Mohloai Mpesi 

Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police officials defrauded the government of M279,000 by inflating claims for reimbursements of personal expenses incurred while conducting official business. ? 

The information emerged during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session in parliament on Thursday. 

According to the Department’s Deputy Principal Secretary, Nkhotha Machachamise, eleven officers had embezzled M279,000 through the fraudulent claims. 

The PAC, chaired by HOPE-Mphatlalatsane party leader, ‘Machabana Lemphane-Letsie, accompanied by the Chair of Chairs of Parliamentary Cluster Portfolio Committees, Mokhothu Makhalanyane and MPs from various parties, heard how the Leribe District Council officers had engaged in the fraudulent claims which had been flagged in Auditor-General Mathabo Makenete’s latest audit report of government finances. 

Mr Machachamise stated that they had taken steps to recover the misappropriated funds ?from the concerned employees. They were only ?left with recovering M67 900, he said. 

However, Ms Lemphane-Letsie and her fellow MPs were disappointed that no disciplinary action had been taken against all those involved and they were still in their jobs. 

“Did you take disciplinary measures against the individuals….? If you did not take disciplinary action but only sought to recover the money, then you are condoning criminal behaviour…., ” she said. 

Mr Makhalanyane said such criminal behaviour by civil servants was destroying Lesotho. Left unchecked, it would only spiral out of control. ? 

But Mr Machechamise sought to explain that the recovery process was imposed as a consequence of ?disciplinary proceedings. 

Ms Lemphane-Letsie nonetheless insisted that ?all ?involved should have been fired. 

Mr Makhalanyane also emphasized the necessity for the ministry to take prompt and definitive action against the individuals responsible for the theft and to refer them to the police.?