News

GNU talks stopped

Published

3 years ago

December 21, 2021

MASERU – A push to cobble a new Government of National Unity (GNU) appears to have fallen flat on its nose this week after major political parties snubbed the initiative.
An All Basotho Convention (ABC) faction led by former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has been scrambling to garner support for the GNU over the past week.

The GNU however appears to be a Plan B after attempts to recall Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro, following his dismissal from the executive committee, floundered after the Thabane faction failed to get enough numbers to oust him.
Complicating matters is the fact that parliament, through which the faction was hoping to remove the prime minister, on its annual break.
Majoro is also playing hardball and appears bent on hanging on to power without the support of the party’s leadership.

Seemingly out of options, the Thabane faction wrote to all political parties in parliament inviting them to be part of the GNU. Dispatched on Monday, the letter followed marathon meetings the faction has been having with different political parties since last week.
The Alliance for Democrats (AD), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Democratic Party of Lesotho (DPL) and the Basotho Patriotic (BPP) appeared to have bought into the idea.

The BPP leader Tefo Mapesela then called a meeting of opposition parties in parliament on Monday to discuss the ABC’s proposal.
The meeting was held at the Lesotho Mine Workers’ premises in Khubetsoana.
It was chaired by Professor Ntoi Rapapa, the AD’s deputy leader, who revealed that the ABC had approached them with the GNU idea. AD leader Monyane Moleleki was at the venue but left before the meeting started because some of the political leaders delayed arriving.

Tseliso Mokhosi, the LCD’s deputy leader, also confirmed to the meeting that they had discussions with the ABC. So did the DPL’s Limpho Tau.
Lebohang Thotanyana, who represented the Basotho Action Party (BAP), asked the other parties what were the ABC’s main reasons for the GNU.
Last night Thotanyana told thepost that the answers he got “were not convincing enough”.
He said the parties said the ABC told them that it was concerned about corruption, Majoro’s failure to run the government and the need to expedite the national reforms.

“I could see that the ABC was trying to use other political parties to manage its own crisis,” Thotanyane said.
“It is clear that the ABC is in trouble and it’s not our business to help them consolidate their power and sort out their self-inflicted problems.”
Thotanyane said he told the meeting that the BAP was not interested in the GNU.
The BAP officially confirmed that position at a press conference yesterday when its leader, Professor Nqosa Mahao, said the party would not be part of the GNU.

That instantly robbed the GNU idea of the support of the ten BAP MPs in parliament.
The Democratic Congress (DC), the ABC’s ruling partner, has already said it is not interested in a GNU.
The party’s spokesperson, Serialong Qoo, said they are already part of the government and have no reason to form another one a few months before the election.
“Those who are not happy in the current government should leave,” Qoo said.

“We are not a vehicle to help the ABC get out of its internal problems.”
That takes away the DC’s 28 MPs out of the picture.
Machesetsa Mofomobe, whose Basotho National Party (BNP) has four MPs, told thepost he is not interested in “joining a GNU of people who have lost credibility”.

“It’s outrageous that someone would push for a GNU when we are just six months from an election,” Machesetsa said. “There is no valid reason for a GNU. This is just a ploy to get ministerial positions and loot the government before the election. We cannot be associated with such.”
Even the Movement for Economic Change (MEC), which was initially speculated to be supporting the GNU because of the trial of its leader Selibe Mochoboroane, has distanced itself from the GNU.

“It’s something we have not tackled as a party. We are keeping our distance because it’s not our focus right now. We are currently grappling with our own issues like the treason trial of our leader,” said Tšepang Tšita-Mosena, its deputy leader.
That effectively denies the GNU the support of the party’s six MPs in parliament.

Lekhetho Rakuoane, whose Popular Front for Democracy party has two MPs, said they are not part of the proposed GNU.
Basotho Congress Party leader Advocate Thulo Mahlakeng said there is no way that the GNU could be formed.
“There is no legal framework under the Constitution under which this government could be formed,” Adv Mahlakeng said.
“What is it that makes the ABC to seek a GNU with just nine months before the elections?” he asked.

That leaves Thabane’s faction with just a handful of political parties whose MPs in parliament are not enough to force a GNU.
There is the AD which initially had nine MPs but now has ten because the BNP’s Joang Molapo votes with them and is now essentially a member.
Deputy leader Professor Rapapa was ambivalent of their position but insisted that it was his leader Moleleki who had initially proposed a GNU to stabilise the country but it was rejected.
He said the party wanted the ABC to explain its reasons for the GNU before his party makes a decision.

Mokhosi, whose party leader Mothetjoa Metsing fled before he could appear in court on treason charges, said the LCD believes “only a GNU will help this country solve its political problems”.
“The GNU is a provisional government that paves the way for another government,” Mokhosi said.
The LCD has eleven MPs.

The National Independent Party (NIP) is still undecided but its leader, Kimetso Mathaba, said a GNU was a good concept but the ABC has to explain its reason for pushing it.
The DPL’s Tau, who attended the Monday meeting, said he wants the ABC to provide further details but is wary that his party might be used to settle political scores within Thabane’s party.
Thabane’s faction also faces another problem. Sources close to the faction said its leaders are beginning to accept that Majoro might have outwitted them.

A source said the faction appears to only have control of “eight or ten” MPs in the parliament. Majoro appears to have the support of 24 ABC MPs which when combined with those of the DC and other parties insulates his government against a vote-of-no-confidence.

Staff Reporter

News

Knives out for Molelle

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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