National strike looms

As health workers, chiefs’ salary woes continue

MOTSAMAI MOKOTJO

MASERU – With a national strike looming beginning May 19, an end to the financial woes of local chiefs and Village Health Workers (VHW) remains a pipedream. Scathing letters have been written to local government minister, Lebona Lephema, and his colleague in the Ministry of Health, Selibe Mochoboroane, by the Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA) castigating government for failure to honour reached agreements.

LEWA represents the two groups and the letters were penned by secretary general, Hlalefang Seaoaholimo, on April 29 in which he categorically said in consequence, the government should expect no service from “both your local chiefs and VHWs starting on May 19, since salary increments have not been effected on their respective salaries to date”.

VHWs who have worked for more than twelve months were promised a M2 448 allowance per month, while those with less time were to receive M2 242.

Public Eye quizzed the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Moliehi Ntene, on the reasons the agreed salary for the VHW has not been made.

She calmly said: “You know we get funds from the Ministry Finance. We have not received them.”

“Are you aware that within government structures there are certain standards required? They are working on such to ascertain their (VHMs) qualifications,” Nteno said.

But the Principal Secretary at Finance, Nthoateng Lebona, sings a different tune, casting doubts over the veracity of her counterpart at Health, Ntene’s assertion that Finance was responsible for the delays in disbursing funds to health workers.

“What does she (Ntene) mean? That is not true,” Lebona said, adding, “Warrants are out… In April others delayed, but we have been releasing them every month.”

“That is a lie… She needs to go check with her finance department in her ministry,” she further said.

In the letters to the two minister, which Public Eye has managed to obtain, Seoaholimo informed the government that they will not attend to any business from the set date.

“In our milestone pursuits over issues that affect the village health workers and chiefs’ salaries/allowances, which were not paid by these two ministries have been significantly shaken and troubled to a point whereby their conduct leaves a lasting mark on the psyche of chiefs and village health workers unless an effort is made to attend to this oft-forgotten dimension of people’s lives.

It is for these reasons that they have decided to inform your good office that they are left with no other option but to withhold their labour,” Seoaholimo wrote. 

In relation to chiefs, on August 24, 2024, LEWA and the Ministry of Local Government and reached a settlement before the Directorate of Dispute Prevention and Resolution (DDPR) where, effective April of this year, there would be increments to salaries.

The disbursement was supposed to be as follows: Area Chief I to be paid M10 674, Area Chief II M7 993, Area Chief I M5 181, Chief II M3 567 and Headman M3 001, all per month.

Seaoaholimo confirmed to this publication that he authored the letters. However, he expressed disappointment since there has been no response from either ministry.

“We waited until April 1 as agreed but were surprised when there was no increment. There’s been no explanation. No attempts were made to meet with the ministry, since we have an agreement that had to be implemented,” Seoaholimo said. 

In elevating the plight of chiefs and village health workers, on April 22 of this year, Seoaholimo wrote to the National Assembly Social Cluster Chairperson, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, castigating Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane’s administration for “sending a negative governance delivery standard.”

“We, therefore, strongly recommend…drastic action for compliance from these two ministries…(and) seek your concurrence…to the above absurd circumstances and make a duly internal review on the procedural matters of administrative issues,” the secretary general wrote.  

Makhalanyane was unreachable when contacted to indicated what steps he has taken since receipt of the LWA letter. However, a source within the committee indicated that this week that the Ministries of Health and Local Government have been called to parliament to account for some of their actions.

Basotho National Party leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe, yesterday asked Minister Lephema to update the House on developments on the same issue.

The minister’s response only indicated that “early this year an assessment regarding salary increments during the 2025/2026 financial year would be made.”

“The first step was for the affected ministries, particularly Public Service and Finance and Development Planning, to accept the proposal which was made by my ministry. We are hopeful that the two ministries will accept our application. The ministry (of chieftainship) will then include this increase for the chiefs within its budget.”

This response attracted a backlash from several legislators who demanded clarity, labelling the minister’s response flawed as it talked about a mulled assessment yet the ministry already had a written commitment to effect the chiefs’ salary increment by April 1.