…as Letlailana, Makhalanyane fight
Mohloai Mpesi
THE political landscape has turned bitter for Lithoteng Member of Parliament (MP) Rethabile Letlailana and his former close ally, Thuso Makhalanyane, the MP for Abia. The two find themselves locked in a fierce political squabble stemming from an attempt to unseat Mr Letlailana as the chairman of the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on the Prime Minister’s Ministries Cluster.
Eleven members of the committee recently banded together to pass a vote of no confidence in Mr Letlailana, effectively ousting him from his position. The meeting, chaired by Mr Makhalanyane, was held on Monday and attended only by those in favor of removing Mr Letlailana.
According to Mr Letlailana, there is no personal feud between him and Mr Makhalanyane, but he believes Mr Makhalanyane is trying to gain favour within the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party by targeting him.
Mr Letlailana, along with Malimong MP Lephoi Makara, defected from the RFP to join the main opposition party, the Democratic Congress (DC) in July this year. Mr Letlailana claims that Mr Makhalanyane, who had been expelled from the RFP but got reinstated later on in 2023, is simply trying to revive his “dwindling” political career by using this opportunity to make himself relevant.
“I don’t have an issue with Mr Makhalanyane. I believe he’s just trying to revive his fading political career, and he’ll use any means necessary, including targeting people he thinks will help him gain favor,” said Mr Letlailana.
“In survival politics, people tend to insult others to win the approval of their superiors. This is why our politics lack values – people focus on petty, irrelevant issues instead of addressing national matters. They’re more concerned with pleasing certain individuals by doing meaningless things.”
Mr Letlailana further claimed that Mr Makhalanyane had initially pursued substantial political discourse but, when that approach didn’t work, he resorted to trivial politics.
“He tried speaking politics of truth, but when that failed and jeopardised his career, he turned to frivolous tactics. Maybe they’ll work for him – who knows?”
Attempts to reach Mr Makhalanyane for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone was unavailable.
However, Mr Makhalanyane responded on Facebook, writing, “Hon. Lithoteng (Letlailana) knows I am not corrupt, and I don’t protect corruption. He also knows that what he’s saying is untrue. The Prime Minister’s Ministries Committee is supposed to be led by MPs from the government side because they have the numbers. You know you’re no longer part of the government, so I can’t let you occupy a government seat.
“All this drama you’re stirring on the radio and in the papers is baseless, like something a child would make up.
“He (Letlailana) may complain, but he’ll still leave office. Outside of politics, though, we’re still friends.”
In another post, he added: “We have elected Makotoko Moshe as the new Chairman of the Prime Minister and Ministries Cluster.”
Mr Letlailana, however, has contested the legality of the meeting that ousted him, arguing that it was convened outside the guidelines of the parliamentary standing orders. He claims that the meeting chaired by Mr Makhalanyane was held without proper procedural adherence and that he will challenge his removal with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Tlohang Sekhamane.
“What I’m challenging is the procedure. People have a right to pass a vote of no confidence, but they must follow the correct procedures. If 11 people can write a letter and make their own decisions, what happens if 12 people do the same tomorrow? It would be chaos,” said Mr Letlailana.
He said, under the correct procedure, the chairperson should set a date for such matters to be discussed by the entire committee. He also stated that he is awaiting the Speaker’s ruling on whether the meeting was legitimate.
The committee members had written a letter titled “Motion of No Confidence to the Chair of the Committee,” to the Speaker requesting a special meeting to address the matter. The letter was copied to key parliamentary figures, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, Advocate Lebohang Fine Maema (KC), the Chair of Chairs, and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Justice Nthomeng Majara.
The eleven signatories included RFP legislators Mampho Tjabane (Stadium Area), Lekhotsa Mafethe (Khubetsoana), Makotoko Moshe (Matsieng), Dada Jooma (Qalo), Thabo Maretlane (Thaba-Phatšoa), Joseph Malebaleba (Thaba-Bosiu), Thuso Makhalanyane (Abia), and Mosebetsane Sekhele (Mashai). Other signatories were Alliance for Democrats (AD) lawmaker Maboiketlo Maliehe (Proportional Representative), Movement for Economic Change (MEC) MP Napo Moshoeshoe (PR), and Basotho Action Party (BAP) legislator Manyaneso Taole (PR).
In response to the letter, Mr Letlailana pointed out that it was not in line with Standing Order 96(1), which requires a seven-day notice, and did not meet the criteria for urgent business as per Standing Order 96(2). He noted that the business of the committee would proceed as planned, and any suspension of business would be “out of order”. He says he remains the chairperson until removed through proper channels.
