Army boss warns of plot
MASERU-In a startling revelation, army commander Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela has warned that there are some soldiers who are plotting to topple the government.
Addressing a parade at the Makoanyane Military Barracks last Thursday, Lt Gen Letsoela said there is a group of soldiers that “want to back up an allegiance to remove the government”.
Lt Gen Letsoela said such soldiers belong to “some units under command directly”.
“I warn you soldiers, this will not happen under my command, not under my command,” Lt Gen Letsoela said.
The commander said the army has in the past failed to live up to its commitment.
Mosito says he’s victim of factional fights
MASERU-LEKHETHO Mosito, who was fired as Defence Minister after a few days on the job, says he is a victim of intense factional fights in the All Basotho Convention (ABC).
Mosito was fired on Monday, barely a week after his appointment.
This followed howls of protests from some senior ABC officials. Leading the campaign to push out Mosito was Agriculture Minister Tefo Mapesela. Mapesela led a delegation of senior party officials who complained about the appointment to Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro.
Mapesela told the media that Mosito was not fit to be a minister because of his chequered past as an ill-disciplined soldier. In a stinging attack, Mapesela described Mosito as Majoro’s “goat”.
Army busts medical cannabis smuggling racket Army busts medical cannabis smuggling racket
Bereng Mpaki
THE Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) says it recently busted a medical cannabis smuggling operation by a licensed local producer.
An officer in the LDF public affairs office, Lance Corporal Pule Maseela, said they intercepted and recovered 53 bags of medical cannabis destined for South Africa via Butha-Buthe.
Lance Corporal Maseela said preliminary investigations by the military intelligence (MI) showed that the cannabis had originated from one of the licensed local producers. He said the investigations pointed to the likelihood of tax avoidance by cannabis producers as the reason for smuggling medical cannabis.
Majoro’s ministers at war Majoro’s ministers at war
Pascalinah Kabi
A VICIOUS war has erupted between Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro’s two key ministers.
Newly appointed Defence and National Security Minister Lekhetho Mosito has filed an unprecedented M3 million defamation lawsuit against his cabinet colleague, Agriculture, Marketing and Food Security Minister, Tefo Mapesela.
This after Mr Mapesela’s scathing broadside against Mr Mosito. The agriculture minister last week viciously attacked Mr Mosito and even chastised Prime Minister Majoro for appointing him into cabinet.
Mr Mosito is the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC)’s legislator for the Likhetlane constituency. He was on 3 February 2021 appointed defence minister by Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro. This was Dr Majoro’s first cabinet reshuffle since taking over from former incumbent Thomas Thabane who leads the ABC.
Meraka Lesotho wins eviction battle against govt
Pascalinah Kabi
A LOCAL company, Meraka Lesotho, has won a High Court battle to stop Agriculture and Food Security Minister Tefo Mapesela and the government from interfering with its operations at the national abattoir in Khubetsoana.
Meraka Lesotho and its parent company, Kerchin Meat Industry Lesotho, successfully petitioned the court to stop Mr Mapesela from interfering with their operations after he allegedly sent soldiers to evict Meraka Lesotho from the abattoir early last month.
The director general of veterinary services, the principal secretary for Agriculture and Food Security, Nchaka Makara, Mr Mapesela, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Attorney General Advocate Haae Phoofolo were the first to fifth respondents respectively in the application.