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Tax authority dismisses ABC Youth League accusations

by Lesotho Times
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By Billy Ntaote

MASERU — The All Basotho Convention (ABC) Youth League has accused the Lesotho Revenue Authority commissioner-general Thabo Letjama of victimising employees affiliated to the ABC.

According to the league’s spokesperson Mphonyane Lebesa, Letjama is a member of the opposition Democratic Congress (DC) who is on a mission to rid the authority of those belonging to the ruling ABC.
Addressing a press conference held on Tuesday in Maseru, Lebesa said Letjama had “exposed” his political bias by slapping three ABC National Executive Committee members with disciplinary letters for being politically active while hiring a “known” DC supporter on Monday this week.

Lebesa said the three ABC members — secretary-general Samonyane Ntsekele, publicity secretary Thebe Mokoatle and women’s league secretary Makeabetsoe Letseka — face disciplinary action for holding positions in a political party contrary to LRA regulations, yet Ramahoana Matlosa had been hired despite being a known DC supporter.

However, the LRA public relations manager Pheello Mphana dismissed Lebesa’s accusations against Letjama as baseless.
“The accusations that Letjama is a DC member are baseless to say the least, because they are not backed by evidence,” said Mphana.

On claims that three LRA employees would be hauled before a disciplinary committee for being members of the ABC, Mphana said the authority has clear guidelines regarding workers’ conduct.

“What I can confirm is that there are three employees of the LRA who face disciplinary action due to their involvement in political parties. We have not fired anybody from the ABC, the three employees were handed disciplinary letters and are still coming to work as we speak.”

On the case of Matlosa, Mphana said he had been hired based on the LRA policy of affording every Mosotho equal employment-opportunities.
“He (Matlosa) applied just like everybody else and at the end of the day, appeared to have been the best candidate for the job. Just like any other applicant, we never asked about his political affiliation,” he said.

However, Mphasa said upon realisation that Matlosa was active in politics, he was fired yesterday after he started work on Monday this week.

“The decision to fire Matlosa on the third day he was reporting for work was taken in standing with the LRA’s code of conduct.”

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