Soldier appointed to head anti-graft body

‘MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU – The office of the government secretary on Thursday officially announced the appointment Advocate Brigadier Mantšo Sello to the helm of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO). This follows the callous sacking of Motlalekhotso Knorx Molelle last week, whose departure the government statement claims was “a mutual termination of the contract of employment.”

Brigadier Advocate Sello has become the new DCEO Director General with from February 14. Following Molelle’s resignation, and the subsequent appointment of Sello, the Law Society of Lesotho had voiced concerns with the new appointee. In a report to their membership issued in Maseru this week the Law Society Council indicated that they were informed by government that Sello would immediately ‘seconded’, Sello is a legal officer within the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and has filled the position of Director General of the DCEO after Molelle’s resignation.

“That raised significant legal concerns, particularly regarding the secondment of an army officer to head an institution that must function independently of the executive and security forces,” the report says. The Law Society further indicates that on Monday, February 10 they penned a letter to Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the legal implications of this appointment.

Government promptly responded, and the first meeting was held on the same day, attended by the Minister of Law and Justice, the Principal Secretary for the Ministry, and the Deputy Attorney General. During a follow-up meeting the next day, the Law Society was informed that Sello would resign from the LDF, addressing the primary concern regarding the independence of the DCEO.

Furthermore, the Law Society states in their report that they had conducted an investigation into the qualifications of Molelle to the directorship of the anti-graft body. They reveal that they had received credible information from a whistleblower suggesting that Molelle was not admitted as a legal practitioner in terms of the Legal Practitioners Act of 1983.

A source of their earlier discontent in a letter that was written to Matekane seeking Molelle’s booting. Following this revelation, the lawyers’ society points out they had undertaken a verification exercise by consulting its own records and the records of the High Court of Lesotho. Upon confirmation that Molelle was not admitted in accordance with the laws of the country, the Law Society sought to engage the appointing authority, the prime minister, for clarification on the basis of the appointment.

A formal letter was addressed to the Prime Minister, with copies to the Minister of Law and Justice and the Attorney General, demanding corrective measures to address the situation should the information regarding Molelle’s legal standing prove accurate.

However, the letter was ignored by the government, prompting the Law Society to take legal action. The Law Society subsequently filed an urgent application in the high court seeking to invalidate Molelle’s appointment on the basis that he was unqualified. This case remains pending before the court.

Molelle tendered his resignation on February 7, following his fallout with government over leaked recordings revealing a controversial conversation suspected to be between him and Basotho National Party leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe.

The recordings laid bare the manner in which Molelle viewed his principals that include the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice – tabulating their weaknesses in their respective portfolio, and generally labelling them idiots.