…As he plans to engage competent experts to complete the long stalled project
MINISTER of Public Works and Transport, Matjato Moteane, has called for former Principal Secretaries (PSs) in his ministry to be held accountable for corruption and the incessant delays surrounding the construction of the new Royal Palace for His Majesty King Letsie III.
With no clear timeline for the completion of the long-delayed project, Mr Moteane said it was concerning that none of the former PSs—most of whom are still alive—have been subjected to scrutiny over their role in the project.
Construction of the Royal Palace began in August 2011, with completion initially set for May 2013 at a cost of M136.7 million. Work was suspended in April 2013, resumed in October 2016 after redesigns, and stalled again repeatedly due to changes in architects (2014, 2018) and delayed agreements until May 2021. By 2018 costs had risen to about M358.8 million, reaching roughly M411 million by 2021. Still, there has been no progress on the project hitherto, with His Majesty effectively having to resort to leaving in his birthplace of Matsieng.
Continued delays, redesigns, and mismanagement are now estimated to have pushed projected costs beyond M500 million. The budget increases stem from repeated design changes, late payments to professional contractors, interest charges, and costly remedial works on defects identified in a 2024 audit by Auditor-General. ’Mathabo Makenete.
Ms Makenete’s report painted a grim picture of the project’s management, revealing that costs had ballooned to over M500 million.
Mr Moteane is deeply worried that none of the past principal secretaries and officials responsible for the mess have been held accountable. Even though he only took over the public works ministry, responsible for implementing the project, after the October 2022 elections, some uninformed people have erroneously tried to link him to the delays. Mr Moteane set the record straight in an exclusive interview with Lesotho Times senior reporter, Mohloai Mpesi, in his office this week.
Excerpts:
LT: What is the current status of the Royal Palace project?
Moteane: The project was halted three years ago to allow for an audit, and we are still awaiting the green light to resume construction. The audit revealed that some individuals, including contractors and consultants, were overpaid. We have since written to the Office of the Auditor-General requesting permission to proceed.
Once we receive approval, we anticipate that within two months we will be able to resume work. From our physical inspection, the structure is still viable and can fulfil its intended purpose, but I would rather not go into too much detail at this stage.
LT: Is the situation similar to that of the National Museum project?
Moteane: There are some differences. In the case of the museum, there were no findings of overpayment. Instead, the issue was that the allocated budget was exhausted, leading to delays due to lack of funds.
Now, restarting the project is not as simple as continuing from where it stopped. Some processes were not properly followed. For instance, a project (Museum) that initially cost M140 million has now ballooned to M200 million, and finance officers were not informed of such increases.
However, this can be resolved internally. Contractors are still available, and about M60 million is needed to complete the project.
LT: How can the Royal Palace challenges be resolved?
Moteane: Our priority is to complete the Palace. There are three key areas to address. First, we want to complete the sections where work had already started. Second, we need to incorporate additional components that were initially omitted, such as landscaping and furnishings, which will require a fresh procurement process.
Third, we intend to bring in competent experts to inspect and guide the work. The audit report highlighted a lack of adequate expertise among officials involved. External specialists will support our local teams.
The real question the media should ask is why those who made the decisions (that have delayed the project) are not being held accountable. The audit report clearly indicates that the consultant was improperly appointed. Why have the PSs of that time not been questioned?
All of them, except one who was a director, are still alive. One cannot help but suspect that there may be efforts to fix the project without addressing accountability. Nevertheless, we will ensure competent professionals complete the work.
LT: Your ministry has been allocated M2 billion for the 2026/27 fiscal year. How is this budget distributed?
Moteane: About M700 million has been allocated to gravel roads, while the remainder will go towards upgrading and maintaining tarred roads.
However, to fully address infrastructure needs, the ministry requires around M15 billion over at least five years. Ideally, we should be spending about M3 billion annually to meet all our targets. This calls for long-term, rolling budgets.
LT: Which projects will be prioritised this year?
Moteane: We have several projects at different stages—some have already received bids, while others are still in the bidding process. Although not all will be implemented this year, we plan to work on about 300 kilometres of roads.
To put that into perspective, 300 kilometres is roughly the distance from Maseru to beyond Butha-Buthe. In total, we have about 2,400 kilometres of tarred roads requiring attention, and this year we are adding 300 kilometres to that network.
One of the key projects is the upgrade of the Katse–Thaba-Tseka road from gravel to tar. This is funded through a World Bank loan agreement of M100 million signed in September last year. The funding also covers the Maputsoe–Maqhaka road under the LITL project.
The procurement process has two phases. In the first phase, we received about 18 technical bids and shortlisted six companies for the financial stage. We are expecting their financial submissions on 14 May.
North side, we have a project covering the 18-kilometre stretch from the Maseru border gate to Maqhaka. We are currently in the process of selecting a contractor, pending approval from the Procurement Authority. Once approved, work can begin immediately. This project also includes the upgrading of junctions such as Lakeside to ease traffic congestion. The design phase has already been completed.
South side, we will rehabilitate the road from Cathedral Circle to Airport Junction. Tenders for this project are ready for award. We have also received bids for the Airport Junction to Mafeteng stretch, but we are still awaiting confirmation of funding, as it was not included in the initial budget.
Our broader goal is to create a continuous route from Maputsoe to Mafeteng, implemented in phases—main north and main south.
We also plan to upgrade the road from Holy Cross to Quthing. Tenders have been received and funding is available; we only need to finalise evaluation and submit to the Lesotho Procurement Authority before work can begin.
However, there remains a funding gap between Mafeteng and Holy Cross. No funds have been secured yet, and tender bids have not been received. The ministry is still working on cost estimates for that section.
LT: You previously mentioned plans for the Thaba-Tseka to Mokhotlong road. What is the status of that project?
Moteane: We are awaiting funding approval from the Chinese Exim Bank for the 98-kilometre road linking Thaba-Tseka to Mokhotlong via Makunyapane (A5).
In the meantime, we expect to begin work within the next five weeks on the Tsoelike–Ha Matlali–Lebakeng road.
We are also studying additional projects, including a road linking Ha Ramokoakoatlela to Makunyapane. These developments will improve connectivity, allowing travel from Qacha’s Nek through ’Melikane Bridge, across the Senqu River, and onward to Lebakeng.
LT: Your ministry plays a key role in linking tourism destinations. What progress has been made in this area?
Moteane: We are upgrading several gravel roads and installing temporary bridges. One key route will connect Semonkong to roads linking Qacha’s Nek and Thaba-Tseka.
We have already constructed a gravel road in Senqunyane, which will improve access for tourists travelling from Ha Mohale to Semonkong.
Another important tourism route involves upgrading the Malealea road and extending it to Ha Tšepo. We have also begun constructing a road from Mohale’s Hoek to Maphutseng, which will include a bridge. Additionally, we are working on the Mantšonyane–Lesobeng route.
LT: There has been debate in Parliament about the M10 million allocated per constituency for road works. Can you clarify this?
Moteane: The M10 million allocation is meant to address infrastructure needs within constituencies, particularly roads in towns. However, the actual cost of projects often exceeds this amount.
For example, in Mashai constituency, two bridges are currently being repaired—one connecting Matebeng and Lebakeng, and another within Lebakeng.
In some constituencies, like Thaba-Moea, the focus is on footbridges rather than roads. There are also areas that need electricity or water more urgently than roads. This means allocations must be balanced across sectors.
Our budgeting is done at district level to ensure fairness and efficiency. We also prioritise labour-intensive projects that create employment. For instance, the Matlali–Lebakeng project is expected to employ about 450 people.
LT: What is the status of the Moshoeshoe I International Airport upgrade?
Moteane: We had anticipated visible progress by now, but strong winds damaged part of the roofing, causing a four-month delay.
Currently, window installation is underway, and interior work will follow. By August, we expect to operate a temporary terminal while construction continues on the main facility. Completion is targeted before the end of the year.
Additional upgrades include runway rehabilitation, installation of improved lighting and instrumentation, and a one-kilometre runway extension towards Mazenod. This portion is funded by the World Bank and the OPEC Fund.
The terminal building itself is government-funded, with the budget now increased from M80 million to M180 million. Separately, about US$40 million has been allocated for airside improvements.
We are also planning to establish an aviation school, either in Mafeteng or Hlotse, and have been advised to upgrade aviation grounds in Mafeteng to support this initiative.
