Moorosi Tsiane
THE government has rubbished allegations that it is colluding with its South African counterparts to arrest Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM) leader, Reverend Tšepo Lipholo, for treason.
This after Dr Lipholo’s wife, ‘Mathapelo Lipholo, approached the Constitutional Court this past week, accusing the two governments of conspiring to arrest and possibly “kill” her husband for advocating the return of land which he claims was stolen from Lesotho by South Africa during the colonial era.
She says in her court papers that her husband is in hiding, fearing for his life.
This, she says, is because Dr Lipholo has been on a crusade to have South Africa return land he claims it stole from Lesotho. Both South Africa and Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s government have poured scorn on Dr Lipholo’s claims.
He petitioned the United Nations General Assembly in January 2025 to intervene in his land return quest. The Lesotho government has since distanced itself from his petition.
His wife had gone to court, making bizarre claims that her husband is being targeted for his efforts. She warns of possible carnage should the government proceed with Dr Lipholo’s arrest.
The Constitutional Court will hear Ms Lipholo’s application on 30 April 2025. It failed to hear it this past Wednesday, as the file was not court-ready.
Commissioner of Police Borotho Matsoso, the Territory of Basutoland, the Territory of the Sotho, Prime Minister Sam Matekane, Speaker of Parliament Tlohang Sekhamane, the Parliament of Lesotho, Attorney General Rapelang Motsieloa, the Basotho nation, and President Cyril Ramaphosa are cited as first to ninth respondents respectively in the application.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Limpho Tau, has since shot down the allegations, saying the government had never opened any case against Dr Lipholo.
“I can assure you that the government of Lesotho never had, or as we speak, has no intentions to arrest Ntate Lipholo for any alleged transgressions, treason included,” Mr Tau told the Sunday Express on Friday.
The Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) also issued a statement on Thursday, refuting Dr Lipholo’s wife allegations. It said there was no arrest warrant for Dr Lipholo.
“The Police does not have any warrant of arrest from the courts, nor has any case been filed against Dr Lipholo,” the LMPS said.
“The police are ordering those who have been peddling these lies to desist immediately, because it looks like this is meant to cause chaos within the nation.”