Moorosi Tsiane
BASOTHO National Party (BNP) leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe, heaved a sigh of relief yesterday after Labour Court president, Teboho Thoso, temporarily interdicted his incarceration following an arrest warrant issued against him on Monday.
Mr Thoso stayed the execution of the warrant for Mr Mofomobe’s arrest after the legislator’s lawyer, Christopher Lephuthing, approached the court on Tuesday to challenge it.
The warrant was issued on Monday by the Labour Court after Mr Mofomobe failed to honour a court order which directed him to pay former BNP Secretary General, Tšepo Lethobane’s salary arrears.
Mr Lethobane is now the Maseru District Administrator.
He had a fallout with the BNP two years ago after he was accused of misappropriating party funds. He in turn claimed the party had failed to pay his monthly salary and dragged it to court.
The Labour Court had last year ruled in Mr Lethobane’s favour and ordered the BNP to pay him his outstanding wages. The order was not honoured resulting in the arrest warrant against Mr Mofomobe.
Mr Lethobane had left the BNP to join the now ruling Revolution For Prosperity (RFP).
Advocate Lephuthing successfully petitioned the Labour Court to temporarily stay the jailing of Mr Mofomobe until the court hears their argument challenging the arrest warrant. They are expected back in court next Wednesday.
In his application challenging the warrant of arrest, Mr Mofomobe argues the BNP’s constitution has a unique contractual relationship with him as the leader of the party and he cannot be arrested for the debts of the party.
He further argues that as an MP, he enjoys certain privileges under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act of 1994. He cannot thus be “embarrassed” by such a warrant of arrest.
Mr Mofomobe also denies that the party owes the ex-secretary-general. Current party secretary general, Moeketsi Hanyane, had reached an amicable settlement with his predecessor, he claimed.
