… managers accused of lying on radio and in newspaper
Mohloai Mpesi
THE Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC)’s executives were on Thursday this week hauled over the coals, accused of lying to the public on radio and in a weekly newspaper in desperate bid to save the utility’s bartered image.
The Public Accounts Committee warned this could land LEC in contempt of Parliament.
PAC members were peeved that LEC’s Procurement Manager, Peo Mputsoe, along with the Acting Head of Customer Experience, T?epo Mololo, went to a local radio station to respond to issues that are still before the Committee “setting the record” on the thorny issue of 3 000 incompatible meters worth M1.2 million.
As Mputsoe and Mololo went on radio, LEC’s Stakeholder Relations Manager, Makhetha Mot?oari, wrote an article in a local weekly newspaper published on Thursday this week, parrying PAC’s concerns about inappropriate meters and the 4-core cable bought from HDM Catering and Projects.
PAC Chairperson, Machabana Lemphane-Letsie, said they gave LEC numerous opportunities to explain issues relating to the meters before the Committee, but the power utility’s representatives did not present satisfactory explanations.
Instead, LEC officials presented a different version on air, seemingly with the blessing of LEC’s Managing Director Nathaniel Maphathe, Lemphane-Letsie said.
Contempt of Parliament
She warned that issues discussed before the Committee are tabled before parliament, which adopts them before they become instructions to the Executive, therefore LEC is dicing with potential contempt of parliament.
“These issues we are discussing before the Committee do not end in this Committee; they are tabled in the National Assembly and adopted by the National Assembly. They become Parliament decision, and they are therefore, instructions for implementation for the Executive.
“If we have a tendency of responding (to) issues discussed in parliament without parliament, those will never be part of what parliament would recommend, because they are not discussed in here,” she added.
She applauded LEC Chairperson’s article (published by our flagship sister paper, The Lesotho Times on June 12, 2025) for focusing on the deficit of leadership in LEC, instead of issues raised before the PAC.
“I read your article of setting the record straight (Khasipe), it was talking about LEC, but it did not talk directly about the deliberations discussed in this parliament, hence I did not say anything to you because it was a leadership cry,” she said.
On the other hand, PAC chairperson expressed regret that LEC had wrongly escalated issues under discussion in the Committee to the public domain to the extent that the Stakeholder Relations Manager, Makhetha Mot?oari, wrote an article in a local weekly “setting the record straight.”
“But this issue has escalated because there is another person here who wrote an article about setting the record straight for LEC. His name is Mr Makhetha Mot?oari.
“It is not only Mr Mot?oari, but there is also Mr Mololo and Mr Mputsoe. It is not correct that while we are discussing issues in parliament, then people who are supposed to explain them in this committee, explain them elsewhere,” she said.
Mr Mololo said they were authorised by Mr Maphathe to go and address issues relating to the meters on the radio.
“We were allowed by the MD. He asked me to go and help Mr Mot?oari to explain issues about the meters which are not compatible with LEC systems,” he said.
He added that he was clarifying the matter relating to the purchase of meters since LEC is facing a huge backlash from the public.
“What I was explaining is that the meters of LEC are working and there are places where they are already being used. They are purchased to help the public get services.
“There was a need for the meters to be purchased as I have explained before the parliament. There were no meters, and our customers needed meters.
He said the LEC procurement office told them they had ordered 5 000 meters to a regular supplier called Call Log (one of their regular suppliers) but that supplier said they would only manage to deliver 500.
“So, 500 could not help us. So, procurement made an alternative to go to another supplier,” he said.
Shifting statements
But Ms Lemphane-Letsie sternly warned Mr Mololo.
“Be careful not to change the statement you made before the committee relating to the meters. You should say what you said previously before the parliament.
“We cannot allow you to go to the radio and make different submissions to the one you made before the Committee, then when you arrive in this Committee, you want to erase your previous submissions with the ones you made on the radio station where you lied to the nation.
“You have never mentioned the issue of 500 meters in here. Why didn’t you explain what you said on radio here in parliament.
“We went to LEC, the same meters which you said were going to help Basotho are still sealed, none of them have been used. Then you go to the radio and lie to the nation that there was an emergency, why are they not being used if there was an emergency.”
Mr Maphathe agreed that he allowed Messrs Mot?oari, Mputsoe and Mololo to go and speak on the radio.
“We have our mouthpiece who is the Stakeholders Relations Manager, who is Mr Mot?oari. Yes, there is an allowance for him to go to the media when the media approaches us to explain certain issues and we go to the media through him.
“I knew that yesterday they went to Lekope Radio. I did not have a chance to listen to those issues because I was still at work,” he said.
PS calls PAC Kangaroo Court
Ms Lemphane-Letsie told the Mr Khasipe that Principal Secretary of Energy, Tankiso Phapano, had on the previous day been seen shouting announcing that he was going to respond to the committee on Lekope FM.
“The interference of (the) PS in LEC worried the committee. We learned that you also don’t know exactly what (the) PS’s work is in LEC. We all established that he does not have a role in LEC.
“Here is a scenario, he came before the committee yesterday as we have summoned him. When he left the committee, he said he was going to answer that Kangaroo court at Lekope FM.
“He calls this parliament a Kangaroo court. Your MD had sent people to Lekope FM where the parliament is called Kangaroo court.
“It is obvious that PS told Mr MD to release people, and he will purchase the airspace,” she said.
Mr Mot?oari grilled
Mr Mot?oari was grilled extensively over his damage control article published in a local weekly newspaper headlined: “LEC sets record straight.”
The following statements from Mr Mot?oari’s article particularly irked PAC.
“The cable is still in the sealed drums as was seen during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) visit to the company last week as opposed to allegations that it was a second-hand cable.
“This is just a campaign to tarnish the image of the LEC by people who have ulterior motives. We are entangled in a political battle.”
Ms Lemphane-Letsie said Mr Mot?oari should explain why he said the committee has ulterior motives and how PAC is entangled in a political battle with LEC.
It was embarrassing that LEC bought these cables under the pretence of crisis. They received it in March, but in July he (Mr Mot?oari) deems it normal that the cable is still in there, she said.
“This is out of order!” an angry Ms Lemphane-Letsie said, reminding Mr Mot?oari that when Members of Parliament are doing their job of exposing LEC rot, that should not be misconstrued as a smear campaign.
In his defence before PAC, Mr Mot?oari said he was authorised to pen the article after a discussion with the MD.
“We talked about these matters with the MD, and I wrote them,” he said.
An unconvinced Ms Lemphane-Letsie further probed who had originated the allegations, to which Mr Mot?oari said these were made by the public and the media.
“Who made the allegations? This issue is still being discussed in Parliament. Are the law makers making allegations? Are you saying parliament makes allegations?” she asked.
Mr Mot?oari said he had to respond to issues relating to the meters after realising the public was outraged by talk that LEC had bought incompatible meters.
“They said we bought incompatible meters. So, I had to explain that the meters are functioning, and I met with the relevant officers who gave me evidence that they (meters) are working,” he said.
“They are in there because there is additional equipment we are waiting for,” he said.
“Set the record straight now”
Ms Lemphane-Letsie asked him to tell Basotho live on TV that the meters are lying idle at the moment.
“Then why are you lying to Basotho that they are functioning. Tell Basotho that they will not function because they have been purchased without other items that would necessitate them to function. You are on TV, tell Basotho.
“We know that they are incomplete and will not work. So, since you know about allegations, tell Basotho why the meters are not functioning. Set the record straight now, here on TV,” she said.
He was asked to explain why he said politicians are in entanglement with LEC. “Which politicians are in entanglement with LEC.”
“I will talk with The Post editor to find whether I really wrote those words,” Mr Mot?oari said.
“I will retract that article and write a correct one,” he said.
Ms Lemphane-Letsie said PAC are going to check Mr Mot?oari’s contract and probe how he was employed.
“MD, we want to know the whole process that was made when Mr Mot?oari was hired. We want a file of the interview and everything.
“You are propelling us to tell your bosses on how your employment came about, and we will do exactly that. You have invited us to get on your issues.
“I always say this, when you try to be contemptuous of parliament, you will not succeed. We know why you are talking about politics Mr Mot?oari.”