News

MP says will back Matekane to the hilt

Published

1 year ago

October 17, 2023

Prime Minister Sam Matekane is not going anywhere.
That is the bold prediction of Makotoko Moshe, the MP for Matsieng constituency and a loyalist of the premier.
Matekane has come under renewed pressure from rebels within his Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party who are now calling for his ouster just 11 months after he won the general elections.
The rebels have been sharpening their knives and are now colluding with some opposition parties to topple Matekane in parliament when the House re-opens next month.

Moshe, who has worked closely with Matekane in business for decades, says his experience with his boss has taught him that he is not a quitter and will patiently fight until he succeeds.

“When things are tough that is when he becomes happy,” Moshe says.

“The current turbulence in the RFP does not pose any threat to Matekane at all.”

Moshe says there is just no way that the rebels and the opposition will muster the required numbers to pass a vote of no-confidence against Matekane in parliament.

He says when parliament re-opens, the RFP MPs will come into the House as a united force to support their leader and prevent the toppling of the coalition government.

“There will be no turbulence at all,” he says.

“We are not afraid of those who are fighting Matekane. They have lost and the people have not supported them in their endeavours to pull him down.”

Moshe recalls that just before last year’s elections, Matekane had told him that it would be the people who would have lost if they failed to win power because their party had a bigger and cogent plan for the people.

He says those seeking to topple Matekane were bitter because they were not appointed ministers.

Moshe says he did not come into politics to earn a mouth-watering salary because he was earning much more when he was running his engineering consultancy business.

He says MPs who joined the party with the aim of being appointed ministers have lost direction.

“Some came to the RFP to look for ministerial opportunities and not to work for Basotho,” Moshe says.

He says when things do not happen in line with their expectations, they cause unnecessary trouble for their own government.

“I have not come here to earn a huge salary,” Moshe says.

“I have come here clear in my mind that there is no money in politics,” he says.

The 58-year-old MP says he had been running his own businesses where he generated some money for his family.

“I used to make money while running my own businesses that could at least help me keep the wolf at the door,” he says.

“I am not expecting much here but just to work for the people,” Moshe says.

Moshe studied Civil Engineering in England way back in 1989.

Upon completion of his studies, he wormed his way back into the country to look for a job without success.

He says there was no job available for him so he teamed up with others to establish a consultancy engineering company.

But along the way, two of his partners left to do construction work elsewhere.

“That was when I began to know Matekane closely,” Moshe says.

“I did business with him through the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) for a long time,” he says.

The MGC comprises all companies run by Matekane.

“I did the consultancy work with Matekane until the RFP was formed,” he says.

Moshe says he has run a lot of projects with Matekane and he knows his character as a person.

“Matekane is a man of his own word,” Moshe says, adding that Matekane does not want to fail in his endeavours.

“He is a hard worker who believes in himself,” Moshe says.

So when Matekane formed the RFP last year, Moshe says he felt compelled to rally behind him to help him achieve his dream – to transform Lesotho’s anaemic economy.

“I know he is a truthful person. I know for sure that I will be able to help my people if I am next to him,” Moshe says.

Moshe says Matekane wants to see plans and ideas being translated into action.

“At times he could work overtime,” Moshe says.

He recalls that when Matekane’s company was building the road to parliament in Maseru, he would work even at night and people would see the results the next day.

He says he has worked with Matekane in almost all his projects including those in his home constituency of Mantšonyane where he built schools and churches.

With his Client-ech Consultancy Company, he assisted Matekane with the costing of his projects.

“I assisted him with the management of these projects,” Moshe says.

He says Matekane has a solid track record in fulfilling his goals.

“I just had to follow him after he formed his own political party”.

Moshe believes that if Matekane is given a chance to prove himself, he could revolutionise this country and resuscitate its economy.

“Matekane should be given a chance to change this country,” Moshe says.

He says he has learnt a few things from Matekane which he is now using to help his people in Matsieng get connected to the national electricity grid.

“I put people in order so that we could establish an electricity scheme in Matsieng,” he says.

Before he came up with this plan, Moshe says electricity was only installed at the Royal Palace, Moeshoeshoe II High School and the Royal Family farm only.

“My political philosophy is that of changing people’s lives,” he says.

“I know I will earn a little here. I only came to help people,” Moshe says.

“I am not gunning for a ministerial post”.

Moshe says it is sad that some MPs come into politics with the intention of just becoming ministers.

Their dreams are then not realised because Matekane made a commitment to limit the number of cabinet ministers, he says.

That then breeds problems for the party, Moshe says.

Matekane appointed a small cabinet of 15 ministers inclusive of himself when he assumed power last year.

Out of that number, only three were women.

Moshe argues that some MPs have since lost focus after they were not appointed ministers.

“They want quick money,” he says.

“We are still intact. It is only a few who are not cooperative,” Moshe says.

Moshe says he was 100 percent focused on his business ventures before he joined politics.

Moshe was born in Matsieng Ha-Paanya in 1965. He enrolled at Machabeng International College in 1987 before moving to England to study Civil Engineering.

Majara Molupe

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