…over alleged corruption and lack of accountability in government
Mohloai Mpesi
THE Mpulule Political Summit leader, Reverend Remaketse Sehlabaka, has called on Parliament to summon Prime Minister Sam Matekane to appear before the House to answer allegations of corruption within his government.
Mr Sehlabaka also wants the Prime Minister to address Parliament on issues of accountability in the administration he leads.
He submitted a motion to the National Assembly of Lesotho on 12 May 2026, seeking to nullify any resolutions or decisions that may have excused Mr Matekane from appearing before the House.
He argues that his motion is grounded in Standing Order 27, which states that “the Business Committee shall determine one Tuesday of the month for questions to the Prime Minister without prior notice”.
The Standing Order further provides that political parties must submit the names of MPs who will ask questions to the Clerk no earlier than five days before the designated sitting.
In his motion, Mr Sehlabaka argues that any decision preventing the Prime Minister from appearing before Parliament contradicts Standing Order 27.
He further argues that it is mandatory for the Prime Minister to appear before Parliament to answer questions and address matters of national importance.
Mr Sehlabaka also wants Parliament to compel Mr Matekane to appear before the House on the next designated sitting day.
Speaking to the?Sunday Express?on Friday, Mr Sehlabaka said a similar issue had been raised in 2023 by Basotho National Party (BNP) leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe, but the motion failed because the government side had superior numbers in Parliament.
Mr Sehlabaka said he had written to both Mr Matekane and National Assembly Speaker, Tlohang Sekhamane, but had yet to receive responses.
He also criticised Mr Matekane for allegedly failing to address the nation?on critical issues, accusing him of only speaking at Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) rallies.
“Our Prime Minister has never held even a single national gathering. He only holds rallies for his party. It is as if he is only Prime Minister of the RFP.
“He addresses his supporters and tells them the government is doing a good job while the rest of the nation is not addressed through Parliament,” he said.
Mr Sehlabaka further complained that Mr Matekane, who is also Minister of Defence, does not attend parliamentary debates concerning the defence budget.
“He is the Minister of Defence, but when the defence budget is discussed, he is not there. Instead, questions are answered by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office or the Minister of Finance, who are not directly responsible for the ministry.
“So, he is?effectively?failing to execute his mandate,” he said.
Mr Sehlabaka warned that he would take legal action should Parliament fail to compel the Prime Minister to appear before the House.
Letter to Speaker
In a letter dated 24 April 2026 to Speaker Sekhamane, Mr Sehlabaka raised concerns over what he described as executive failure to account for corruption allegations.
“Attached is my letter to the Prime Minister setting out prima facie evidence and credible allegations of corruption, together with the executive’s ongoing failure to investigate, account, or act.
“This inaction constitutes a continuing breach of the principles of accountability, transparency, and responsible government,” the letter reads.
He asked the Speaker to admit an urgent motion for debate on executive accountability failures.
Letter to Opposition Leader
Mr Sehlabaka also wrote to Opposition Leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, urging the opposition to take parliamentary and legal steps regarding what he termed executive non-accountability.
“You are hereby placed on formal notice of the attached correspondence to the Prime Minister detailing serious allegations of corruption and the executive’s failure to act.
“In terms of your constitutional role as the principal counterweight to executive authority, you are required to activate all available parliamentary remedies,” the letter reads.
Among the measures he proposed were urgent questions, supplementary questions, motions to censure the executive, and referrals to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Letter to Chair of Chairs
Mr Sehlabaka also wrote to National Assembly Chair of Chairs, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, requesting coordinated parliamentary committee action.
“I hereby formally request the coordinated activation of parliamentary committees in response to matters detailed in the attached letter to the Prime Minister,” he wrote.
He requested that relevant committees investigate the allegations, avoid duplication, impose timelines for reports and ensure findings are tabled before the National Assembly.
PAC complaint
In another letter addressed to PAC chairperson, Machabana Lemphane-Letsie, Mr Sehlabaka requested a formal inquiry into corruption allegations and alleged executive inaction.
“This correspondence constitutes a formal complaint and a request for the immediate exercise of the Public Accounts Committee’s oversight and investigative mandate,” he wrote.
He urged the committee to summon accounting officers, ministers and implicated entities, and to demand the production of contracts, financial records and other relevant documents.
European Union
In a letter dated 11 May 2026 to the Head of Delegation of the European Union, titled?Transmission of Correspondence to the Prime Minister Concerning Governance, Accountability, and Constitutional Oversight, Mr Sehlabaka raised concerns about alleged corruption and weakening?of?oversight institutions.
“I write to formally transmit, for your attention and record, a copy of my correspondence addressed to the Prime Minister regarding deeply concerning matters of public governance, institutional accountability, and constitutional oversight within the government of Lesotho,” the letter reads.
He cited allegations of rampant corruption, lack of transparency, weakening parliamentary oversight mechanisms and the Prime Minister’s continued failure to appear before Parliament.
“These issues strike at the heart of democratic governance, constitutionalism and confidence in state institutions.
“They undermine efforts toward good governance, the rule of law and effective public administration, which remain essential pillars for Lesotho’s democratic stability and socio-economic development,” he wrote.
SADC intervention
Mr Sehlabaka also wrote to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on 24 April 2026 seeking intervention.
“This complaint concerns conduct attributable to the Government of Lesotho under the leadership of Prime Minister Sam Matekane, which, on reasonable grounds, constitutes breaches of SADC’s foundational legal instruments and norms,” the letter states.
Among the concerns raised were allegations of systemic corruption, lack of accountability, weakening of anti-corruption institutions, abuse of state power and failure to uphold parliamentary accountability.
Contacted for comment, Prime Minister’s Press Attaché, Thapelo Mabote, said Mr Matekane would respond directly to Mr Sehlabaka.
“The letter found him attending to other important matters. Not that addressing Parliament on those issues is unimportant, but he had other matters on his desk. So, he will respond to the person who wrote to him,” Mr Mabote said.