Caswell Tlali
MASERU — Daggers have been drawn between the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)’s president and his deputy.
The deputy president, Thabang Mokatse confirmed the clashes between him and his boss, Kuena Phafane, although he said they were “minor misunderstandings”.
Mokatse is accusing Phafane of presiding over some irregularities in the administration of the chamber.
He called an urgent executive meeting on Wednesday where the alleged irregularities were discussed prior to the LCCI’s annual general conference set for April.
The alleged irregularities included the registration of a private company called LCCI Investment Holding Company without the approval of the LCCI executive committee and its management committee.
Mokatse said this company was likely to benefit from the LCCI’s 40 percent stake in Avis Fleet Services.
Phafane allegedly has 360 out of 1 000 shares in the new company.
Mokatse said they had lodged a case with the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) for investigation.
The DCEO’s spokesperson, Litelu Ramokhoro, however said he was not aware of the case.
Another alleged irregularity was the advertisement of the LCCI executive secretary’s position without consulting the management committee, Mokatse said.
Phafane reportedly did not consult the executive committee, the LCCI’s highest decision-making body, when he advertised Lebeko Notsi’s post.
Notsi was appointed the executive secretary towards the end of 2005 and signed a two-year employment contract which was renewable.
Mokatse told this paper that according to procedure, vacancies for top positions were created and filled in consultation with both the LCCI’s executive and management committees.
Mokatse also said Phafane had a tendency of “arbitrarily making big decisions without the knowledge of either the executive or management committees”.
He referred to an incident earlier last year where Phafane allegedly caused the reshuffling of the Security Lesotho’s board of directors without involving the committees.
Security Lesotho is owned by the LCCI.
The Sunday Express saw a legal form giving notice that seven members of Security Lesotho’s board had resigned.
The form says a meeting at which the members resigned was held on February 12 2009.
Mokatse — one of the Security Lesotho directors who allegedy resigned — however told the Sunday Express that he was not aware of that meeting.
“I do not remember attending any LCCI or Security Lesotho meeting on February 12 where I signed for resigning from any position,” Mokatse said.
“If there was a management committee meeting on that day, I was not aware of it and I was in Qacha’s Nek.
“If indeed they held such a meeting there should be minutes to that effect.
“If there are no minutes the form you are talking about could have been produced by a malicious person.”
Other members who allegedly resigned include Thabang Kholumo, Lineo Komane, Ntaote Seboka and Abraham Mpokathe.
All of them are members of the LCCI management committee.
Phafane refused to respond to the allegations when contacted for comment.
“I am not giving you any interview because I am resting at my home,” said Phafane when pressed for a comment on Friday.
However, the Sunday Express has found that on April 30 last year Security Lesotho’s lawyers, Thabane Chambers, filed a Form L with the Registrar of Companies notifying about a change in the board of directors.
Papers filed with the registrar say the resignation followed the company resolution at a meeting held on February 12 2009.
Thabane Chambers again filed new papers on July 7, this time saying Thabang Nyeoe, Nanabetsane Ramokoena, Pea Machai and Nkejane Sesinyi had left the Security Lesotho board.
Mokatse said Wednesday’s meeting was called to decide how the alleged irregularities would be presented before the delegates at the conference “in a way that would not embarrass any member of the executive committee”.
Phafane however did not attend Wednesday’s meeting where these issues were discussed.
Instead, he is reported to have warned members that the meeting was unlawful and therefore should not be attended.
Some members, especially from Maseru Chamber, did not attend.
Ntaote Seboka, one of the LCCI vice-presidents did not attend the meeting as well.
Seboka told this paper that he had issues he was not yet ready to talk about.