Deputy army commander rejects appointment letter 

Keiso Mohloboli

Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Deputy Commander, Major General Khoantle Motsomotso, refused to accept a letter issued by the Government Secretary’s Office on Thursday appointing him Acting Commander in line with the Maseru Security Accord signed on 23 October 2014, the Sunday Express has learnt.

Under the Accord, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli and Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao of the LDF, and Lesotho Mounted Police Service Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana, would go to a Southern African Development Community or Commonwealth country on special leave for  specified periods to allow the restoration of cordial relations between the two feuding security agencies.

The Deputy Commander and Deputy Commissioner would take charge of the LDF and LMPS respectively, during this period, according to the Accord which was brokered by South Africa’s Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

However, while Deputy Commissioner Masupha Masupha received his appointment letter and assumed his new role on Friday, Major General Motsomotso would not accept his, pointing out it was not necessary.

Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka on Friday told the Sunday Express: “We were surprised when the letter was brought back to our office yesterday. The LDF messenger who returned it said Major General Motsomotso had refused to accept the letter and had not given any reasons why.

“But today, Major General Motsomotso came to my office and explained why he had not taken the letter. He said he found it unnecessary because LDF regulations automatically give him the authority to be Acting Commander whenever the Commander is away. He said he understood that he was supposed to be in charge without being given an appointment letter by the government, and explained there were no hard feelings regarding the issue.”

Mr Mphaka said his Office would keep the letter while consulting on the issue. The Sunday Express tried to get the LDF’s side of the story to no avail.