News

8 MPs fight for PM’s post

Published

5 years ago

January 28, 2020

MASERU-A fierce battle to succeed Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has ensued in the All Basotho Convention (ABC) party amid revelations that eight MPs had now entered the race.
Nearly a week after Thabane announced his intention to retire the ABC is yet to reach a consensus on who should replace him as Prime Minister.
Instead, there has been massive jostling among the MPs with others going as far as lobbying coalition MPs to back them.

This has only widened the divisions within the party as each camp aggressively pushes its own preferred candidate.
Senior ABC sources last night said this could be the reason why Thabane has held off giving a specific date he intends to leave office.
An investigation by thepost has revealed that the ABC’s executive plans to nominate two candidates to replace Thabane.
The first is as former Minister ‘Matebatso Doti, who is the party’s deputy spokesperson.

The second is Health Minister Nkaku Kabi who is the deputy general secretary.
Sources say the committee will nominate those two in the next few days and the plan is to make an announcement early next week.
A source however says there are fears that the two might not be able to get enough support from some ABC MPs.
Doti was reluctant to confirm her candidature but said she will accept the position if offered.
“I have not said l want to lead this party especially when the leader is still there. But there will be a Special Conference that will decide. But if they give me an offer, I can accept it,” Doti said.
Kabi could not be reached for comment.

Water Affairs Minister Samonyane Ntsekele is also in the running and is said to be Thabane’s preferred candidate because of his proximity to the prime minister.
Ntsekele fought in Thabane’s corner during the brutal factional battles over the party’s executive committee.
He is also said to have become “extremely close” to Thabane since the First Lady skipped the country to avoid arrest for the alleged murder of the prime minister’s wife Lipolelo Thabane.
But some party insiders say his proximity to Thabane and his wife could work against him.

“He is seen as Thabane’s man and very few people want Thabane to continue to pull the strings when he is out. He is probably a good man tainted by his association,” the source said.
Ntsekele could not be reached for comment.
Also in the running is Sam Rapapa, ABC chairman, but sources say he could have alienated some MPs by openly clamouring for the premiership when his camp joined forces with the opposition to try to pass a vote of no confidence against Thabane.

“Many MPs saw his actions as betrayal motivated by ambition. He is unlikely to get the numbers,” says another source.
Rapapa confirmed that he wants to be the next prime minister.
“I am willing to accept the offer with two hands, in fact l am gunning for the post as the leader of the party if there is a vacancy,” Rapapa said.
“It is not a secret that l even want to be the next Prime Minister. If you could remember that during the party’s hard times when we lodged a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister, my name was suggested.”

Finance Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro is in the race but is said to have the support of a small clique of MPs who sources say “like the fact that he is a technocrat and has credibility with development partners”.
“He will have to widen his support base among the MPs if he wants to win,” another source says.
Majoro could not be reached for comment.
Public Works Minister Prince Maliehe is also in the mix and some party insiders say he might command the support of half of the ABC MPs. His Achilles heel, party insiders say, is his closeness to Thabane and his wife.

Prince Maliehe was not available for comment.
There is also Fako Moshoeshoe who is the chairperson of the ABC’s parliamentary caucus. It is not clear if his leadership of the caucus would help him sway ABC MPs to his side.
Moshoeshoe said no one has approached him about the position but he will not refuse if nominated.
“MPs will be the ones to decide because they represent the people. But I cannot refuse if they ask me to lead this party,” he said.
“Tomorrow we will have a meeting that could at least shed some light in the party. I cannot go to the people and ask them to make me a leader.”
The other contender is Motlholi Maliehe, the former ABC chairman and current Social Development Minister, who Thabane once fired after a nasty fall out.
Maliehe said “if people could come to me and ask me to do so, l can accept the offer”.

“I joined politics at an incipient stage but l have never asked people to elect me into power,” Maliehe said.
“People in Butha-Buthe constituency have voted me into power five times. I was groomed by the late Ntsu Mokhehle. It would be God’s finger if they choose me. It is a simple job that l can do.”
The last name in the hat is Matsépo Ramakoae, the Matsieng MP, whose source or level of support among ABC MPs is not known.
Ramakoae said she only heard that her name was amongst those which were being suggested for the succession.
“If they want me to lead the party l cannot reject the offer. I can take over,” Ramakoae said.

“I think with the experience that l have gathered from different organisations both locally and internationally, l can be able to apply to move this party to the next step.”
Since Monday the ABC MPs has been locked in long meetings to discuss who should take over. Thabane has not said when he will leave.
There was speculation last night that there are some ministers who are trying to persuade Thabane to stay or delay his exit a little longer because they are unsure of their future he leaves immediately.
Others close to him are said to be insisting that Thabane should not leave until he is certain that his wife will not be prosecuted.
Some say despite being away, the First Lady still wields a lot of influence on the Prime Minister and is insisting that he holds on to power for her sake.

Staff Reporter

News

Knives out for Molelle

Published

19 hours ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

KNORX Molelle’s appointment as the Director General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) in February 2023 could have been illegal.

The Law Society of Lesotho has told Prime Minister Sam Matekane that Molelle was appointed without being admitted as a legal practitioner in Lesotho, as required by law.

The society claims the information came from a whistleblower on January 2 and was corroborated by its roll of legal practitioners in Lesotho.

The society says the appointment violates section 4 of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act 1999 which states that a person shall not be appointed as the DCEO director general unless they have been admitted as a legal practitioner in terms of the Legal Practitioners Act.

In the letter, Advocate Ithabeleng Phamotse, the society’s secretary, tells Matekane that this requirement “is not a mere procedural formality but a substantive qualification essential to the lawful appointment of the Director General”.

“The absence of such qualification fatally impairs the appointment ab initio, rendering it null and void from the outset,” Advocate Phamotse says in the letter written on Tuesday.

The society argues that if left unaddressed the illegality undermines the credibility, effectiveness and legality of the DCEO’s operations and exposes the kingdom to serious risks, including challenges to the lawfulness of decisions and actions made by Molelle.

“Should it be confirmed that the appointment was made in contravention of the mandatory legal requirements,” Advocate Phamotse said, “we respectfully urge you to take immediate corrective action to rectify this glaring irregularity”.

Advocate Phamotse tells the prime minister that if the appointment is not corrected, the society would be “left with no alternative but to institute legal proceedings to protect the interests of justice and uphold the rule of law in Lesotho”.

“We trust that you will accord this matter your highest priority and act decisively to avert further damage to the integrity of our governance structures.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesman, Thapelo Mabote, said they received the letter but Matekane had not yet read it yesterday.

Matekane is on leave and is expected back in the office on January 14.

Questions over the validity of his appointment come as Molelle is being haunted by the damaging audio clips that were leaked last week.

The clips were clandestinely recorded by Basotho National Party leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe.

In some of the clips, Molelle appears to be describing Matekane and his deputy Justice Nthomeng Majara as idiots. He also appears to be calling Law Minister Richard Ramoeletsi a devil.

In other clips, he seems to be discussing cases. thepost has not independently verified the authenticity of the audio clips.

Staff Reporter

News

Massive salary hike for chiefs

Published

19 hours ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

THE government has increased the salaries for traditional leaders by a massive 88.5 percent.

This means that a village chief not appointed by a gazette will now earn M3 001 a month, up from the previous salary of M1 592. That means village chiefs will now earn an extra M1 409 per month.

A village chief, or headman, appointed by a gazette has moved from M1 966 to M3 567 per month.

Above a village chief is one with jurisdiction over a small cluster of villages, a category three chief, who now moves from M3 768 to M5 181 per month.

A category four chief, known as ward chief, has moved from M4 455 per month to M7 993.

The category five chief, who reports directly to a principal chief, will now earn M10 674, up from M9 939 per month.

There is no increment for principal chiefs.

The government says the budget for chiefs’ salaries has moved from M129.4 million to M208.3 million annually.

The hike follows a series of discussions between the Lesotho Workers Association, representing the chiefs, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship.

The revised salaries will be implemented with effect from April 1, 2025.

According to the settlement agreement, a discussion about raising the lowest salary of M6 000 for the lowest-ranking chiefs will be revisited in October 2025.

Chiefs who spoke to thepost have expressed satisfaction with the hike, saying it will significantly improve their lives.

Chief Mopeli Matsoso of Ha-Tikoe in Maseru said his previous salary of M1 500 per month would now be doubled, which would improve his life and help provide smoother services to the community.

He stressed that they used to close the offices while going out looking for jobs to compensate for their little salaries.

“Now the people will get smoother services,” Chief Matsoso said.

“The offices will forever be open,” he said.

Chief Matsoso said the salary hike will also serve as a motivation for other chiefs.

Chief Tumo Majara of Liboping, Mokhethoaneng, also expressed his gratitude.

Chief Majara acknowledge the positive impact the salary review would have, especially as a new officeholder.

“I guess we are all happy, that review will help a lot,” he said.

The Principal Chief of Thaba-Bosiu, Khoabane Theko, said the salary increase of chief is a welcome move by the government.

“I’m yet to study how the new salary structure looks like. But I welcome it as a good move by the government,”Chief Theko said.

Nkheli Liphoto

News

Maqelepo says suspension deeply flawed

Published

19 hours ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Motlatsi Maqelepo, the embattled Basotho Action Party (BAP) deputy leader and Tello Kibane, who was the party chairman, have rejected their suspension from the party arguing it was legally flawed.

The BAP’s central executive committee on Tuesday suspended Maqelepo for seven years and Kibane for five years. The suspensions became effective on the same day.

The party’s disciplinary committee which met last Wednesday had recommended an expulsion for the two but that decision was rejected with the committee pushing for a lengthy suspension.

Maqelepo’s suspension will end on January 7, 2032 while Kibane’s will run until January 7, 2030.

Their suspension letters from the BAP deputy secretary general Victoria Qheku, say they should not participate in any of the party’s activities.

“In effect, you are relieved of your responsibility as a CEC member and BAP deputy leader,” Maqelepo was told in the letter.

“You were found guilty by default on all charges and the committee recommended your immediate dismissal from the party,” the letter reads.

On Kibane, the verdict states that the committee decided to mitigate the recommended sanction by reducing his suspension to five years.

“In the gravity of the charges, the suspension affects your membership in the BAP parliamentary caucus from which you are removed as a chairman.”

They were suspended in absentia after they refused to attend the disciplinary hearing, which they said was illegal.

In response to the suspension, Maqelepo wrote a letter addressing the BAP members in general, defying the committee’s decision to suspend them.

He has called for a special conference, appealing to party constituencies to push for it, citing the ongoing internal fight that includes the leadership’s decision to withdraw the BAP from the coalition government.

Maqelepo also said the central executive committee is illegally in a campaign to dissolve committees in the constituencies and replace them with stooges.

He reminded the members that there is a court case pending in the High Court seeking an interdiction to charge them in the party’s structures without approval of the special conference that he is calling.

He said the party leadership should have awaited the outcome of the case before proceeding with any disciplinary action.

“The party that is led by a professor of law continues to do dismissals despite the issue being taken to the courts,” Maqelepo said.

The party leader, Professor Nqosa Mahao, is a distinguished professor of law.

Maqelepo said they would write the central executive committee rejecting its decision to suspend them, saying they will continue taking part in party activities.

He said their fate in the party is in the hands of the special conference.

He appealed to all the party constituencies to continue writing letters demanding the special conference.

Both Maqelepo and Kibane received letters on November 28 last year inviting them to show cause why they should not be suspended pending their hearing.

They both responded on the following day refusing to attend.

Maqelepo, Kibane, Hilda Van Rooyen, and ’Mamoipone Senauoane are accused of supporting a move to remove Professor Mahao from his ministerial position last year.

They were part of the BAP members who asked Prime Minister Sam Matekane to fire Professor Mahao, who at the same time was pushing for the reshuffling of Tankiso Phapano, the principal secretary for the Ministry of Energy.

When Matekane ignored Professor Mahao’s demands, the latter withdrew the BAP from the coalition government much to the fierce resistance of the party’s four MPs.

Maqelepo started touting members from constituencies to call for a special conference to reverse Professor Mahao and the central executive committee’s decision.

The central executive committee issued a circular stopping Maqelepo’s rallies but he continued, with the support of the other MPs.

In the BAP caucus of six MPs, it is only Professor Mahao and ’Manyaneso Taole who are supporting the withdrawal from the government.

Nkheli Liphoto