Bongiwe Zihlangu
MASERU — The Democratic Congress (DC) youth league claims to have discovered a plot to assassinate Monyane Moleleki, the party’s deputy leader, before parliament opens on September 11.
DC youth chairman, Thuso Litjobo, told the Sunday Express that the “assassination plot” had been hatched by people who “don’t want him (Moleleki) as official leader of the opposition (in parliament)”.
“The plan is to have him assassinated before the opening of parliament. We need to stay alert because if we lose focus, they will definitely execute their plan,” Litjobo said.
Litjobo however did not name the people he claims are behind the alleged plot to kill the former minister who is currently being investigated for alleged corruption and money laundering.
This paper could not independently verify if there was indeed a threat on Moleleki’s life.
Apparently, the youth league has not informed the police about the alleged threat.
Asked why they had not involved the police if the threat was credible, Litjobo said the youth league had decided to take the responsibility of protecting Moleleki.
“We did not tell the police but decided to protect him on our own,” Litjobo said.
On Friday a small group of DC youths gathered at Moleleki’s house in Qoatsaneng “to protect him”.
Litjobo said the plan is to protect Moleleki until parliament opens.
“If the situation calls for it, we will go as far as protecting them with our lives. We’re saying if there’s a master plan to kill him, let the mastermind start with us and finish him off only when we’re dead,” he said.
“When things go awry, it’s up to the youth to protect and support leaders, members and the party itself. What we say should also be reflected by our actions”.
The Sunday Express spoke to some of the youths who said they had come to act as Moleleki’s bodyguards after “hearing that his life was in danger”.
They said the decision to make Moleleki the official leader of the opposition in parliament “irked many people” whom they claim are now plotting to kill him.
“We therefore fear for his life. We have sworn that we will be with him 24/7 so that he’s protected at all times,” said a youth league member who refused to be identified.
“We won’t use violence against anybody, but I can assure you that if they come to kill him, many of us are willing to die before anyone can get to him. They’ll have to shoot us first because we’ll protect him with all
we’ve got.
“We need to give him political support, especially because he has not been prosecuted for any crime. He is only being persecuted for no reason,” he said.
Another female youth league member who also asked not to be named told this paper that to ensure that Moleleki was safe, they will take shifts.
“Some will guard him during the day while others will do it at night,” she said.
“We only go to our respective homes to bath and for a change of clothes. We’re more than willing to protect him with our lives because we love him. We won’t desert him at this critical moment.”
On Friday Moleleki said the youths at his house had informed him that his life was in danger.
“But I do not sense any immediate danger to my life. However, I’m not going to dismiss what they are telling me because they probably know more than they are letting on,” Moleleki said.
“They have said that they are uncomfortable and that they will be keeping vigil until the opening of parliament. If they want to camp at my house, who am I to chase them away?”
Moleleki is currently being investigated for alleged corruption and money laundering.
Police suspect he could have siphoned state funds when he was still a minister.
He has however described the investigation as a “politically motivated” move doomed to fail.
Moleleki said the police will not get any incriminating evidence against him even if they continue to dig.