—says he is open to an audit to debunk baseless allegations
Mohloai Mpesi
LESOTHO Defence Force (LDF) Commander, Lieutenant-General Mojalefa Letsoela, has broken his silence over allegations that the Youth Bootcamp was generating money for his personal aggrandizement.
He has vehemently rejected the allegations, saying he did not draw any personal benefit from the project.
Lt-Gen Letsoela clarified that the M2500 paid by the Bootcamp participants, as well as sponsorships from various companies, were intended solely to cover participants’ living expenses for the 21 days they spend at the military barracks.
In fact, he said the Bootcamp was not even a priority for the LDF, and that he had wanted to shut it down altogether in order to protect his reputation. However, he said, he was stopped by Prime Minister Sam Matekane, who encouraged the army to continue assisting youths.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sunday Express on Thursday, Lt-Gen Letsoela said that the Bootcamp – whose main mandate is to rehabilitate troubled children – does not benefit the LDF in any way. Instead, he said, it has caused damage to his name as he continues to be accused of profiting from the money paid into the program.
He said he had even attempted to close the Bootcamp for this reason.
“I wanted the Bootcamp to be closed because it does not add any value to the LDF. It only tarnishes my name as people believe I am benefitting from the monies. That is not true.”
The Bootcamp program was initially introduced as an intervention to rehabilitate numerous children from villages around Maseru’s outskirts – including Naleli, Koalabata, Khubetsoana, and Mabote – who had turned to criminal activities.
These young people were notoriously known as manomoro (gangsters) and were involved in theft, housebreaking, stabbings, and various violent crimes that endangered communities.
As the Bootcamp gained more attention, its role broadened. It began to be used as a platform to instil patriotism, core values of social life, and other positive behavioural traits in the youth.
However, it also began to attract criticism from some members of the public, who alleged that Lt-Gen Letsoela was enriching himself through the program. Parents reportedly pay M2500 for each child, while large companies and wealthy individuals contribute additional funds.
Some observers argued that an audit should be conducted to determine how the millions paid into Bootcamp accounts are used.
Lt-Gen Letsoela said the Bootcamp had brought him nothing but problems and controversies, and he now wanted it to be shut down completely.
“Bootcamp is a monster to me. It came about in response to children resorting to criminal activity, which was a public threat. We devised a plan to rehabilitate them – not knowing I was putting myself in the middle of a controversy.”
He emphasised that Bootcamp was not officially part of the LDF.
“You bring your child here, you pay for them to eat, to be dressed, and even on graduation day, you pay so that both the child and parents are catered for. For the 21 days, participants get breakfast and all meals. Every child pays M2500, but for underprivileged children, the LDF pledges to sponsor at least five of them.”
He added that he was not involved in the financial operations of the Bootcamp, and that a separate team was responsible for all financial matters.
“I do not even know the account number for the Bootcamp. The account is managed by the people responsible for Bootcamp operations, who also reconcile the books.”
“The initial capital for the Bootcamp was provided by the LDF. That capital is still used when we go out for follow-up programs after each Bootcamp session.”
Lt-Gen Letsoela said he was open to an audit and has no issue with transparency. However, he maintained that he had decided to close the program, even though doing so may contradict the original public-interest motivation behind it.
“I am not involved in what is being purchased. I do not know the details. But when people have personal problems or political ambitions, they spread false information and seek publicity. When I confront them, they claim it is not what they meant.”
“Bootcamp accounts can be audited. I have no problem with that. But I maintain that it has become a monster that has deeply annoyed me. I had actually refused to proceed with the June intake, but I realized I would have problems with the public if I stopped.
“I approached the Prime Minister and told him I wanted to end this thing. But he emphasised the importance of public interest. I really wanted it to stop because it is not our core duty. It is outside our operational domain. Still, the Defence Force is the ideal platform where patriotism, leadership, and citizenship can be taught and instilled in a child.”
He said some individuals used the program to fight political battles by sending their children to spy on the LDF.
“These children come to spy and then lodge human rights complaints, saying they were abused. But how do you bring your child here and expect them not to be treated like the rest?
“One mother said her child is a ‘precious child’. Why did she not say that from the beginning? That said, all parents signed amnesty forms to hand their children over for training.”
The army commander said Bootcamp training involved strict discipline, and every child goes through the same routine.
“Training is fast-paced. Of course, a ‘precious’ child may not handle it well. In the LDF, when we say run, we mean run. When we say wake up in the middle of the night, that is what we mean. Some people call that child abuse, but that is how we operate because we know what kind of transformation we want at the end.”
He lamented that many parents failed to disclose that their children suffer from drug addiction or were violent at home. These issues only became apparent once the children were in training.
“The dangerous part is that parents do not disclose that their children overpower them due to drug abuse or that they are violent.
“We do not have the space to separate addicts from others, which would allow us to apply a different approach. We are receiving children with both good and bad behavioural traits. That is a challenge because we need separate facilities. Unfortunately, parents do not inform us.
“If a child receives corporal punishment in front of others, it disturbs the rest of the group. That is not what those other kids came here for. They become afraid.”
He cautioned the public that the LDF was not a playground and warned against using politics to attack the army.
“If anyone wants to audit my life, they are welcome to do so. The biggest misconception is that Bootcamp is funded by me. But it is sponsored by large companies, banks, businessmen, and individual donors. That money doesn’t come to my office.
“Sesoleng hase nyakafataneng (LDF is not a playground) … you cannot bring your external interests into the LDF with bad intentions just because you now see me as your target.”
“I have no problem with audits. But if the intention is to target me personally, this is not nyakafataneng where, when one is drunk with politics, decides to audit the Commander of LDF. That is wrong.”
“People can audit my lifestyle if they want. They will find that I only have livestock. That is all. What worries me is how Bootcamp has become a political target.”
He said steps were being taken to institutionalise the Bootcamp so that it receives a formal government budget.
“We are mapping out strategies to institutionalise it as a proper structure within the LDF. We have been given a M17 million budget to build Bootcamp facilities, buy a bus, and purchase necessary equipment. That way, the Auditor-General can audit how the funds were used.
“At one point, the Bootcamp team told me they had run out of maize meal. I asked if they expected to use LDF’s budget when we already have raw maize. They could take that and have it milled, but they must not touch LDF supplies.
“If LDF supply usage increases, I have to account for that. Bootcamp uses LDF’s water and electricity, and that is already enough of a burden.”