DC youth wing Chairman Thuso Litjobo
…as Litjobo’s constituency demands his reinstatement
Lekhetho Ntsukunyane and Pascalinah Kabi
THE Koro-Koro constituency of the Democratic Congress (DC) has given Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili until next Tuesday to reinstate party youth leader Thuso Litjobo to his position as Police Minister Monyane Moleleki’s personal aide or face a revolt.
Mr Litjobo was relieved of his duties last week ostensibly because of his public tongue lashing of women’s league leader Dr ’Matumelo Pontšo Sekatle who he accused of working with “outside forces” to destroy the party.
He also accused Dr Sekatle of despising the party’s deputy leader Monyane Moleleki, which he said was “the root cause” of the internecine strife in the DC.
Mr Litjobo further claimed he had been reliably informed that Dr Sekatle, who is also Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs Minister, was allegedly planning to defect to the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) together with four other ministers. He said the defection was meant to enable LCD leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing to succeed Dr Mosisili as the premier.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DC Koro-Koro constituency said Mr Litjobo was fired for “exposing” Dr Sekatle.
“The Koro-Koro constituency learnt with shock the firing of its leader as Minister of Police Monyane Moleleki’s personal aide. We have also learnt that the decision to fire our party youth league leader came from the party leader (Dr Mosisili), because Litjobo attacked DC Women’s League leader Dr ‘Matumelo Pontšo Sekatle,” read the statement.
“However, the truth of the matter is that the party leader issued an instruction that Litjobo be fired because he exposed Dr Sekatle’s behind-the-scenes actions to destroy this party.”
The constituency said Mr Litjobo was fired for trying to save the party, saying the plot was “confirmed” by LCD spokesperson Teboho Sekata in a leaked audio clip.
In the leaked recording, Mr Sekata alleges the infighting in the DC had intensified to the extent that there was a “high possibility” Dr Mosisili would defect back to the LCD.
“For the first time in history, we are witnessing the sacking of a youth party leader for exposing a plot to grow another party at the expense of our own party. You will remember that Litjobo’s claims against Dr Sekatle were later confirmed by LCD spokesperson Teboho Sekata.”
The constituency also said the dismissal was a form of discrimination which was “anti-congress”.
“The fact of the matter is that the DC Women’s League leader discriminated against our leader and continues to utter statements which have the potential to destroy our party. Why is the women league leader not being sacked from her ministerial position for discriminating against our leader and splitting our party?”
The statement also took aim at party members, Lobe Moeletsi, Moetsi Shale, Motlalekhotso Matheso, Rapitso Rapitso and former youth league leader Mosala Mojakisane and ministers Mathibeli Mokhothu (Sports) and Likeleli Tampane (Tourism), saying they should be fired to show that Dr Mosisili’s disciplinary action was not discriminatory.
“If this does not happen within seven days, the Koro-Koro constituency will do everything in its powers to protect Litjobo as our youth league leader and Koro-Koro constituency member,” the DC members charged.
DC Koro-Koro constituency treasurer, Nkoebe Marole, yesterday confirmed writing the letter to the party’s executive committee.
“Our letter is self-explanatory. We want Mr Litjobo reinstated. We have given the executive committee seven days to act on our request and failure to do that will result in action against the party leader who fired our youth league leader. However, our actions will be within the confines of the party constitution.”
For his part, DC national executive committee spokesperson, Serialong Qoo, confirmed receiving the letter.
“We are yet to convene and call upon the concerned Koro-Koro members to a meeting where we are going to discuss this matter and reach a solution. It is only fair that we give them a platform to express their views and then make them aware of certain principles of the party so they also understand why certain decisions are made.”
