Thahane’s dismissal hailed
By Billy Ntaote
MASERU The coalition government’s decision this week to fire Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs Minister Timothy Thahane is a bold and positive step towards fighting graft and fostering good governance in Lesotho, analysts say.
Thahane was fired after his brief appearance before the Maseru Magistrate Court on Monday on two counts of fraud and bribery totalling more than M43 million.
The charges relate to the controversial block farming scheme, aimed at boosting agricultural production in the country, and to a wool and mohair development project.
Thahane’s firing was announced by Acting Prime Minister and Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothetjoa Metsing on Tuesday. All the fraud and bribery charges relate to Thahane’s tenure as Finance Minister in former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s government. Thahane is the LCD’s member of parliament (MP) for Likhetlane constituency.