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—Accuses Matekane’s gvt of perpetuating corruption and “capturing” the courts
ADVOCATE Teboho Mojapela, the outspoken Socialist Revolutionaries (SR) leader, says he is challenging the government’s refusal to pass the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2024, in court to expose the self-serving nature of most of Lesotho’s politicians.
Their rejection of this important bill proves that these political leaders don’t prioritize the needs of the people but went into the political game to promote their own interests, he says.
If these politicians had the interests of the people at heart, the bill should not even have been necessary in the first place as it should be common cause in any decent society that politicians should not contract with a government they are part of.
But in Lesotho, the vices of immorality and corruption are now part of the national psyche. It’s perfectly acceptable that a minister should award himself and his cronies contracts from the very ministry he leads.
And Basotho see no problem with that as they keep on entrusting power in people who lie to them that they have their interests at heart, contends Adv Mojapela contends.
He asserts that the rejection of the Conflict of Interest Bill exemplifies a massive failure by Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s acolytes in grasping the fundamental responsibilities and tenets of governance.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times (LT)’s Mohloai Mpesi recently, Adv Mojapela also suggested that by rejecting the urgency of his application challenging the rejection of the Conflict of Interest Bill, the courts had effectively been captured by Mr Matekane’s government.
He questioned the wisdom of the courts in not seeing the need to stop the looting of public resources as an urgent matter? He nonetheless vows to fight on because he believes if Mr Matekane and his government are allowed to continue with the way they are doing things, then Lesotho remains confined to a very bleak and dark future.
Excerpts:
LT: Why are you challenging the government over parliament’s refusal to pass the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2024?
Mojapela: The fact is that when citizens vote for their political representatives, they expect those leaders to faithfully represent their interests, which should translate into an improved quality of life. It is therefore deeply concerning that members of parliament, after being elected to serve the public, have decided to reject the proposed Conflict of Interest Bill of 2024, put forward by Dr Ts’epo Lipholo. Powerful, wealthy individuals who exploit their government positions to create self-serving business opportunities are committing an egregious abuse of power that affronts both divine and public trust. The rejection of the Bill means these public representatives are only in it for themselves. They went into politics to access state resources. Their rejection of the bill is a confirmation of that point, and it is highly reprehensible.
LT: What is the significance of the Conflict of Interest Bill and why do you deem it necessary?
Mojapela: As a private citizen, I have no personal stake in the passage and enactment of the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2024. However, let me illustrate a scenario involving a family, where parents make sacrifices for the benefit and growth of their children. If parents neglect their responsibilities to ensure the welfare of their offspring, should those parents be compelled by the courts to provide for their children, when they did not choose to be brought into the world? I have been married and remarried multiple times, producing children from those unions. There are also children I’ve had outside of wedlock. Regardless of the circumstances, I ensure that I financially maintain and properly care for all my children. I do this because we are born with the capacity for reason, to discern right from wrong, and a sense of conscience. We all understand the purpose of our existence on this earth.
Government officials should be guided by their conscience, not laws, when it comes to conducting themselves ethically.
There would have been no need for legislation like the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2024, if those in power prioritized serving the public good. However, the current situation clearly demonstrates the need for such measures.
Politicians in government are there to serve the interests of the electorate, not their own personal agendas. They must govern with grace, honesty and utmost respect for the people.
The Basotho’s tendency to vote for candidates who make empty campaign promises, only to abandon them once in power, is a tragic cycle.
Voters are quick to lament their poor choices yet continue to elect the same type of leaders in subsequent elections. This pattern of behaviour is deeply problematic for the nation. The Basotho often act with reckless disregard for their own safety, wilfully ignoring the risks before them. When they subsequently face the negative consequences of their choices, they are quick to complain and shift blame. In any decent society, you cannot have politicians contracting with the very same government they are elected to lead. It is blatant conflict of interest.
LT: A court said your application was not urgent. What problems do you anticipate to be created by the delays that will emanate from that judgment?
Mojapela: When government officials brazenly loot the nation, and citizens plead with the courts for intervention, but are told their case is not urgent, it suggests the courts have been captured. The decision-making process was flawed as it failed to properly consider the urgency of the case before reaching a conclusion, according to my understanding.
Lesotho’s status as a country is debatable. While it has defined borders and other trappings of nationhood, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. The government’s capture of the courts, army, and intelligence services has undermined the promised meritocracy and transformed the nation into a kleptocracy – a state ruled by thieves. This troubling situation calls into question whether Lesotho can truly be considered a functional country at all.
The government has completely abandoned their promises, but the Basotho people seem unbothered, dismissively saying ‘it is all well’. This apathy is maddening and leads me to be perceived as an angry person, when in reality the emotional pain I feel, is from repeatedly trying in vain to knock some sense into the seemingly ignorant and obstinate Basotho. They appear content with the dire state of their country, which has become a hub of corruption, murder, drunkenness, and immorality.
I assure you that I possess no material deficiencies. Consequently, I could easily forsake my political ambitions and indulge in the comfortable life I have been fortunate to enjoy. However, the pressing question remains: ‘will my conscience be at peace’? The answer is no; I would continue to feel a sense of unrest. In biblical terms, I find myself imprisoned, confined. Although I have suffered significant financial losses in Lesotho, this is inconsequential, as I have been summoned to serve the people of Lesotho. Therefore, I am committed to persevering to the bitter end. I will never stop. That (stopping) can only happen when I no longer have the resources to help me get my message across. I am intentional about carrying my cross.
The selection of MEC, LCD, and AD by the RFP for collaboration in this coalition government indicates that their operations may lack transparency. It is an indicator that these people are familiar with one another and are on a mission. The parties I have mentioned, are splinter political parties led by individuals who were part of previous administrations that caused significant harm to the Basotho people. The RFP appears to prefer engaging with those who previously supported them when its leader and his associates were in business. They were provided with substantial government contracts during their earlier business endeavours by these politicians they are now in cahoots with. This familiarity among the parties facilitates a smoother working relationship, free from potential complications.
Their lack of noble intentions is evident as they embark on a campaign to undermine the embattled BAP by infiltrating its ranks, while simultaneously exacerbating the challenges faced by the Democratic Congress (DC). They have intentionally created discord between DC leader Mathibeli Mokhothu and the party’s Head of Publications, Bothata Mahlala, with the aim of instigating turmoil within the party. The RFP officials are actively engaged in dismantling other political entities to strengthen their hold on governance. Do not forget that they also poached the former SR deputy-leader, ‘Mamarame Matela, in a bid to destroy me. Unfortunately for them, I am not that vulnerable.
This endeavour of theirs (to destroy other parties) is supported by certain influential chiefs and church leaders. In addition to their detrimental looting of public finances, they are resolutely intent on wreaking havoc throughout Lesotho. Even those of us who oppose them would have faced destruction long ago had they had physical access to us.
LT: So, what have you been doing to protect the SR from all these machinations you allege?
Mojapela: Having lost a significant portion of my wealth in Lesotho, my current focus is on attracting community councillors from various political parties. It is often said that divine intervention operates in unexpected ways.
To date, I have successfully recruited approximately 30 councillors who regard the SR as a viable alternative. It is imperative that we seize power if we are to eradicate the corruption that is deeply entrenched in Lesotho.
Politics encompasses ethics, rights, power, law, and justice, as many political theorists have articulated. When evaluating the Basotho in terms of ethics, it becomes evident that we are a profoundly unethical society.
If the Devil were to exist and God were to assign him to Lesotho, he would likely decline the invitation, fearing the moral decay present in this nation.
Instead, he would express remorse for his actions and seek entry into the divine realm. Such is the dire state of our country.
LT: Mr Matekane recently exhorted his ministers to avoid engaging in corrupt practices. But you seem not satisfied because you claim the PM is not tough enough on his ministers? Why?
Mojapela: Okay, let’s start here. Who is Prime Minister Matekane and how did he acquire his wealth? Matekane is a wealthy Lesotho businessman who had close ties to the country’s political elite. He was groomed under the previous Pakalitha Mosisili-led government and has longstanding friendships with former Prime Minister Monyane Moleleki and other senior officials. Many of Matekane’s current cabinet ministers are his former business associates, suggesting he carefully selected them to perpetuate his corrupt practices once in government.
Given Matekane’s direct involvement in and benefits from the corruption of past administrations, it would be unrealistic to expect him to take a hardline stance against his ministers. The Prime Minister himself is a product of this corrupt system, having deliberately chosen ministers who would protect and advance his own illicit interests. The calibre of Matekane’s hand-picked cabinet clearly indicates his desire for officials who understand and will continue his model of graft and self-enrichment. If the Prime Minister truly opposed corruption, he likely would have sought to work with more principled, reform-minded leaders instead. He has not done that. He has chosen cronies who were his benefactors instead.
