For the first time in history, Basotho should not expect a First Lady to hobnob around their prime minister.
This because Prime Minister Sam Matekane would not be establishing the office of First Lady. He simply does not view such an office as essential. In fact he thinks it’s irrelevant, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s office, Limpho Tau.
“ The PM stated categorically that he does not need that office. He said he does not need it. He was real, he does not need that office. He sees no need for it and thinks it’s irrelevant,” Mr Tau told the Lesotho Times this week.
The office of First Lady has always had an occupant with the last prime minister, Moeketsi Majoro, having his wife, ‘Masekoalana Majoro.
Previously, it was Thaomas Thabane’s ‘Maisiah. And before then, the long running occupant was former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s Mathato Mosisili.
It was ‘Maesiah who was accused of rendering the office “toxic’ on account of her interference with government business. Her oversized role in meddling in government affairs is blamed by many for the unpopularity that besieged Mr Thabane in the latter years of his premiership resulting in his eventual downfall in May 2020.
Mr Tau also disclosed that Mr Matekane had kept his election promise not to take a government salary.
“Effectively from December 2022, the PM has been putting his entire net pay in what I would call the Prime Minister’s social fund. We have identified a few homes and individuals who will benefit from it. Had it not been for his Dakar, Senegal trip, he would have already disbursed those funds. I am only referring to it as the PM’s social fund because it does not have a formal name as yet. We are also identifying individual beneficiaries. We are yet to formulate a formal structure through which the funds will reach intended beneficiaries,” said Mr Tau.
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