stepped down as party leader.

Mr Maliehe told this publication that he would contest for a party post at the elective conference that is scheduled for 1 to 2 February 2019.

This week, Mr Lebesa sought to downplay the impact of Mr Maliehe as well as the chaotic events of the Quthing conference, saying these were minor challenges which did not affect the party’s cohesion and unity.

“While we are having some challenges in our party, it is still worth noting that we remain intact as ever and we are going to deal with all those who disrespected our leader at last week’s conference in Quthing,” Mr Lebesa said.

“Anyone who wages a war against our leader is surely waging it against us and people should know that we are not going to tolerate any rebellious behaviour like that displayed by the party’s chairperson, Mr Maliehe.

“He lost the plot when he announced that he was ready to take over at a rally held in Hololo (Butha-Buthe) early this year. He should know that ABC has only one leader and that leader is Ntate Thabane.”

In May this year, Mr Maliehe grabbed headlines when he launched a blistering attack on Ms Thabane while addressing a rally in Hololo constituency in the Butha-Buthe district.

His utterances provoked an immediate response from Dr Thabane who was quoted in some sections of the media as having said that Mr Maliehe should pack his bags and leave his party and government positions.

Dr Thabane made good on his threats by firing Mr Maliehe from his cabinet post as Tourism minister a fortnight ago. The ABC’s national executive committee followed this up last week by suspending Mr Maliehe over the same issue.

And this week, Mr Lebesa accused Mr Maliehe of seeking to “shake the foundations of the party” with his utterances at the May rally.

“This (Mr Maliehe) is a man who is third in command in the party’s NEC and he knows the administration like the back of his hand. But still he chose to misdirect himself thus bringing the party into disrepute.

“We therefore appeal to all party members to tread carefully on this matter so as to avoid frustration and instability,” Mr Lebesa said.

Another youth league member, Ntobeng Moloi, said the chaos at the Quthing conference “was meant to show treachery against the party leader”.

“That was treacherous behaviour against our leader and as the youth we shall not support such acts regardless of who leads them.

“While we admit that there are some challenges including intolerance in the party, we shall not cease to preach unity and oneness among ourselves.

“By breaking into songs that were meant to disrupt the conference, such members should accept that they have forfeited their democratic right to be heard,” Mr Moloi said, adding aggrieved party members should follow the proper channels to express their concerns instead of communicating them through the media.

The post ABCYL backs Thabane, takes war to party rebels appeared first on Lesotho Times.

…imposes travel embargo on Lesotho politicians who derail the reforms

Pascalinah Kabi

SOUTH Africa has resolved to impose a travel embargo and to stop providing refuge to exiled Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader, Mothetjoa Metsing, and other opposition leaders who are seen as frustrating the reforms process.

This was revealed this week by the South African Minister of International Relations and Corporation, Lindiwe Sisulu, in a media briefing in that country.

South Africa resolved on the measures as part of efforts to force all Lesotho politicians to participate in the long-drawn out processes to implement multi-sector reforms that are seen as crucial to long-term stability and socio-economic development.

The hardening of South Africa’s stance is in line with the position that was adopted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state at the SADC summit that was held in Windhoek, Namibia a fortnight ago.

Miffed by the apparent lack of progress in implementing constitutional, security sector, media and governance reforms that were recommended by SADC in 2016, the regional leaders called on member states to take the “necessary measures” to force Lesotho’s bickering politicians to implement the reforms.

Lesotho has until May 2019 to have fully implemented the 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 preconditions for its participation in the reforms.

Among other things, the opposition has demanded assurances that exiled leaders such as Mr Metsing, will not be prosecuted upon their return to participate in the reforms. Besides Mr Metsing, other opposition leaders currently in exile are LCD deputy leader, Tšeliso Mokhosi and Teboho Mojapela of the Socialist Revolutionaries party.

But a fortnight ago SADC heads of state resolved “not to entertain any further delays in the implementation of reforms and national dialogue and called upon SADC member states to take necessary measures against those with intentions to delay, or threaten to derail the reforms and the national dialogue processes”.

The regional leaders further stated that “the (SADC) summit urged the government of Lesotho to put in place a programme with clear milestones for the implementation of priority activities on the reforms roadmap and national dialogue, while recognising that the SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho (SAPMIL) and Oversight Committee tenures end in November 2018”.

Last week, SADC sources told the Lesotho Times that Prime Minister Thomas Thabane issued an impassioned plea to the SADC heads of state to extend the SAPMIL mandate by a further three months.

The sources also said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was also taken to task at the SADC summit for allegedly being too soft on the exiled opposition leaders whose refusal to return to Lesotho and consequently stalled the reforms process.

The regional leaders’ tough stance appears to have galvanised South Africa into taking decisive and “necessary measures” this week with Ms Sisulu announcing that they had resolved not to habour any of the Lesotho politicians who are supposed to be in Lesotho to participate in the reforms process.

Ms Sisulu singled out Mr Metsing as one of the politicians who should leave South Africa and take his place alongside other leaders in the reforms process.

“The SADC summit noted with concern that, despite a number of SADC initiatives in the Kingdom of Lesotho, progress on the implementation of the reforms roadmap, and national dialogue remains very slow.

“There will be travel bans and we will adhere to those travel bans. This is something that we would like to convey to all those who are participants in the negotiations around Lesotho because this (delays in implementing the reforms) has gone on for too long. By the time SAMPIL is withdrawn by SADC, we will be leaving Lesotho in a very vulnerable situation if we have not achieved peace there.

“So, we will put pressure to the extent that is lawful; to the extent that it assists in the resolution of the Lesotho problem. We will not take Metsing to the border but we will expect him to go to the border. He has a responsibility to go back (to Lesotho). He has a responsibility to lead his people who are in the opposition,” Ms Sisulu said.

South Africa and SADC’s tougher stance has been welcomed by the government with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesego Makgothi, telling this publication that SADC took the measures to expedite the implementation of the reforms.

Mr Makgothi said it was necessary for SADC member states to act against individuals who frustrated the reforms as the regional body could only impose measures against countries and not individuals.

“SADC cannot impose sanctions on individuals but it can only impose sanctions on member states. The SADC call for member states to individually act against Lesotho politicians was issued to ensure that the reforms are implemented and they are not derailed by anyone who resides in any of the SADC states outside Lesotho.

“I must stress that such measures can only be taken against anyone the host country, which is a SADC member state, deems to be a threat to the reforms process. However, Basotho politicians who are not a threat to the reforms process will be left alone to go about their business in their host countries,” Mr Makgothi said.

However, Ms Sisulu’s pronouncements have drawn the ire of the opposition with LCD spokesperson Teboho Sekata saying it made no sense because Mr Metsing was already preparing to return to Lesotho.

“The (Sisulu) statement make no sense at all because Ntate Metsing will go to the border when the time is right. He will not immediately come to Lesotho but when he does come, it will be on his own volition and he does not expect anyone to take him to the border. There was really no need for the minister to say that they expected him to,” Mr Sekata said.

Supporters of the opposition parties have also come out guns blazing against the SADC heads state. The opposition supporters recently addressed an open letter to the SADC chairperson, Hage Geingob, accusing the regional body of bias against Mr Metsing and the opposition in general.

“We read with an utter consternation the communique of the 38th SADC Summit which was held in Namibia on 17 to 18 August 2018. Our disappointment emanates from clause 22 of the Communique in which the SADC Summit ‘resolved not to entertain any further delays in the implementation of the reforms and national dialogue and called upon SADC member states to take necessary measures against those with intentions to delay or threaten to derail the reforms and national dialogue processes’.

They further stated that the opposition had made a “democratic choice” not to participate in the reforms and their choice “is a not a threat to the reforms process”.

“Our view is that SADC and the government can happily continue with the reforms without issuing unwarranted threats to anyone who is not willing to participate.

The post SA gets tough on Lesotho appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

DEFENCE and security agencies across the world must effectively manage partnership between politicians, civil service and military to enhance stability.

This was said by Laura Cleary, a renowned English security expert, at the Makoanyane Barracks in Maseru this week. Professor Cleary said this while addressing 30 security personnel from Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Lesotho who are participating in the two-week course on ‘Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context’.

Prof Cleary said there are always tensions within the civil-military relations which needed to be addressed through an effective partnership between politicians, civilians and security agencies.

The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) has experienced its fair share of tensions with civilians since independence from Britain in 1966. A 2015 Southern African Development Community (SADC) commission of inquiry concluded that the apparent disregard of civilian rule by the military in Lesotho had a long history.

“The military in Lesotho has, over the years, been dogged by controversy and has a history of seizing power as evidenced by the 1986 military coup, the conflicts of 1994 and 1998 and the political and security unrest of 2007,” SADC said in its report.

The two week course was organised by the British High Commission and Prof Cleary, who heads the Centre for International Security and Resilience, is one of the course directors engaged to train the 30 participants.

Addressing the participants, Prof Cleary said all course instructors were honoured to deliver the training in Lesotho for the first time. She said they hope to closely work with the course participants to find solutions to challenges facing defence forces in their respective countries.

“The defence forces of the world find themselves under increasing strain, they adapt new threats and new missions.

“There is growing realisation that if those defence forces and wider security services are to succeed in providing the level of security the citizens demand we need to rethink how we govern security and how we manage our security services.

“One of the core principles of this course is that improved security is dependent upon improvements in governance and management. That therefore, implies that we need to revisit or rethink the civil military relationship because that lies at the heart of our security. There are always tensions within that civil military relationship but if we can develop an effective partnership between our politicians, our civil service and our military, if they can have an effective working relationship then we are better able to enhance stability and longer-term security,” Prof Cleary said.

She said they were delighted to see so many representatives from across the region and from the wider security context here to join in the conversation about how to improve civil military relations and security.

She said experience from delivering the course in Africa, Central Eastern Europe, South America and other regions of the world and one of the lessons learnt was that “if we are really serious about improving our security, we also need to improve our governance and civil management”.

Prof Cleary said they had also learnt that the security challenges that countries around the world face were common and therefore many of the solutions to those problems were similarly common.

“So, to have so many representatives across the region allows us to develop a shared understanding of those common security challenges and those common solutions to those challenges. We have great opportunity to learn from each other.

“Within the next two weeks you will be addressed by civilian academics as well as serving military personnel and we will be sharing with you our experience of trying to improve defense and security but each of you are also acknowledged experts in your own field and therefore we have a great deal that we can learn from you.

“So, I would encourage you, as we discuss various security issues, aspects of governance, the law and management, to draw on your experience and to share that with us. We are not here to preach one way of governing and managing defence, we are here to share expertise so by all means engage us and that is at the very heart of diplomacy,” Prof Cleary said.

Prof Cleary joined Cranfield University in July 2002 as the Academic Director for Cranfield University’s internationally regarded ‘Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context’ programme, which is a key element of the Defence Engagement Strategy.

Her leadership of this programme and her contribution to the UK’s Defence Diplomacy Mission were acknowledged through the award of the Director General of the Defence Academy’s Commendation in 2006. In 2017 she was shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution in the Women in Defence Awards.

Officially opening the training, LDF Commander, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela, reminded the course participants that the course was one of the milestones in the country’s endeavour to realise the reforms of Basotho nation at large.

“I am confident that you student-officers will not only gain knowledge from the programme or your interactions with your fellow programme members but you will also enrich the learning programme in the lives of your colleagues in your stay and after. We are also keen that in your stay in Lesotho, no matter how busy you will be, you will be able to appreciate the peaceful and enabling security situation (in the country) first hand.

“As you may be aware of today’s dynamic and rapid change in security environment facing nations, your (British High Commissioner Defence Advisor Col Alan Litser) country’s efforts to bring about professionalism in our countries particularly defence force and security as a whole, go a long way in realising the need to realign a working models for these institutions into a cornerstone of a state sovereignty that will be able to deliver fundamental functions of the governments for the benefits of the citizens.

“Allow me to acknowledge the remarkable job that has been done by the SADC Standby Force in Lesotho (SAMPIL) in its commitment to ensure that SADC decisions in various security issues have been implemented in a threat-free atmosphere. We will therefore remain indebted to this body for its support and assistance in many ways to finding a peaceful solution too many challenges facing our country,” Lt-Gen Letsoela said.

The post Improve civil-military relations, armies urged appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE government is set to save millions of maloti spent in treating cancer patients in neighbouring South Africa and India after parliament this week passed the Radiation Protection Agency Bill of 2018.

The Radiation Protection Agency Act will allow for the construction of a cancer treatment facility in the country.

The chairperson of the Natural Resources, Tourism and Land Cluster portfolio committee, Mpalipali Molefe, moved for the adoption of the bill on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to establish a competent agency which will regulate the use of sources of ionising radiation or radio-active material in the application of nuclear science and its technology.

Mr Molefe said the bill would enforce use of nuclear science for peaceful and beneficial uses only, particularly in the health, agriculture, mining water, public safety and environmental sectors.

The bill also seeks to enforce responsible application of nuclear medicine in cancer treatment in Lesotho and economic growth in affected sectoral policies.

“The public, patients, workers and the environment will be protected against harmful effects of ionising radiation,” part of the committee’s report states.

“The committee recommends that the government should take serious caution when implementing Radiation Protection Agency Bill, due to its sensitivity.

“It also recommends that public officers employed in the agency should be permanent employees and that there should be a separate budget on the establishment of the Radiation Protection Agency.

“It also calls for public sensitisation on effects of radiation and an introduction of a safety office within the agency.”

The bill was read in parliament for the second and third time on Tuesday.

This brings hope to cancer patients as there is hope that the government can now set up a hospital where cancer patients will be treated.

Addressing parliament on Tuesday, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Temeki Tšolo, said the objectives of the agency are to ensure that radiation resources and other radioactive materials are used exclusively for beneficial and peaceful purposes and provide for protection of human health and the environment against harmful effects of radiation hazards.

He also said that the functions of the agency will be to regulate activities and practices involving ionising radiation, maintain a personnel radiation dosimetry service, advise the government on the development of policies related to activities and practices regulated under the Act.

It will also take enforcement measures in the event of non-compliance with the Act and issue licenses to radiation protection officers.

The same agency is also expected to establish a system for the registration of licenses for radioactive material.

Under the radiation protection requirements, “a person shall not apply a medical diagnosis or therapy which uses radioactive material or any radiation sources on a patient unless the person is licensed by the agency to do so”.

“A person who wishes to apply a medical diagnosis or therapy which uses radioactive material or any radiation sources on a patient shall submit an application in a prescribed form to the agency.

“Where a person applies medical diagnosis or therapy which uses radioactive material or any radiation sources on a patient without a license, such person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding M500 000 or to an imprisonment term not exceeding five years or both.

“As a way of protecting the public, a licensee licensed to apply a medical procedure shall take appropriate or necessary measures to protect the public from radiation exposure.

“Any person who contravenes these commits an offence and is liable to conviction to a fine not exceeding M30 000 or to an imprisonment term not exceeding 15 years or both.

“A person shall not import radioactive waste into Lesotho and anyone who does otherwise is liable to a conviction or fine of M100 000 000 or to an imprisonment of for a term not exceeding 30 years or both,” reads part of the Bill.

Supporting the Bill, Trade minister Tefo Mapesela said: “Basotho are dying of cancer of different forms and in the absence of this law even countries which might like to help in the intervention of cancer treatment may find it difficult to assist and we may not get a cancer hospital”.

For his part, legislator for Butha-Buthe constituency Motlohi Maliehe highlighted the importance of the timely adoption of the Bill into a law.

He also encouraged all the ministries with a stake in the radiation agency to source funding towards the estimated M3 million budget of the entity.

“This Bill is long overdue. Waiting for the next financial year means we will be too late so this matter must be addressed immediately as this will help in the treatment of cancer patients which has cost the country millions annually in therapy,” Mr Maliehe said.

Deputy Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki, himself a cancer survivor said the adoption of the Bill into law was urgent.

“I appeal that we pass this Bill as soon as yesterday, so that we can get a hospital for our cancer patients.

“I am a true testimony of the power of radiation treatment and had it not been for it, I would have long died,” Mr Moleleki said.

The post Parliament passes Radiation Protection Bill appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Ntsebeng Motsoeli

LEROTHOLI Polytechnic College has indefinitely suspended the 12 students who were arrested last week at the Mohokare River on suspicion that they were part of the deadly initiation rites at the school.

The students were arrested on 24 August 2018 after the police were tipped off that they had been seen in the river where another student drowned in one of the initiation rites in July this year.

The body of 21-year-old Rethabile Mosito was discovered at the institution’s football pitch in the early hours of 21 July. He was the sixth student to die since 2009 as a result of the polytechnic students’ initiation culture.

The postmortem said Mr Mosito died of drowning and suspicions are that died in one of the infamous initiation rituals.

And acting on a tip-off on 24 August, the police arrested 12 students who were found at the river where they allegedly conduct the initiation rituals. Other students fled from the scene.

The suspects are aged from 18 to 27 and they remain in custody as police continue with their investigations.

In the wake of Mr Mosito’s death, the school authorities threatened stern action against any students who participate in the infamous initiation rituals.

This week Lerotholi Polytechnic College registrar, Hlomohang Majara, said they had immediately suspended the students pending the police investigation and the subsequent trial.

“We have suspended the 12 students who were arrested while we await the outcome of the police investigations and the trial,” Ms Majara said.

Ms Majara said the school management was concerned that the students were still continuing with the bullying despite the negative implications on their education.

In July this year, the Fokothi management and the council announced that they would engage the relevant government ministries to impose a scholarship black-listing on students who participated in the initiation rituals, be they perpetrators or voluntary victims.

The black-listing is intended to expose the participants so that they may not accepted in any other tertiary institution and so that they may not be eligible for government scholarly funds.

Ms Majara said the idea, even though not yet formalised, has already been received well by the Education minister Ntoi Rapapa.

“The initiative has not been formalised yet,” Ms Majara said.

“It has however, been blessed by the school council. The minister seems to agree with the management and the council on the idea. All that is left is for the school management, the council and the relevant government ministries to discuss and ultimately formalise it.”

Meanwhile, the entire Fokothi student representative council has resigned following a fallout with the police officers investigating in the initiation ritual.

The SRC president, Motlatsi ‘Mefane, told the Lesotho Times that they were bullied and threatened by a police officer who accused them of influencing the rituals hence they decided to resign.

Mr ‘Mefane said he fled to South Africa after he had been informed that the police officers investigating the Fokothi killings were looking for him and were “furious”.

“I heard on Saturday (25 August) that the police were looking for me and they were reportedly furious. I ran away to South Africa because I was afraid they would hurt me. I only went to the police station the following Monday (1 September 2018) where I was told by the investigating police officer that all the SRC members would be beaten up because we were influencing students to do the initiation ritual

“We then decided to resign from the SRC because we have done all we could to dissuade fellow students from carrying on with the initiation rituals but our efforts have come to naught,” Mr ‘Mefane said.

The post Fokothi students suspended appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Pascalinah Kabi

THE Ministry of Education has blacklisted two construction companies that are suspected to have been formed by directors of some firms which defrauded the government millions of maloti in 2011.

The companies were among several firms which bid for tenders to construct 16 classrooms in eight of the country’s 10 districts in March this year.

The directors almost succeeded in winning the tenders by registering different company names from the ones they had registered in 2011 but were given away by their directors’ names.

In 2011 there were several companies that were found to have fraudulently received multi-million payments from governments for the construction of schools when they did not carry out the work.

The 2011 scandal was only unearthed after the former minister, ‘Makabelo Mosothoane, suspended four senior ministry officials for alleged corruption in facilitating payments to companies for work that was not done.

The suspended officials were the then Deputy Principal Secretary ’Mota Sekonyela, Chief Education Officer Thuto Ntsekhe-Mokhehle, Senior Quantity Surveyor Leemisa Mokone and Quantity Surveyor Halieo Lesela-Pitso.

As part of efforts to ensure that all suspects were brought to book, the ministry further blacklisted all the companies that were paid for building ‘ghost’ schools.

But in a turn of events this year, the directors of two of the backlisted companies formed new firms and bid for new projects in the Education ministry.

The principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, Thabang Lebese, said his ministry recently uncovered the scam by the directors of two of the blacklisted companies to get tenders through the backdoor.

Dr Lebese said the directors of the two companies responded to the invitation by his office to bid for tenders to construct classrooms across the country.

Dr Lebese said the two companies met the tender specifications and had already been awarded contracts worth more than M800 000 when he discovered that their directors were the same as the companies that defrauded the government of millions of maloti when they were paid for construction work they never undertook in 2011.

“It is true that we have blacklisted companies that were part of a scam to defraud the ministry millions of maloti. These companies were actually blacklisted in 2011. However, due to their directors’ shrewdness, they usually resurface under new names.

“I have names and proof to that effect. I know what I am talking about and the beauty of this game is that people usually get caught when there are people dedicated to their jobs and have this country’s best interests at heart. I am not blowing my trumpet here but my sharp eye to detail helped catch these companies before they were awarded contracts.

“On average each contractor was going to be paid M800 000 per school constructed and they were going to build schools in the urban areas,” Dr Lebese said.

He said the investigations were ordered after the tender panel had completed its work and had already awarded the contracts to build some of the 16 schools.

Dr Lebese said the problem was that companies were allowed to register without a due diligence being conducted on the directors.

He however, said he would not disclose the names of the companies and their directors until the finalisation of the case in which one of the companies is contesting the decision to strip them of the tender.

The post Govt backlists construction firms appeared first on Lesotho Times.

’Marafaele Mohloboli

EXILED fraud suspect ’Makarabo Mojakhomo will only return to the Lesotho to stand trial after receiving guarantees of her safety from the Commissioner of Police, Holomo Molibeli.

This was said by her lawyer, Advocate Letuka Molati, in an interview with the Lesotho Times this week.

There have been conflicting reports about what actually happened to Ms Mojakhomo after she was arrested on 29 May this year for allegedly defrauding the First Lady ‘Maesaiah Thabane’s Trust Fund of at least M200 000.

She failed to appear in court on 31 May after the police claimed she had escaped from custody while they were preparing to take her to court.

But Ms Mojakhomo’s family disputed the police version of events and insisted that 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.

However, in turn of events last month, her lawyer 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”.

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.

And this week, Adv Molati said his client has still not prepared the affidavit or said when she would return to Lesotho as this hinged on Commissioner Molibeli replying to his (Adv Molati’s) letter and providing guarantees of her safety.

“My client has not yet submitted her affidavit to me on her escape and she has not told me when she will be returning as I am still awaiting the response of the Commissioner of Police on how her security shall be handled,” Adv Molati said, adding, “All that I know is that she wants to come back home”.

However, Police Spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said the police were not prepared to give any commitments regarding the safety of Ms Mojakhomo. Her safe return to the country was recently seized upon by the opposition and listed as one of the preconditions for their participation in the processes that are expected to culminate in the implementation of the constitutional, security sector, governance and media reforms that were recommended in 2016 by the Southern African Development Community.

However, Supt Mopeli told this publication that, “we (the police) will not commit to assuring Mojakhomo’s safety”.

“All that we want is for her to come back home and answer to the (fraud) charges. She can’t escape from custody and expect us to give her assurances on her safety.

“We are still waiting for her to show up and this is why we still have her on our list of wanted people even though we have been told that she is in South Africa,” Sup Mopeli said.

The post No safety guarantees for Mojakhomo: Police appeared first on Lesotho Times.

Ntsebeng Motsoeli

THE government has still not secured the financial bailout it had hoped to receive from the International Money Fund (IMF) by the end of last month.

This was revealed by the Finance Minister, Moeketsi Majoro, in an exclusive interview with the Lesotho Times this week.

The government and the IMF have been in discussions since June this year for the bailout from the IMF and other development partners which will help to reduce the budget deficit and boost foreign currency reserves.

Dr Majoro has previously expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached by the end of August but this has not been the case and it is not clear whether or not a deal will be reached.

Dr Majoro this week said the negotiations were continuing and it was premature to say when they could be concluded.

“The interaction with the IMF is continuing and it is premature to respond to any of your questions at this point,” Dr Majoro said.

Last month, the Finance minister told this publication that he was in discussions with the IMF and other partners “to put together a package of measures that would ease the current situation while protecting the vulnerable segments of population”.

“Our target to have concluded discussions at the end of August remains. We do not anticipate any difficulty concluding an arrangement with the IMF and other partners.

“The type of support we are seeking is called foreign currency reserve support. It differs with project support in that it supports the financing of (foreign currency) reserves build-up as well as the budget and deficit.”

He however, did not disclose how much the government had asked for, saying the size of the bailout package would be determined by both parties during the talks.

The government-IMF negotiations are being held at a time when the country’s increasingly restive workforce has either struck or threatened to strike to force the government and other employers to award them salary increments that will cushion them against the increases in the prices of goods and services.

Teachers across the country have embarked on a strike to force government to address their long-standing grievances for salary increments and better working conditions.

Three weeks ago, textile workers in Maseru and Maputsoe went on violent strikes to press government to legislate a M2000 minimum wage.

Early this year, Dr Majoro announced a four percent salary increase for civil servants but the latter are far from content and some of them are still on strike to force the government to award them another wage increment.

Dr Majoro has however, indicated that it would not be feasible to award the wage increments due to the poor state of the economy.

The IMF has already told the government to implement tough fiscal measures to improve the economy.

Chief among these is the need for the government to reduce the high public wage bill, undertake public financial management reform as well as implement the multi-sector reforms that were recommended by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The IMF has also advised the government to award performance-based salary increments. The IMF prescriptions are inimical to the civil servants and other workers’ demands for wholesale wage increments.

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