…after “‘unqualified” officers are promoted
Moorosi Tsiane
Three senior Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) officers face demotion after a colleague launched a High Court bid to overturn their promotions, alleging they were elevated to their new ranks despite lacking the academic qualifications required under the service’s own promotion guidelines.
Assistant Superintendent (AS) Karele Poqa is challenging the April 2026 promotions of Assistant Commissioner (AC) Neo Moramotse, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Ramaketekete Rasehloho and Superintendent (Supt) Sidwell Mothea, arguing that all three should never have been shortlisted in the first place. He wants the court to send them back to their previous ranks of Senior Superintendent, Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent respectively.
According to AS Poqa’s court papers filed this past week, LCS Acting Commissioner Matingoa Phamotse initiated the promotions process in February 2026 by advertising vacancies for two Senior Assistant Commissioners, one Assistant Commissioner, two Senior Superintendents, four Superintendents and seven Assistant Superintendents.
AS Poqa claims he applied for the position of Superintendent and was shortlisted and invited for an interview, which he attended on 23 March.
However, he alleges that the process was procedurally flawed, raising questions about both the composition of the interviewing board and the verification of candidates’ academic credentials.
AS Poqa alleges his interview invitation instructed candidates to bring copies of their academic certificates, professional qualifications, relevant short courses and citations.
“However, production, verification and/or inspection of the said documents was never requested or directed,” he claims in his court papers.
He argues that the failure to verify the documents was particularly significant because academic qualifications were among the requirements for the advertised positions.
AS Poqa also challenges the composition of the Senior Officers Appointment Board, alleging that it was not properly constituted in accordance with the law and applicable promotion guidelines.
According to him, the board comprised Mr Phamotse; Deputy Commissioner Ramaisa; a public officer nominated by the Minister of Law, Ms Molungoa; and a correctional officer, Ms Letsie, who served as secretary. He alleges that the public officer who should have been nominated by the Minister of Public Service was absent from the board.
“During the interview, it came to my attention that the promotions board was improperly constituted,” AS Poqa says.
He argues that the alleged irregularities were compounded by the failure to ensure that successful candidates possessed the academic qualifications required for their respective ranks.
AS Poqa specifically singles out the promotions of AC Moramotse, SSP Rasehloho and Supt Mothea. He alleges that AC Moramotse did not possess the degree required under the LCS promotion guidelines for promotion to Assistant Commissioner. He makes a similar allegation against SSP Rasehloho, claiming that he did not hold the required degree. He further alleges that Supt Mothea did not possess the required diploma for his position.
“The appointments and promotions included ineligible candidates, who should not have even been shortlisted,” AS Poqa says.
He argues that the alleged failure to comply with the promotion guidelines, together with the composition of the board, rendered the promotions procedurally defective.
“The improper constitution of the board in the promotions, exacerbated by the said respondents’ lack of requisite documents, in violation of the law and promotion guidelines, renders the promotions of the said respondents procedurally defective,” he says.
AS Poqa has therefore approached the High Court seeking an order reviewing, correcting or setting aside the decisions of Commissioner Phamotse, LCS senior officers and the Senior Officers Appointment Board to promote AC Moramotse, SSP Rasehloho and Supt Mothea.
He is also seeking an order compelling the Senior Officers Appointment Board to provide him with the complete record of the proceedings relating to the three promotions. He wants the board to file the original record with the Registrar, together with any reasons it wishes to provide, within 14 days, and to notify him once this has been done.
AS Poqa is effectively asking the court to determine whether the disputed promotions were made in accordance with the LCS’s governing law and promotion guidelines.
The respondents are yet to file their papers.