Tefo Tefo
MASERU – An international consultancy firm has been hired to help re-define Lesotho’s anti-corruption strategy.
De Speville and Associates was engaged in February under the auspices of the Commonwealth Technical Assistance to provide expert advice on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO).
The anti-corruption unit is mandated to fight graft in the government and other institutions, including private companies.
It investigates cases related to serious economic crimes and hands the cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for prosecution.
The firm, according to the DCEO, has proposed consultations with about 4 000 community leaders drawn from sectors including political leaders, traditional leaders, public sector officials, business, teachers, civil society, religious leaders, and community-based organisations.
The consultations are expected to start next month.
The DCEO’s director for public education and corruption prevention, Litelu Ramokhoro, on Friday told the Sunday Express that the consultations are an endeavour to overcome challenges that the unit is facing in the fight against corruption in the country.
Lesotho was ranked a lowly 78 out of 178 under Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2010.
This ranking, Ramokhoro said, shows that much still needs to be done to combat corruption in Lesotho.
“If the country rates at 78 (out of 178) it means we have serious problems to address.”
Ramokhoro acknowledged that there is a general perception that the DCEO is not doing enough to investigate corruption in government departments.
There is a general perception that the anti-corruption body genuinely “lacks teeth” or was only established to give the impression that the Lesotho government is committed to fighting corruption.
“There is public outcry in the media about our performance in trying to fight corruption.
“This is because people have certain expectations about our office,” Ramokhoro said.
He said there were allegations that his institution does not make follow-ups on reports made to them on corrupt activities by senior government officials including ministers.
But he said some people made allegations which they failed to support.
“The high ranking officials, including ministers are not exempt from investigations. The law does not preclude us from investigating them.
“People just make bare allegations but they don’t come up with evidence. The office (DCEO) does not have limitations in terms of its mandate to investigate ministers,” Ramokhoro said.
He said on the other hand high-ranking officials also complained that the unit only focused on them.
However Ramokhoro said the office had seen some successes since its establishment in 2003.
“I can mention a few that include former chief delegate to the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, Reatile Mochebelele, who is still in South Africa after being convicted and sentenced by the courts of law.
“We also have former National Assembly clerk (Matlamukele Matete) who was also convicted of engaging in corrupt activities.
“The list goes on,” he said.
But Ramokhoro said there was need to empower the DCEO for it to fully deliver on its mandate.
This could be achieved by gathering public opinion on how the unit should be improved.
However, Ramokhoro could not say with certainty that the consultations would result in amending the law that established the DCEO.
“It is too early to say that now. But it is possible that the process might affect the legislative framework,” he
said.
The DCEO was established in 2003.