Staff Writer

THE All Basotho Convention (ABC) youth league committee has hit out at the government’s decision to award a lucrative fleet management contract to Bidvest Fleet Company saying it was prejudicing taxpayers.

In a statement issued this past week, the youth committee expressed concern with “increasing cases of corruption and abuse of power” in the public service.

“The All Basotho Convention youth league committee has declared war against increasing cases of corruption and abuse of power in the public service; a sector that is supposed to bring service delivery. This (corruption) retards economic development,” reads part of the statement.

“Our ABC constitution and leader Dr Thomas Thabane are against the practice of corruption. We therefore call on youths around the country to unite in the fight against corruption.”

The youth committee also calls on law enforcement agencies to decisively deal with the alleged cases of corruption.

“This also serves as a reminder to the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences to fulfil their mandate and responsibility to fight such crimes.”

The decision to award the fleet contract to Bidvest, asserts the youths, would exclude nationals from benefiting from arguably the most lucrative state tender. The government has insisted it would not reverse the multi-million maloti tender despite opposition even from within the seven-party ruling coalition.

The youth league of the ruling coalition’s biggest party, Democratic Congress, has vehemently opposed the contract and sensationally accused Finance Minister Dr ’Mamphono Khaketla of soliciting a M4 million bribe from a joint venture firm that had been shortlisted for the tender before it was cancelled.

DC youth league leader Thuso Litjobo also accused Dr Khaketla and “some ministers and parliamentarians” of having a stake in Bidvest, saying the minister deliberately ignored a tender evaluation report that recommended the joint venture company, Lebelonyane, as the preferred bidder. Bidvest was awarded the contract without bidding for the tender.

Lebelonyane has since filed an application in the Commercial Court to block the Bidvest contract in light of revelations it was the preferred bidder.

However, Dr Khaketla has denied the allegations and demanded M6 million in defamatory compensation from Mr Litjobo and his colleagues. The government has insisted Basotho would still benefit from the “new arrangement” by leasing their cars through Bidvest.

In its statement, the ABC youth committee argues taxpayers were being short-changed by the Bidvest deal.

“The issuing of a fleet tender contract to Bidvest by the government of Lesotho has resulted in an outcry in the country. Millions of taxpayers’ money will go to Bidvest. We really wonder what the government of Lesotho owes Bidvest.”

The youths also call on Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili to abide by Southern African Development Community (SADC) decisions and recommendations meant to resolve Lesotho’s political challenges.

They also urge Dr Mosisili to desist from telling the public a “compromised version” of SADC’s positions on Lesotho.

“We appeal to the prime minister that, upon his return from SADC meetings, he should always stick to the truth by telling the public the truth instead of giving them a compromised version all the time regarding SADC decisions on Lesotho,” say the youths.

“He should implement the recommendations of the SADC Commission of Inquiry that was led by Justice Mpaphi Phumaphi. We have been watching his conduct at SADC summits and the reality is that the time to beat around the bush on reforms is over.

“Basotho are hopeful that SADC will address Lesotho’s issues in a balanced manner. We also urge the AU (African Union), UN (United Nations), EU (European Union) and the United States of America to assist SADC to push Lesotho to implement the recommendations.”

The ABC youth league committee also wades into the strike by National University of Lesotho (NUL) students over delayed allowances by the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) this past week.

The NUL Student Representative Council had hired eight buses to ferry the students to Maseru.

However, the police turned the buses back as they were approaching the city centre arguing the planned protest was illegal since the students had not sought permission. The NUL students also accused the police of severely assaulting them during the strike which has since ended.

However, police spokesperson Superintendent Clifford Molefe has since denied the allegations, saying they were left with no choice but to teargas the students after they refused to comply with an order to disperse.

“We are also amazed by the recent incident where NUL students were barred by the police from going to the NMDS to seek information regarding their allowances.

“They were accused by the police of trying to topple the government, yet they were exercising their rights,” add the students.