…tells court he fled to escape death threats
…as he paints a chilling picture of betrayal, hostility, and insecurity
Moorosi Tsiane
FORMER National Security Service (NSS) boss, Colonel (Col) Tumo Lekhooa, has said he fled Lesotho in 2017 to save his life from “insurmountable hostilities and death threats”.
Col Lekhooa was arrested in February this year upon voluntarily returning from exile in South Africa. He maintains that he fled after then Prime Minister Thomas Thabane removed him from the NSS, withdrew his bodyguards, and confiscated his service firearms, leaving him exposed.
He faces charges of treason and murder in connection with the attempted coup against Mr Thabane’s government on 29 and 30 August 2014, as well as the 25 June 2015 murder of former army commander Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao.
Testifying before High Court Judge Molefi Makara in his bail application yesterday, Col Lekhooa painted a grim tale of political betrayal, military hostility, and personal insecurity that forced him into exile until his return earlier this year.
He had been appointed NSS Director General on 16 September 2016 by then Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, but his contract was terminated 10 months later by Mr Thabane, who had just succeeded Mr Mosisili.
Col Lekhooa told the court he could not report the threats to law enforcement because he encountered hostility from Mr Thabane, who had just dismissed him as NSS Director General.
He added that when he attempted to resume his position within the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) after his dismissal from the NSS, he again faced hostility, this time from the late Major General Khoantle Motšomotšo, who was then acting Commander of the LDF.
“My Lord, I left the country because of cumulative and mutually reinforcing hostilities and death threats directed at me. The hostility stemmed from my promotion. Around April or May 2015, I was promoted to the rank of Major General because of the position I was holding in the NSS. I was promoted by then Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili on the recommendation of the LDF Commander, Tlali Kamoli,” said Col Lekhooa.
He said to his surprise, upon returning to the LDF after his contract was terminated by Mr Thabane, he was received with open hostility by Maj-Gen Motšomotšo.
“When the regime changed after the June 2016 elections, Motšomotšo was appointed acting Commander in November 2016. He told me that he would not recognise my promotion and referred to me as a Colonel. I told him if he felt strongly about it, he should challenge it in court. That was our point of disagreement. I then decided to take leave, and he raised no objection. This meant I did not resume any duty within the LDF.”
Col Lekhooa further revealed that Maj-Gen Motšomotšo subsequently withdrew his two bodyguards and disarmed him.
“After I took leave, my bodyguards were withdrawn. I had two bodyguards and a chauffeur, though the chauffeur was not withdrawn immediately. What followed was that I was disarmed. I had two rifles, a pistol, and a sidearm. That left me incredibly vulnerable and insecure.”
He said he could not confide in Maj-Gen Motšomotšo.
“This was happening to me for the first time since joining the LDF. I felt like I was left in the middle of the sea infested with sharks. That is why it was difficult to approach him when I felt I was facing danger. I was isolated.”
According to Col Lekhooa, the final straw was when Mr Thabane, in court papers challenging his dismissal from the NSS, declared him a “threat to national security.”
“I didn’t take that lightly. Around that time, I also realised that there was no relationship between me and the Prime Minister as he repeatedly refused to meet me. That made me realise I was no longer safe, especially since my weapons had been taken away. I also could not seek intervention from law enforcement agencies because I encountered hostility from him, as the executive authority,” he said.
Col Lekhooa said he therefore fled the country in October 2017.
During cross-examination, Crown Counsel Advocate Rethabile Setlojoane asked him whether he was aware that when he fled the country, soldiers suspected of killing Lt-Gen Mahao were being arrested. Col Lekhooa said he was not aware.
He was further asked whether he knew that suspects in Lt-Gen Mahao’s murder were not arrested immediately in 2015 but only from 2017 onwards. He replied that he was aware.
After hearing the evidence, Justice Makara directed that Adv Setlojoane file his written submissions today, while Adv Leaba Thetsane KC, appearing for Col Lekhooa, will file his reply on Friday. The court will then set a date for ruling.
