Health minister launches spirited defence of premier Thomas Thabane
Keiso Mohloboli
MOHALE’S HOEK-The Minister of Health, Pinkie Manamolela, says politicians should not tarnish the image of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) by using the two security agencies to fight their own personal wars.
Dr Manamolela was speaking at a public gathering in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday as part of the coalition government’s efforts to inform the electorate about the country’s prevailing political and security instability.
The All Basotho Convention (ABC), Basotho National Party (BNP) and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) formed a coalition government in June 2012, but the marriage is now on the rocks after the latter accused Prime Minister Thomas Thabane of not consulting his fellow leaders when making key decisions.
In addition to the tripartite alliance falling apart, the LMPS and LDF leaders have publicly traded insults and undermined each other, resulting in many Basotho raising security concerns regarding this fallout.
According to Dr Manamolela, some politicians were taking advantage of the instability by “lying and spewing propaganda” that ABC leader, Dr Thabane, was no longer premier and that the LMPS brass was attending secret ABC meetings aimed at undermining the country’s democracy.
“Politicians are fighting their own personal battles by claiming that the LMPS is biased towards the ABC, and by so doing, supports the prime minister,” said Dr Manamolela, who is also a member of the ABC.
“It is time these people stopped politicising the police and LDF because they are apolitical institutions, which are expected to serve the government of the day, and not certain individuals.
“We can’t run away from the fact that there is a group of rebels within the LDF, but that does not mean every member of the LDF is unruly. As we speak, ministers are being guarded by the army, and feel secure because they are aware that not all LDF members are rebels.”
Dr Manamolela said the main reason Lesotho is in its current turmoil is Dr Thabane’s declaration that he would not tolerate corruption at whatever level.
“Ntate Thabane has made it very clear that he will fight corruption, no-matter who might be involved. That is why I don’t see anything wrong with the Deputy Prime Minister (Mothetjoa Metsing) being investigated and standing trial for the corruption cases he is implicated in.
“There is nobody above the law in this country and if Ntate Metsing has a case to answer, then he should be treated just like any other Mosotho and go before the courts of law to prove his innocence. His status should not compromise the government’s determination to root-out corruption for the wellbeing of Basotho.”
Dr Manamolela further said if Mr Metsing was being charged for corruption in the courts of law, he would not be the first politician to face such litigation.
“President Jacob Zuma, despite his status in South Africa, has stood trial after being accused of rape, and the court gave its ruling and he came out clean. He was also accused of corruption over his Nkandla home, but we have never heard him declaring war over the issue and insisting that the case should not be raised because he is the president. Our politicians should learn from other leaders from the continent,” she said.
Dr Manamolela also condemned ministers who sow divisions among the nation through misinformation and insulting traditional leaders.
“Chiefs are democracy at its best in this country because they also unite the nation, so politicians should not insult these leaders. Political parties are splitting every-day because of selfishness, but chiefs are always there for their people.
“Politicians usually get support from the people by making empty promises, which the chiefs never do, so time has come when these party leaders should be held accountable for their actions.”
The minister also spoke about the reopening of Parliament, which Dr Thabane has refused to reconvene despite recommendations by SADC to do so. The ABC leader suspended the House for nine months on 10 June 2014 to escape a no-confidence vote in his leadership. Early last month, SADC recommended he should reopen the House on 19 September and also urged the feuding parties to agree on a date to hold an early general election. Lesotho was supposed to hold its next parliamentary election in 2017, but due to the problems within the coalition government, the regional bloc recommended an early poll but without setting the date. South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed to facilitate talks aimed at ending the impasse but has not made a breakthrough so far.
“The opposition and some within the LCD are calling for the Prime Minister to reopen Parliament, but these people should know that this will only happen once the security situation in this country returns to normal. SADC observers are here to see for themselves and help us resolve our political and security crises. Ntate Ramaphosa is the facilitator and he is not here to favour anyone. His assessment is not meant to benefit any political party or please any individual, as is being alleged by some individuals, but to see that there is lasting peace in Lesotho.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Law and Constitutional Affairs, Haae Phoofolo and Minister of Labour and Employment, Keketso Rantšo, did not attend Sunday’s meeting as expected.
