MASERU – Basotho National Party (BNP) leader and Member of Parliament, Hon. Machesetsa Mofomobe, has written to Prime Minister Samuel Matekane expressing concern over what he describes as the use of official government platforms to promote private activities linked to the Prime Minister.
In a formal letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Mofomobe argues that the practice risks blurring the important line between official state functions and personal matters involving holders of public office.
The issue arises from recent communications reportedly issued through official government channels, including announcements from the Office of the Prime Minister and listings on the Parliamentary Order Paper in the Senate, which referenced events connected to the Prime Minister’s birthday celebrations and the handover of a church allegedly built with his personal resources.
According to Mofomobe, such actions could set a troubling precedent in the management of public institutions.
He notes that since Lesotho’s independence, the country has maintained a long-standing constitutional tradition in which only the birthday of the Head of State is treated as a national occasion. The birthday of the Prime Minister, he argues, has historically remained a private matter.
“This practice reflects an important constitutional principle that distinguishes official state functions from personal activities of holders of public office,” Mofomobe states in his correspondence.
The BNP leader further warned that using official communication channels and parliamentary processes to publicize private activities could raise questions about the appropriate use of state resources.
“As custodians of public trust, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that state platforms are not used in a manner that could be perceived as advancing private interests,” he wrote.
Mofomobe has therefore requested that the Office of the Prime Minister discontinue the use of government communication platforms for the promotion or announcement of activities that are not official state business.
In his letter, the opposition leader indicated that the matter may escalate if the practice continues. He cautioned that he may seek judicial intervention in order to obtain legal clarity on the boundaries between official government functions and private activities by public officials.
“Should this practice persist, I will be compelled… to consider pursuing appropriate legal remedies to seek judicial clarity on the matter,” he wrote.
The correspondence frames the issue as one of constitutional oversight and governance rather than political confrontation. Mofomobe said the concerns were raised in the interest of protecting the integrity of public institutions and ensuring that state resources are used strictly for official purposes.
The development is likely to ignite debate within political and governance circles about the proper separation between public office and personal activities of national leaders. Questions about the use of official platforms, particularly parliamentary processes and state communication channels, often sit at the heart of broader discussions about transparency, accountability, and the ethical use of public resources.
For now, attention will turn to whether the Prime Minister’s office addresses the concerns raised and whether the matter develops into a broader constitutional question before the courts.
Read the letter below
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