Maseru – Lesotho’s summer cropping programme may be in jeopardy due to an unresolved contract dispute between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition and Glorified Group of Companies. Despite Glorified Group’s successful tender to supply 11,000 units of DKC7372 hybrid maize seeds, valued at M13.75 million, the Ministry has yet to finalize and sign the contract, raising concerns about the timely delivery of vital agricultural inputs.
According to sources who talked to Lesotho Tribune, the reason behind the delay to sign a contract, is interference from one of the “biggest” office in this country.
“Moleko [PS] has been instructed not to sign a contract with Glorified…” our source said.
Lesotho Tribune’s efforts to get a comment from Mr. Moleko were unsuccessful at time of going to print.
The seeds, critical for the upcoming cropping season, were meant to bolster the nation’s agricultural output. However, the Ministry’s delay in awarding the contract has left Glorified Group, and the wider farming community, in limbo. On August 12, 2024, the Ministry informed Glorified Group that its bid had been deemed the most favorable, following a rigorous tender evaluation. In a letter signed by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary, Thabo Moleko, the company was formally invited to enter into a contract.
Despite Glorified Group’s swift acceptance of the offer on August 18, weeks have gone by without any further communication from the Ministry. To complicate matters further, other companies that participated in the same tender process have reportedly received their contracts and are moving ahead with deliveries, while Glorified Group has been left out in the cold with no explanation.
Lesotho Tribune can confirm that indeed other service providers have signed their contracts with the Ministry.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Glorified Group has now taken legal action against the Ministry. Represented by Ramaili & Associates, the company has issued a formal demand for the Ministry to either finalize the contract or provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. In a letter dated September 3, 2024, Glorified Group’s legal team described the Ministry’s inaction as “shocking and surprising,” particularly given the urgency of the upcoming planting season.
“Our client was selected as the most favorable bidder and duly accepted the offer. It is therefore deeply concerning that, while other companies have been awarded contracts, Glorified Group has been inexplicably sidelined,” stated the letter from Ramaili & Associates. The legal representatives have given the Ministry 24 hours to respond, failing which the company will take the matter to court to seek immediate relief.
This isn’t the first time Glorified Group has found itself entangled in legal disputes with the Ministry. Earlier this year, the company successfully sued the Ministry over a similar issue involving a contract for the supply of field crop seeds. In February 2024, the High Court ordered the Ministry to pay Glorified Group M6.02 million for work completed under a 2022-2023 tender. Despite a ruling by the Procurement Tribunal in May 2023, the Ministry had delayed payment, leading to court proceedings.
In that case, Judge Letlaka ruled that the Ministry had failed to honor its contractual obligations, and ordered the immediate settlement of the outstanding sum. The court also awarded Glorified Group its legal costs, further highlighting the Ministry’s troubled procurement practices.
The current situation has once again cast a spotlight on the Ministry’s handling of tenders and contracts, with industry experts speculating that internal issues may be to blame for the delays. However, no official explanation has been provided by the Ministry, leaving Glorified Group and the wider public in the dark.
The timing of the dispute could not be worse. However for those who leave in Lesotho this does not come as a surprise…The delay in securing the maize seeds threatens to disrupt the upcoming summer cropping programme, which is vital to the country’s food security. Farmers rely on the timely delivery of agricultural inputs, and any hold-up could have significant consequences for crop yields this season.
Glorified Group has emphasized that it remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the tender and is prepared to deliver the seeds as soon as the Ministry resolves the matter. However, the company is also determined to seek legal recourse if necessary, to ensure that its rights are protected.
