LEWA boss resigns

Bereng Mpaki

LESOTHO Water and Electricity Authority (LEWA) chief executive officer (CEO) Lebohang Moleko has resigned, the Lesotho Times can reveal.

Prof Moleko, who joined LEWA in 2017 during the tenure then prime minister Pakalitha Mosisili-led seven parties coalition government, is serving a three month notice until October 2019.

LEWA is a multi-sector regulatory body that regulates the electricity and urban water and sewerage services in the country. The authority independently deals with matters such as electricity pricing, complaints handling and resolution and the supervision of the implementation of the Quality of Service and Supply standards (QOSSS) by its licensees. LEWA officially started regulating both electricity and urban water and sewerage services sector on 1 May 2013.

LEWA was established through the Lesotho Electricity Authority (LEA) Act of 2002 as amended. It officially started regulating both electricity and urban water and sewerage services sector on 1 May 2013.

Although it is unclear why Prof Moleko has resigned, sources say it is part of the government’s purges of Dr Mosisili’s appointees.

The sources say Moleko’s stay at the helm of LEWA has been unpleasant since the arrival of Dr Thabane’s administration.

Prof Moleko was appointed to the post in June 2017 on a three year contract, during the electioneering period which eventually ushered in Dr Thabane’s administration into power.

The sources also allege that there was incessant interference from the new LEWA board, which came into office in May 2018, making it difficult for Prof Moleko to discharge his duties.

Contacted for comment, LEWA’s stand-in CEO Paseka Khetsi confirmed Prof Moleko’s resignation, but would not be drawn into disclosing the reasons for his decision.

“It is true that Ntate Moleko has resigned from the organisation, however, I don’t know the reasons for his action because the resignation letter has been handed to the relevant minister (of Energy),” Mr Khetsi said.

He indicated that Prof Moleko is currently on a one-month leave and would be back at work in September to serve his three-months’ resignation notice ending by October.

Efforts to contact Prof Moleko were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.