Maseru – The Portfolio Committee on Natural Resources has taken the extraordinary step of requesting the arrest of Lesotho’s Natural Resources Minister, Mohlomi Moleko. This action comes after the minister failed to appear before the committee to answer questions related to alleged abuses at the Polihali Dam project in Mokhotlong.
The committee had directed Minister Moleko to provide contractual documents between the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) and the main contractors building the Polihali Dam and its tunnel under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase II. However, the minister did not show up, prompting the committee to request the Clerk to the National Assembly, Fine Maema, to arrest him and compel his appearance.
Hon. Thabiso Lekitla, a member of the committee, stated that the committee had received numerous petitions from Polihali community members and workers at the dam construction site, leading to the decision to summon Minister Moleko.
The committee wants to examine the actual contracts and the conditions stipulated therein to address the issues raised.The committee had given Minister Moleko a seven-day notice to appear but took the decision to issue a warrant of arrest when he failed to do so.
“We can only tell the clerk (of parliament) to direct police officers to bring the minister before the committee. That is what we have done right now. The Clerk has assigned police officers to arrest him,” Hon Lekitla explained.
A warrant of arrest against Minister Moleko was issued on Tuesday morning, April 2nd, after his failure to appear before the committee.
The minister had been summoned to hand over agreement documents between Sun JV and LHDA regarding the construction of the Polihali Dam. However, Minister Moleko claimed that his office did not possess these documents, which were in the possession of LHDA.
In a seating of the portfolio committee on natural resources, on Thursday, April 4th, Minister Moleko explained that LHDA had been advised by their lawyer not to release the documents due to confidentiality concerns.
The committee confirmed that LHDA had presented the documents to them, and they are now discussing the appropriate action to take against Minister Moleko for his failure to comply with their request.
