The Asset Team has no legal instrument: Tau

MOTSAMAI MOKOTJO

Maseru – The Government Assets Search Recovery Task Team (GASRTT) has no legal standing; thus, it is open to being sued by any individual trying to hoodwink the state out of its property. This was revealed in a presentation seen by Public Eye, where the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Limpho Tau omitted other critical matters addressing concerns over the operation and legality of GASRTT when quizzed by Senator Pontšo Mathealira in a question she posed in the Upper House.

GASRTT, which is the 10-member team that includes legal experts, members of the Lesotho Defence Force, Lesotho Mounted Service (LMPS), National Security Service (NSS), and Public Service – chaired by Advocate Seeng Matšosa and Deputy Chairperson Moepana Kopo – was set up to take stock of government assets as pledged by Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane during his inauguration speech in 2022.

This was further articulated by Tau in March 2023, when he said the government had established an 11-member task team meant to investigate and reclaim its assets. “The team has hit the ground running and is leaving no stone unturned in our quest to recover government assets that were acquired unlawfully by individuals since independence in 1966,” Tau said during a press briefing.

However, the team remains with no legal standing allowing them to execute their tasks.

“There’s no legal instrument protecting the team and giving it authority to execute its tasks in some of the areas of investigation and recovery,” Tau told senators on April 9, 2025. 

Cabinet Principal Secretary Mabataung Khalane said the process of legalizing the team was ongoing but refused to state at which stage it was.

“Cabinet has made a decision; you need to ask the team (GASRTT) since they are seized with moving things,” a defiant Khalane briefly said.

Matsoha sa since admiited thata her job inherently is dangerous and lamented the snail paced attitude to afford her security and legality.