CHAIRPERSONS of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committees (PAC)s must be upstanding individuals of the highest moral character, free from corruption.
This is vital to ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of the committee’s oversight duties.
The role of the committee chair requires impartiality, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to public accountability.
Their character and reputation are essential for building public trust and enabling the committee to effectively scrutinize government spending and hold the executive branch accountable.
Which is why it came as a shock, to learn that ‘Machabana Lemphane-Letsie, the chairperson of the PAC, was summoned and interrogated by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) last week Wednesday.
A day later, she was charged by the DCEO in the Maseru Migistrates Court with defrauding the state of around M5.6 million by allegedly facilitating payments for park homes that were never delivered.
According to the DCEO, the alleged fraud occurred when Ms Lemphane-Letsie served as the Principal Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2018/2019. The DCEO accuses her of abusing her powers during her time as PS, when the ministry had issued a tender for the supply of Resource Centre Park homes for its livestock registration department.
The DCEO alleges that Ms Lemphane-Letsie colluded with Pitso Ramokoatsi, the National Livestock Registrar in the Ministry of Home Affairs, to commit the fraud.
Together, they are accused of defrauding the state of M5,640,590 after facilitating a payment to L&Kiti Construction (Pty) Ltd for work that was not completed.
Ms Lemphane-Letsie is also charged with “unlawfully and intentionally abusing the functions or positions of her office” after she allegedly instructed the ministry’s accounts department to process the payment to L&Kiti despite knowing the work was not fully completed.
While Ms Lemphane-Letsie has strongly refuted the fraud allegations, labelling them a “witch-hunt” after the PAC issued a report alleging corruption in the M184 million Moshoeshoe I International Airport rehabilitation project, the magnitude of the charges against her is concerning. It’s is important that the case be resolved quickly for the PAC cannot afford to be led by a tainted person.
To her detractors, Ms Lemphane-Letsie is being targeted over the airport project report.
The PAC report implicates the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Matjato Moteane, accusing him of funnelling a lucrative sub-contract to his former company, Khatleli-Tomane Architects, formerly Khatleli-Tomane-Moteane Architects.
The government and its legislators have strongly rejected the report and are pushing to ensure it is not tabled in parliament.
Ms Lemphane-Letsie has alleged that Prime Minister Matekane has even asked her to delay tabling the report, purportedly to familiarise himself with its contents, which she believes is a ploy to stall its tabling.
She claims she is being punished for exposing government corruption, and fellow opposition parties in parliament have accused the DCEO of being used as a tool to intimidate those who go against the government.
While Ms Lemphane-Letsie raises pertinent issues, we are also of the view that maintaining an ethical, unbiased chairperson instils confidence that the committee’s work serves the public interest, not personal or political agendas.
A chair with strong moral principles is less likely to be swayed by outside pressures, ensuring objective, constructive oversight.
Ms Lemphane-Letsie has been very outspoken against corruption, strongly admonishing government officials and others appearing before her PAC for abusing state funds and being corrupt, as per testimonies made therein.
Her leadership is crucial for the committee to fulfil its mandate. An upstanding chairperson can foster a collaborative environment where members can thoroughly examine government spending and propose meaningful reforms. A chair with integrity can also hold officials accountable for the use of public funds, promoting transparency and efficient use of taxpayer money.
By setting an example of the highest ethical standards, the committee chair can inspire all members to uphold the same principles. This helps create a culture of accountability throughout the parliamentary system.
The charges against Ms Lemphane-Letsie are thus very worrying for her role. As long as they subsist, she cannot perform her duties effectively. How will she credibly speak out against corruption, as she has been doing, while she has similar charges hanging over her head. Where will she get the moral fibre to continue berating civil servants appearing before her for corruption when she too has been implicated?
To her defenders, the DCEO has no watertight fraud case against Ms Lemphane-Letsie. If the case falls off, they will feel vindicated. It will also reinforce the years long speculation that the anti-graft body is just a toothless dog, used by politicians holding government office to intimidate their detractors and fight political battles. Only time will tell.
Because of Ms Lempane-Letsie’s critical position, it’s important that the case against her be resolved as fast as possible. If she is found guilty, she would have to vacate her position as PAC chair. If she is cleared, she can continue her anti-corruption crusade without a stain on her reputation. It’s thus imperative that the case against her be expeditiously adjudicated.
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