Moroke Sekoboto
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) convicted of serious crimes will be expelled from Parliament under a sweeping new Parliamentary Code of Conduct that also introduces fines, salary cuts and suspension of privileges for unethical behaviour, in what lawmakers say is a major step towards restoring public trust in the National Assembly.
The offences, that will see errant MPs punished, include corruption, abuse of office and other criminal acts deemed incompatible with public office.
The proposed Code follows the tabling of a comprehensive and enforceable Code of Conduct for Members of the National Assembly by the Ethics, Code of Conduct, Immunities and Privileges Committee in Parliament on Friday.
Anchored in the servant-leadership principles of Morena Moshoeshoe I, the framework seeks to rebuild public confidence in Parliament by establishing strict ethical standards and tangible penalties for misconduct.
The newly finalised Code marks the culmination of an extensive multi-stakeholder drafting process that began on 24 August 2024. Following initial drafting efforts with the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), parliamentary leaders and the Ethics Committee convened workshops to refine key provisions and strengthen members’ understanding of international best practices.
Subsequent stakeholder forums gave civil society organisations, the media, law enforcement agencies and religious bodies an opportunity to contribute to the document.
The resulting Code goes beyond broad ethical guidelines, introducing an enforceable framework aligned with the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) guidelines.
The proposed Code is built on four central pillars aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and ethical governance.
An independent Registrar will be established to oversee mandatory declarations of MPs’ financial and property interests. MPs will also be prohibited from engaging in government business or lucrative state tenders without authorisation from Parliament.
The Code further bars MPs from paid lobbying and requires them to declare private interests during parliamentary proceedings and committee work.
It also introduces a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, compelling MPs to cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations. Members convicted of serious offences will automatically lose their seats in Parliament.
For the first time, parliamentary ethical guidelines will carry enforceable sanctions. The Ethics Committee will oversee investigations into breaches and impose graduated penalties ranging from reprimands and fines to salary reductions and suspension of parliamentary privileges.
Funds collected through penalties will be channelled into a dedicated Penalties Fund aimed at supporting members’ welfare programmes.
Following broad consensus on the need for transparent and accountable governance, the Committee has recommended the adoption of the Code by the House.
If adopted, the framework will mark a significant milestone in Lesotho’s parliamentary history and is expected to strengthen public confidence in elected representatives.
Tabling the report before Parliament on Friday, Ethics, Code of Conduct, Immunities and Privileges Committee chairperson, Mamello Phooko, described the document as a testament to Parliament’s commitment to strengthening integrity and public trust.
“The process of drafting the Code of Conduct for Members of the National Assembly commenced on 24 August 2024 and progressed through several structured stages. The process included extensive consultations and capacity-building engagements aimed at ensuring a comprehensive and credible framework,” Ms Phooko said.
“Following initial drafting efforts with the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), a workshop was convened to refine key provisions and strengthen members’ understanding of international best practices.
“This was subsequently followed by a Stakeholders’ Forum, which brought together relevant institutions and experts to provide inputs, validate proposals and enhance alignment with national governance priorities.”
Ms Phooko said the process had gone beyond a technical legislative exercise.
“The process was not just an academic exercise, but a deep and meaningful dialogue on the values that should guide us in our public service,” she said.
“We were particularly inspired by the principles of SeMoshoeshoe, which underscore the importance of placing the needs of the public above our own.
“The key outcomes of this review, as detailed in this report, provide a robust framework for ethical governance. From defining standards for personal conduct and managing conflicts of interest to establishing clear mechanisms for the declaration of assets and addressing breaches, this Code is designed to be a living document that promotes a culture of integrity.”