…as Parliament demands accountability for its finances
…MPs blast army for “prioritising” Bootcamp over soldiers’ needs
Mohloai Mpesi
PARLIAMENT has demanded that the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) account for revenues it collects through its Youth Development Programme, known as the Bootcamp, amid allegations that the funds are being misused.
This after it emerged that the LDF has been using funds from its contingency budget to finance the Bootcamp while allegedly neglecting the welfare and operational needs of soldiers stationed at military bases across the country.
Parliament’s portfolio committee on the Economic and Development Cluster wants clarity on why emergency contingency funds are being channelled towards an “unbudgeted” programme which already generates substantial revenues of its own. The committee says it is deeply worried that the funds from the Bootcamp have never been properly accounted for by the LDF.
The LDF Bootcamp is a training initiative designed to instil discipline, patriotism and leadership among young people. It was initially introduced as an intervention to rehabilitate youths from villages on the outskirts of Maseru — including Naleli, Koalabata, Khubetsoana and Mabote — who had turned to criminal activities.
These youths, commonly referred to as manomoro (gangsters), were linked to crimes such as theft, housebreaking, stabbings and other violent acts that posed serious threats to their communities.
As the programme gained prominence, its scope expanded beyond rehabilitation. It evolved into a broader platform aimed at promoting patriotism, social values and positive behavioural change among the youth.
The Bootcamp now attracts hundreds of participants from Lesotho and neighbouring South Africa. The most recent 13th edition, held from 14 December 2025 to 2 January 2026, hosted 377 participants, each paying a fee of M2500. This generated revenue amounting to M942,500, excluding additional financial assistance from corporate sponsors.
The committee has now recommended that the LDF be formally summoned before Parliament to account for the management and utilisation of the Bootcamp funds.
Tabling the committee’s report in Parliament yesterday, chairperson Sello Hakane accused the LDF of improperly using its contingency funds to finance the Bootcamp while at the same time not properly accounting for the money raised for the project. MPs believe that if properly managed, the sponsorships from corporates and fees from participants should be adequate to bankroll the Bootcamp without resorting to the army’s own funds.
“Regarding the Ministry of Defence, it is not sufficiently evident, as per the Public Financial Management and Accountability Act (PFMAA), 2011, that the requirements such as vehicles, equipment and refurbishment of dormitories qualify as emergencies.
“The Committee recommends that the Portfolio Committee responsible for the LDF should summon the Ministry of Defence to account for the financial proceeds of the Youth Development Programme (Bootcamp).
“The Ministry did not budget for these projects in the current 2025/26 financial year but requested an additional M4,364,454 to complete minor works worth M1,757,775 and M2,606,679 for the Youth Programme and Makoanyane Hospital respectively.
“The revenue collected from the Youth Programme is not reflected in the Consolidated Fund and does not appear in reporting documents submitted to Parliament. The Committee had anticipated that the excess funds would address infrastructure crises, equipment shortages, maintenance, water, electricity and protective clothing needs for LDF personnel stationed at bases,” the report states.
Mr Hakane tabled his report this week amid sharp criticism of the army in Parliament that it was not properly catering for the needs of its foot soldiers.
The LDF had appeared before the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on the Prime Minister’s Ministries and Departments to account for more than M20 million from the contingency fund used for the Bootcamp and the rehabilitation of the Makoanyane Military Hospital physiotherapy unit.
The committee is chaired by Matsieng constituency legislator, Moshe Makotoko, with Mashai MP Sekhele Mosebetsane and Alliance of Democrats proportional representation MP Maboiketlo Maliehe as members.
The Ministry of Defence delegation included Deputy Principal Secretary (DPS) Limpho Nchephe-Motanyane, Brigadier Lekhooa Matlali, Brigadier Rethabile Nokana and other LDF officers.
Ms Nchephe-Motanyane told the committee that the ministry had been allocated M20,475,477 from the contingency fund for the 2024/2025 financial year. Of that amount, M17,447,120 was channelled towards the LDF Youth Development Programme, while the remainder went towards equipment procurement.
She said M8,848,420 was used to construct dormitories, M3,950,000 to purchase vehicles — a bus and a van — and M4,638,700 to procure equipment such as beds and catering items for the youth programme.
However, committee members expressed outrage following their oversight visits to LDF bases nationwide, describing the living conditions of soldiers as deplorable and inhumane.
Ms Maliehe questioned whether senior LDF officials regularly visited the bases to appreciate the conditions under which soldiers operate.
“We visited LDF bases across Lesotho and saw the living conditions for ourselves. Soldiers do not even have basic necessities such as brooms to carry out their daily duties.
“Do you ever take time to visit these bases so that when we engage with you, we are speaking from the same reality? Even once? We are hurt as a committee. Soldiers beat up people and society gets hurt, but what is driving them to act that way?” Ms Maliehe asked.
Brig Matlali responded that the LDF’s budget was being routinely reduced and failed to meet operational requirements.
“We prepare our budget every year, but it is always cut. It does not meet our requirements. We know the conditions under which soldiers live, even though we do not visit often,” he said.
He cited bases such as Ha Ramatšeliso and Tšupane, which he said have no electricity, and others in Mokhotlong — including Matjekatjeka, Ha Peete and Ha Khabo — once considered model bases but now in severe disrepair.
“LDF is poor. Through our engineering department, we are collecting corrugated iron sheets to repair worn-out roofs because we do not have enough money,” Brig Matlali said.
Ms Maliehe rejected the explanation, arguing that the LDF had not clearly requested funds from Parliament specifically to rehabilitate bases.
“I have never heard you, in your budget presentations, asking for money to fix worn-out bases. You focus on other things and do not present the picture we have seen with our own eyes,” she said.
She added that the committee had even considered dismissing the delegation and summoning the LDF commander instead.
“Even the national flag at the bases is a shame. It is hidden when it should be flying. It is torn and in tatters. We are ashamed as a committee.
“Where is the LDF commander to account for these shameful conditions so that we can deal with these issues seriously?” she asked.
Ms Maliehe said it did not make sense that the army was using its contingency budget to bankroll the Bootcamp when the project was generating its own money via corporate donations and participant fees.
Mr Mosebetsane claimed “poverty” levels among soldiers had reached alarming levels.
“You are putting soldiers’ lives at risk. Because of poverty, they ask for food in villages. They even borrow transport to carry out operations. Do you realise how much danger you are exposing them to?” he asked.
Brig Nokana said the LDF was operating in “survival mode”, with most of its allocation consumed by salaries.
“Seventy percent of the LDF budget goes to salaries, while only 30 percent remains for operations. It is pure survival. We do not even have enough food. Soldiers eat beans because the current budget cannot sustain the force.
“If nothing changes, our infrastructure will remain dilapidated. We have raised these concerns, but the budget is simply not sufficient,” he said.
Ms Maliehe also questioned the prioritisation of the Bootcamp over the welfare of soldiers at operational bases.
“Why was it more important to construct youth programme facilities instead of fixing the bases? Soldiers buy meat and ask villagers to store it in their fridges because they have none. The same soldier is expected to chase criminals and guard critical infrastructure like the Mohale Dam without proper transport or resources. This is unacceptable,” she fumed.
