Rethabile Pitso/’Marafaele Mohloboli
THE Lesotho National Dairy Board (LNDB) Chief Executive Officer, Abiel Mashale, has been suspended from his position for allegedly seeking an audience with Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Thabo Mofosi, without first engaging Principal Secretary, Khothatso Tšooana.
Mr Mashale has reportedly been replaced by Mathealea Lerotholi.
The suspension, carried out last month, followed the issuance of a show-cause letter which, among other allegations, accused him of engaging in direct correspondence with Minister Mofosi.
It is understood that Mr Mashale’s suspension was triggered by concerns he raised with Mr Mofosi regarding the appointment of Ms Lerotholi to the position of Board Secretary—a role he (Mashale) held by virtue of being CEO.
According to Section 7(1) Agricultural Marketing (Establishment of National Dairy Board) Regulations, 1991, as amended, “the management of the affairs of the board shall be vested in the Chief Executive Officer, who shall be the Secretary of the Board”.
The LNDB was established under the National Dairy Board Regulations of 1991 to promote and enhance the development of the dairy industry in Lesotho.
Mr Mashale’s suspension comes less than a month after the LNDB appointed a Board of Directors to oversee the organisation’s operations. According to sources, the board’s appointment had long been overdue, with its absence hindering the organisation from functioning fully in accordance with its founding regulations.
When contacted for comment, Mr Mashale confirmed his suspension but declined to provide further details.
“I cannot divulge any further details regarding my suspension as the matter is being dealt with by my lawyers,” he said.
However, sources allege that Mr Mashale may have been targeted for his efforts to root out alleged corrupt practices within the LNDB.
The lack of a board is said to have created conditions conducive to maladministration. An audit report had previously highlighted administrative irregularities and recommended, among other measures, the establishment of a board.
Efforts to obtain comment from Mr Mofosi and Dr Tšooana were unsuccessful at the time of going to print last night as they both did not answer their phones.
Ms Lerotholi also declined to comment, stating that she was in a meeting when contacted.
