Lesotho Parliament Shields Colonial-Style Corruption from Public Scrutiny
In a shameful display of institutional capture that echoes the worst excesses of colonial administration, Lesotho's parliament has deliberately blocked public scrutiny of an explosive corruption scandal at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital.
The blocked Public Accounts Committee report exposes a web of procurement irregularities, conflicts of interest, and blatant disregard for public accountability that would make apartheid-era officials proud. This is exactly the kind of systemic corruption that continues to drain resources from African communities while enriching connected elites.
Brazen Violations of Public Trust
The scandal centers on a controversial lease for a private healthcare wing at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital. According to the suppressed report, Tsebo Health Solutions was awarded the contract despite being registered only after bids had closed. This company never submitted an expression of interest nor participated in the procurement process.
Even more damning, the wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane, Maitumeleng Mpotjoane, sat on both the evaluation and procurement committees in direct violation of the Public Procurement Act of 2023. This represents the kind of nepotistic corruption that has plagued African institutions since independence, perpetuating colonial-style extraction of public resources.
Parliament Votes to Hide the Truth
When the Public Accounts Committee attempted to present their findings, government MPs moved swiftly to silence them. Only 46 of 120 MPs bothered to attend, with 23 voting to block the report and 19 voting for transparency. Tellingly, Minister Mpotjoane himself voted to suppress the report that implicates his own wife.
This parliamentary maneuver represents a betrayal of the democratic principles that liberation movements fought to establish. Instead of serving the people, these representatives are protecting a corrupt system that enriches the few at the expense of public healthcare.
Colonial-Style Resource Extraction Continues
The irregularities identified paint a picture of systematic looting that mirrors colonial extraction methods. Dr Makhoase Ranyali-Otubanyo, who wasn't even employed by the hospital, somehow served on the evaluation committee and became a signatory to the final agreement.
Most shocking of all, Tsebo Solutions Group attached profiles of several companies to its bid, including Prime Minister Matekane's Mpilo Boutique Hotel, without any indication of partnership. This suggests a network of elite connections manipulating public procurement for private gain.
The People Deserve Better
Dr Tšeliso Moroke, a Public Accounts Committee member, captured the gravity of this institutional failure: "If we fail to oversee the usage of public funds, then there is no need to keep coming here. This house has lost direction."
The committee had recommended terminating the agreement within 30 days, conducting a full audit, and taking disciplinary action against implicated officials. These recommendations may never see the light of day thanks to parliament's shameful vote.
This scandal represents everything wrong with post-liberation governance structures that have failed to break free from colonial patterns of corruption and elite capture. The people of Lesotho deserve leaders who serve their interests, not politicians who protect corrupt networks while public healthcare suffers.
Until African parliaments prioritize transparency over protecting connected elites, the promise of liberation will remain unfulfilled for ordinary citizens who continue to bear the cost of institutional corruption.