MASERU-In a stunning revelation that has rocked one of Lesotho’s most noticeable public institutions, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has demanded that the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) immediately fire its Internal Auditor, Puleng Tsekoa (‘Mapaballo Rantsane) who is a sister to LNDC Board chairperson, Palesa Tsekoa, over serious allegations that her appointment was driven by corruption and nepotism.
The heated confrontation unfolded this week in Parliament, where LNDC officials faced a tough grilling from PAC members over irregularities revealed in the Auditor General’s report. What began as a standard inquiry quickly exploded into a scandal that has left the corporation’s credibility hanging by a thread. PAC Chairperson, Honorable ‘Machabana Lemphane-Letsie, dropped the bombshell early in the hearing, accusing LNDC of appointing Rantsane as a “reward” for giving the corporation a clean audit report in her previous role. The Chairperson said the sudden shift from a disclaimer-filled audit history to a perfect report under Rantsane’s hand was “too convenient to ignore.”
“She gave LNDC a clean bill of health when no one else could,” Lemphane-Letsie declared. “And not long after that, she was hired as their Internal Auditor. That is not a coincidence but it’s a payback.” Her statement sent shockwaves through the room.
The committee demanded to know how Rantsane, who allegedly lacks the minimum qualifications for the position, could have been approved by LNDC’s recruitment board. It later appeared that one of the four board members who handled the hiring process is directly related to her, arevelation that fueled scandal among committee members and confirmed their suspicions of nepotism.
Interim Chief Executive Officer of LNDC, Molise Ramaili, tried to distance himself from the scandal, telling the committee that he was not involved in Rantsane’s recruitment. “The hiring was managed by a four-member board,” Ramaili explained, adding that he only learned later that questions had been raised about her qualifications.
But PAC members were not convinced. They accused LNDC’s leadership of turning a blind eye to corrupt hiring practices that have become all too common in state institutions. “When unqualified people are put in charge of financial oversight, corruption becomes a permanent feature,” Lemphane-Letsie said coldly.
The PAC’s findings have left LNDC scrambling to manage the fallout. The corporation, which plays a central role in attracting investment and promoting industrial growth in Lesotho, now faces a public relations disaster. The committee has ordered the immediate dismissal of Rantsane and called for disciplinary action against any officials who may have connived in her hiring.
