Pascalinah Kabi
FINANCE Minister, Moeketsi Majoro, says the cabinet has resolved to lease 300 vehicles from Basotho with immediate effect as it moves to ensure that all its vehicle needs are procured from locals.
Dr Majoro disclosed this at a recent press conference in Maseru which was also attended by cabinet members, Mahali Phamotse (Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation) and Samonyane Ntsekele (Water) and Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Machesetsa Mofomobe, who were tasked by cabinet to oversee the government’s fleet.
Dr Majoro said of the 300 vehicles, 150 would be procured from taxi operators, 90 from the districts and constituencies, 20 from the disabled groups and 20 each from the youth and women’s groups.
He said those that were not included in the first procurement like the legislators would be considered in the next procurement at the end of this year or early next year.
“Senior public servants from the position of a director upwards shall be excluded from leasing their vehicles to government and the exception shall be members of parliament,” Dr Majoro said, adding that the offer was open to legislators in the opposition and in government.
The legislators earn salaries up to M469 884 in salaries per annum and M150 in daily sitting allowances. They are also entitled to M500 000 in interest-free loans.
Asked if this did not give the parliamentarians an unfair advantage over ordinary citizens who might struggle to raise enough money to buy vehicles for procurement whose mileage must not exceed 30 000 kilometres, Dr Majoro said the decision was made after realising that despite all the benefits the legislators enjoyed, they were burdened with huge financial tasks in their constituencies.
He said their current benefits were not enough to cater for their constituency commitments like assisting poor families to bury their loved ones.
He further said it was also important for the public to understand that the legislators were not included in the immediate procurement of the 300 vehicle to be leased to the government.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Ntsekele who said that, “Mostly their benefits are spent on addressing different constituency needs and they need to be met half way in order to carry out their duties as parliamentarians well”.
Dr Phamotse added: “If it was a political issue, we would have said only legislators of the parties in government should lease vehicles to government but we are saying all parliamentarians who are not ministers should be given the opportunity to leave vehicles”.
Dr Majoro said the government would have to work out the new standard rates for leasing vehicles that were “in line with market rates in the region” as the rates that were introduced by the previous Pakalitha Mosisili-led seven parties’ regimes were too costly for long-term hire.
He said the 191 locally-owned vehicles leased to the government during the previous regime had cost the government.
The monthly rates set by Dr Mosisili’s government were as follows: M14 322 for Sedan vehicles; M27 577 for Double Cab 4 x 4; M24 500 for Double Cab 4 x 2; M21 582 for Single Cab 4×4 and M29 975 for a Panel Van.
“The past government set rates of short term hire that were very expensive. We will honour the contracts that were signed under the previous government even though they were very high.”
Dr Majoro said they would only procure vehicles from dealerships that were registered and traded in Lesotho with significant local ownership.
He also said the servicing of vehicles, panel beating and procurement of spare parts would only be procured from local enterprises accredited under the scheme.
“In order to achieve efficiency and effectiveness, the government will engage a professional fleet management service provider which will be paid a fee for the service. The government has appointed a technical working team to manage the procurement until a service provider is on board,” Dr Majoro said.
He said used imported cars would only be considered under the short term hire if they met the quality requirements.