…as govt, DCYL clash over transparency
Ithabeleng Qhasho
CONCERNS over the integrity of Lesotho’s upcoming national census have intensified, with the Democratic Congress Youth League (DCYL) accusing the coalition government of hiring people from its constituent political parties without following lawful recruitment processes.
Addressing a press conference in Maseru on Tuesday, DCYL secretary, Pontšo Ntjelo, alleged that standard procedures had been bypassed, undermining transparency and fairness in the hiring of census personnel.
“Thousands of qualified graduates responded to the call for applications in good faith, only to find that the process may have already been compromised,” Ms Ntjelo said.
She claimed that some assistant supervisor positions were filled without public advertisement, effectively excluding many eligible applicants. Reports received by the league, she added, suggest that certain posts were never advertised at all.
“This raises serious concerns about fairness and equal opportunity,” she said.
The DCYL further alleged that recruitment was conducted through informal channels, including WhatsApp groups and constituency-based lists, rather than through established government systems.
“Recruitment through WhatsApp and politically influenced lists is not only irregular, it is unacceptable. It undermines the credibility of the entire process,” Ms Ntjelo added.
According to the league, there were also instances where individuals were added to recruitment lists before the official application deadline had passed. Ms Ntjelo argued that such decisions might have been prematurely done.
“This defeats the purpose of having a deadline and opens the door to manipulation,” she said.
The league warned that unless urgent corrective action was taken, public trust in the national census could be severely undermined. It has called for an immediate suspension of the recruitment process and a comprehensive, independent audit of all appointments made thus far.
“The census is a critical national exercise that informs planning and development. If its foundation is flawed, the entire process becomes questionable.”
Echoing similar concerns, DCYL Vice President, Lebohang Ntsau, alleged that unqualified individuals were prioritised for supervisory roles. He said the party had received information suggesting that constituency-based lists favoured individuals lacking the necessary skills or formal qualifications.
Mr Ntsau called on the government to publicly clarify the criteria used in recruiting census staff, stressing the need for transparency. He also criticised the alleged involvement of members of the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), arguing that no political party should influence recruitment for a sensitive national exercise such as the census.
Meanwhile, DCYL President, Pheello Sehlabaka, warned that data collected by personnel affiliated with political interests could be vulnerable to manipulation, particularly in the context of future elections.
Mr Sehlabaka said the DCYL had formally requested a full list of all individuals recruited for the census to verify the integrity of the process. He emphasised that public hiring must not be conducted in secrecy.
He further urged DC members and young applicants, particularly those initially selected but later removed, to report for duty when the census begins on 12 April, dismissing legal action as a time-consuming option.
Failure to address the concerns, he warned, could lead to disruptions.
“We may be forced to take action to block the process if our grievances are not resolved,” he said.
In response, the government has sought to clarify concerns surrounding the recruitment process within the Bureau of Statistics (BoS).
Government spokesperson, Boitelo Rabele, said the recruitment targeted individuals already registered in a government database of unemployed graduates, particularly those classified under Grade F. The initiative aimed to fill vacancies in the Population Census, within the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Explaining the background of the system, Mr Rabele said it was established to address longstanding challenges faced by graduates entering the public service.
“Previously, it was very difficult for young graduates to secure employment in the public service because they lacked work experience, despite holding qualifications. Many struggled to pass interviews.
“At the time, the government urgently needed workers, so it introduced a system to register graduates with degrees and diplomas into a database. Instead of relying solely on interviews, candidates would be placed when opportunities arose,” Mr Rabele said.
He said under this system, government ministries submit requests to the Public Service when vacancies become available. In this case, the Bureau of Statistics requested assistant supervisors with qualifications in statistics, economics and related fields.
Public Service officials then searched the database for qualified candidates and contacted them directly.
“Every Mosotho in the database with the relevant qualifications was contacted. When the required number of 1130 was not met, the BoS expanded the scope to include graduates from related disciplines such as mathematics, business information systems and similar fields.”
The government maintained that the process was conducted fairly and transparently. Candidates were contacted more than once where necessary, and those who declined the offer were considered unavailable.
Providing reassurance, Mr Rabele stressed that political affiliation played no role in the selection process.
“Public service employees could not have known which political party any individual supports, as the recruitment was based strictly on an existing government database of unemployed graduates,” he said.
He also urged individuals to remain vigilant against exploitation, saying the population census was intended to benefit both government and society at large.
Meanwhile, an unemployed graduate, Lineo Phangoa, said she applied for an enumerator position in the hope of securing an opportunity, even though it had been said that the government jobs were often obtained through personal connections.
