’Maseribane accused of plotting mutiny

MASERU – FORMER Basotho National Party (BNP) leader Chief Thesele ’Maseribane was the mastermind of an intricate plot to assassinate senior army officers, the High Court heard yesterday.
The damning allegations were heard during the trial of soldiers who are accused of the murder of Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao.

One of the accused soldiers, Corporal Marasi ’Moleli, told the court through his lawyer Advocate Napo Mafaesa that Chief ’Maseribane was the mastermind behind the mutiny.
For the mutiny to succeed, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli’s close loyalists were to be killed.

These included Inspector General Ramanka Mokaloba, who was then a brigadier, Colonel Tefo Hashatsi who was a major at the time, and Brigadier Bulane Sechele who was then a colonel.
Brigadier Sechele and Colonel Hashatsi were later killed at the army headquarters after they allegedly murdered their boss, Lieutenant General Khoantle Motšomotšo, after he expressed his intention to hand them over to the police.

Advocate Mafaesa, cross-examining crown witness Captain Halahala, said his client would tell the court that they got a tip off that Chief ’Maseribane and the then Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana had infiltrated the army and were planning the mutiny.
The trial is before Zimbabwean judge, Justice Charles Hungwe.
Justice Hungwe heard that Chief ’Maseribane was steering a mutiny against Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli.

In response, Captain Halahala told the court that he recalled that a source had informed them that one Sergeant Motene was the one who planned the mutiny and that he would be helped by Commissioner Tšooana.
Tšooana is now the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Health, a political appointment.

Captain Halahala said the source informed them that Inspector General Mokaloba, Brigadier Sechele, Colonel Hashatsi and one officer Moqolo were to be killed.
Captain Halahala said he was with Corporal ’Moleli when they got the tip-off that there was a group of soldiers who were planning the crime.
He said after being told that, Corporal ’Moleli told them that he would work on that.

After that several soldiers were arrested.
He told the court that he was or did not expect Lt Gen Mahao to be killed but would “just be arrested as they were ordered to arrest people”.
He said he agrees that Corporal ’Moleli did not know that Lt Gen Mahao was going to be shot as after his death Colonel Hashatsi told them that it was unfortunate that he ended up being shot and it was not planned.

When asked if they told the people they arrested why they arrested them, he told the court that they did not tell them the reasons for their arrest.
Lt Gen Mahao and Lt Gen Kamoli were fighting for the position of commander. In August 2014, Lt Gen Kamoli was fired and was replaced by Lt Gen Mahao.

When Thabane lost power to Pakalitha Mosisili in 2015 Lt Gen Mahao was immediately demoted back to the rank of brigadier while Lt Gen Kamoli was reinstated although he never left his office.
The army was split into two, each faction backing either of the two generals.

Chief ’Maseribane, whose BNP was in alliance with Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC), is now accused of colluding with the then Police Commissioner Tšooana to carry out a bloody mutiny against Lt Gen Kamoli.
The case is continues.

Itumeleng Khoete