Billy Ntaote
THABA-TSEKA — The Basotho National Party (BNP) has taken a hardline approach towards errant civil servants, proposing that failure to execute duties should warrant expulsion.
To drive the point home, BNP leader Sports Minister Thesele ‘Maseribane has urged coalition government ministers to sack lazy civil servants.
“Do away with your fear of taking disciplinary action against disobedient civil servants, sack them if you have to,” ‘Maseribane said on Friday.
‘Maseribane was speaking at his party’s rally held in the Thaba- Moea constituency village of Ha Lephoi Lesobeng to garner votes for Matsemela Khasoana contesting the February 15 by-elections under the BNP ticket.
His remarks came after villagers of Ha Lephoi complained they were being unfairly treated by the Home Affairs officers working in Thaba-Tseka town.
The villagers told Maseribane they were made to travel very long distances to get spellings corrected back in their villages when such small mistakes could be rectified by the officers without asking people to return home.
The villagers added the public servants at the district offices are always badly behaved when they are supposed to offer public services.
‘Maseribane told the villagers that it has come to the coalition government’s attention that ministers fear taking action against public servants who fail to perform their duties.
“Yesterday we were talking to ministers and this is making me reveal that we have realised ministers seem to fear public servants.
“And we have public servants who know they can get away with anything because no action would be taken against them,” ‘Maseribane said.
He said it is time disobedient public servants got suspended and know they would be fired for failing to perform their duties and providing excellent services to Basotho.
He asked whether public servants would be happy if ever their elderly relatives and parents were to be the ones who were being ill-treated and sent from pillar to post over minor spelling mistakes on applications forms.
‘Maseribane said he believes coalition government ministers are facing a crisis that would see public service delivery declining more.
“Our ministers really seem to be afraid of public servants.
“What they should know is that if they fail to serve the people they should go back home and let willing people serve this nation,” he said.
‘Maseribane reminded ministers they were duty-bound to ensure that all is well in their ministries and they should be in charge of how things are run in all government departments and agencies.
He said the government wants to see services decentralised and delivered speedily to the people.
“Chief Joang (referring to Home Affairs Minister Joang Molapo) those children in Thaba-Tseka should be disciplined and people should get services speedily delivered to them,” ‘Maseribane said.
‘Maseribane asked what the role of the Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management was when public servants were behaving in such an unruly manner.
He told Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malebitso Ralebitso, who was also at the rally, to ensure the grievances of the community were speedily addressed.