Mohloai Mpesi
GOVERNMENT Secretary, Teboho ‘Mokela, has finally begun the process to get all Principal Secretaries (PSs) to sign performance contracts.
The first signing ceremony between PSs and their respective ministers was due took place on Wednesday across government ministries.
Ms ‘Mokela will later add her signature to the contracts as required by law.
The development follows civic organisation, Pitsong Institute for Implementation Research (PIIR)’s litigation threat against Ms ‘Mokela, should she fail to sign such contracts within thirty days.
PIIR had accused Ms ‘Mokela of dereliction of duty for not signing performance contracts with the PSs, long after Prime Minister Sam Matekane promised the nation in his inauguration speech in October 2022, that such contracts would be done and made public to foster efficient governance.
The PIIR also blamed Mr Matekane’s government’s lacklustre performance on Ms ‘Mokela’s failure to sign the contracts with the PSs, which would in turn commit them to implementing government policies as directed. The Public Service Act, 2005, Public Service Regulations, 2008 and the constitution of Lesotho, direct the GS to “enter into performance contracts with PSs”, as a performance measurement mechanism.
Thus, Ms ‘Mokela recently issued an internal memo seen by the?Sunday Express, directed to all PSs and titled: “Preparation for signing of performance contracts 2024 to 2025.”
In the memo, Ms ‘Mokela directed all PSs to “enter into contracts with your ministers” before the said contracts “could be taken to the GS to sign”. ?
“Following the successful completion of lengthy consultations for the performance contracts, you are hereby requested to sign these contracts with honourable ministers to secure their circumstances before you finally sign with the Government Secretary,” Ms ‘Mokela said in her memo.
“Please ensure that you print two copies of your contract and inform your respective honourable ministers about this event. Kindly note that the signing ceremony for the honourable ministers with the Right Honourable the Prime Minister will be announced in due course.
“The dates of the signing ceremony will be on Wednesday 24th?of July 2024 and the schedule is attached herein.”
Minister of Public Service, Steven Mputi, had earlier told the?Sunday Express?that preparations were already underway for the signing of performance contracts. He said that he, together with his PS, had already signed their performance contracts that would be made public soon.
“It must happen, we are already working on the performance contracts. It is just that we delayed. We have already signed them in my ministry, I and my Principal Secretary,” Mr Mputi said.
Meanwhile, Chair of Chairs in the National Assembly, MP Mokhothu Makhalanyane, has lauded PIIR for pushing for accountability in the government.
He told the Sunday Express that PIIR’s move had motivated parliament’s cluster portfolio committees “to push to ensure that performance contracts are signed”.
“Pitsong is helping us. What they are doing is playing an oversight role. I always emphasise that the public must play that oversight role, working hand in hand with parliament,” Mr Makhalanyane said.
“We are going to follow up on that issue. But we also want Ministers to have those performance contracts. The public service is lethargic because there are no clear indicators that are followed to say one has performed.”
He said since ministers also undermined the law “they also must be pushed to account”.
“It is tantamount to undermining the law, that ministers are not doing what they are supposed to do. Public Finance Management Act, 2011, section 34 (9) states that a minister is supposed to provide an annual report, four months after the year has ended,” he said.
“But they are not doing that. Ministers don’t feel like it is their responsibility to report. They must report to the parliament. The Audit Act, 2016 directs ministries to ensure that audits are done by the office of the Auditor General, six months after the financial year has ended.”