… govt moves swiftly to avert crisis after constables’ salaries are reduced
Keiso Mohloboli
THE government has moved swiftly to avert a crisis in the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) following this week’s release of a new salary structure by the Ministry of Public Service.
The new salaries, which were supposed to come into effect on April 1, had among others, reduced the gross pay of the least-paid members of the service — the constables — by two percent.
However, the rest of the ranks had been awarded different increases — a development confirmed yesterday by the Ministry of Police Principal Secretary (PS) Refiloe Matekane.
According to a savingram from the Ministry of Public Service dated 19 May 2014, which was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the lowest-paid constable who is currently earning M58 296 a year, would now be paid M57 204.
The various levels of the same group of constables also had their salaries reduced. Mr Matekane confirmed the savingram was issued by the Ministry of Public Service PS, Ms Lemphane – Letsie, which he however, said came as a complete shock to the LMPS.
“Based on the savingram issued by the Ministry of Public Service PS on Monday this week, the police constables’ salaries have gone down, while those of the other ranks have been increased.
“This came as a complete shock to us because as far we are concerned, the issue of the salary adjustment is still being discussed by the cabinet.
“We presented our proposed salary structure before an informal cabinet on Tuesday last week, so the expectation is the same presentation would be discussed further by the cabinet.
“So it really came as a surprise that the Ministry of Public Service came up with this new salary structure, when the issue is still under discussion,” Mr Matekane said.
He appealed to all police officers to ignore the savingram, adding the salaries it refers to are not conclusive.
“We appeal to the police constables and the rest of the officers to disregard the salary structure issued by the Public Service because, like I said, they were reached at without the involvement of other stakeholders.
“Yesterday morning, we asked District Commissioners of Police to address the officers in their respective areas so that they ignore the adjustments and await the outcome of talks that are still in progress,” added Mr Matekane.
“The Police Act stipulates that when adjusting the police salaries, the Police Negotiating Council should discuss the structure in consultation with the ministries of Finance and Public Service, before it is implemented.”
Acting Government Secretary, Samuel Mphaka, yesterday said the new salary structure should be ignored as it had the potential to create problems.
“When the police management approached me about the issue on Tuesday this week, I held a meeting with Mr
Matekane and Police Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana in an effort to address the issue.
“I told them to go back to the drawing board and involve the Police Negotiating Council, the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Finance to agree on removing irregularities in the structure,” Mr Mphaka said.
He also said he suggested a timeframe that, by the end of next month, a new salary structure for the LMPS should have been effected.
“Members of the police should just ignore the current adjustment, and those who are supposed to set the new structure should go back and do retrospective adjustments,” Mr Mphaka said.
“I want to reiterate my call to the constables to be patient and wait for the retrospective adjustments as we don’t want this released adjustment to cause fights within the police service.
“The issue of police salaries is a sensitive one which needs to be handled carefully to avoid the go-slows that took place within the service last year over the same issue.”
Contacted for comment last night, Ms Lemphane – Letsie, whose name appears on the savingram, erupted in anger.
“I won’t comment at this late hour; calling me at 7pm is inappropriate because I was already asleep. You should follow the right procedure if you want an interview, and that means you must go through my secretary and set an appointment.
“And listen, I don’t want my name to appear in your newspaper tomorrow. If you really love your newspaper, just don’t put my name in whatever story you are writing,” Ms Lemphane – Letsie said.
