Matekane moves to clip Lephema’s wings 

…as tycoon’s plans to seize control of RFP go into overdrive  

Mohloai Mpesi 

IN a move widely seen as an attempt to curb Lebona Lephema’s ambitions to seize control of the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), the ruling party’s leader and Prime Minister Sam Matekane has barred party officials from holding activities not sanctioned by him or the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). 

The directive explicitly bars  RFP officials from convening, among other things,  party meetings, conferences, rallies, and social events called “chillas” without approval from the party’s NEC or Mr Matekane himself. 

The directive comes as Mr Lephema’s moves to seize control of the RFP have gone into overdrive with the former cabinet minister and business tycoon traversing the length and breadth of the country to mobilize support in preparation for his bid to first topple deputy party leader Nthomeng Majara followed by Mr Matekane himself. 

Mr Lephema , who is also the RFP legislator for Teyateyaneng, sits in the NEC of the party and is one of its founding members. He served as the Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police when the RFP assumed power in the wake of its smashing victory in the October 2022 general elections. 

He was booted out of cabinet by Mr Matekane in a cabinet reshuffle in April after he rejected his redeployment to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and  Business Development. 

Rather than form his own political party in frustration, Mr Lephema, opted to stay in the RFP and work on wrestling control from Mr Matekane and Ms Majara. 

At the core of Mr Lephema’s grievances is his belief that he is entitled to the deputy leadership of the RFP and deputy premiership of the country because of his “significant” financial contributions to the RFP at its founding. 

But to his critics leadership must be earned and not bought. 

Undeterred, Mr Lephema who has been on a nationwide drive to convene the chillas which are fast gaining prominence as a source of political mobilization due to their combination of serious political exchanges with copious amounts of free alcohol which a rich man like Mr Lephema can bountifully provide. 

Mr Lephema has so far held the chillas in several constituencies, including his own Teyateyaneng, Tsoelike, Thabaneng, Pela-Tšoeu and Thuathe. He often arrives in his private helicopter much to the amusement of the gathered supporters. 

He is fully supported by RFP secretary general Nthati Moorosi, spokesperson Mokhethi Shelile, deputy spokesperson Thabo Maretlane, among others.   

The latest gatherings were held in Tsoelike, Qacha’s Nek, and Qalabane, Mafeteng, over the past weekend. 

Party treasurer and finance minister, Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, had hosted Mr Lephema on Sunday in her Qalabane constituency. This was quite remarkable because she has long been thought to be aligned with the Prime Minister and Ms Majara’s faction. 

Conspicuous by their absence at Mr Lephema’s events have been all the officials linked to Ms Majara’s faction, underscoring the now entrenched factionalism within the RFP. 

Mr Matekane’s latest directive, if fully observed, will come as a major blow to Mr Lephema who sources say effectively begun his campaign to seize control of the RFP the moment he was dropped from the cabinet. 

While he is on his nationwide blitz to mobilize support,  three of Mr Lephema’s proxies have petitioned the RFP to convene an annual conference to kickstart the processes of electing a new leadership. These are Teyateyaneng constituency chairperson Phahlane Makoko, Koro-Koro constituency secretary Seeiso Letsie and Manonyane Community Councillor Makhaola Chele. 

The Lesotho Times is reliably informed that Mr Lephema will fund them to institute court action if their demands are not met. 

Once he has deployed his riches to buy support, Mr Lephema’s strategy banks on first dethroning Ms Majara, placing himself in prime position to succeed Mr Matekane by hook or crook. 

It nonetheless remains to be seen whether Mr Matekane’s directive  will be enough to rein in Mr Lephema and his supporters. 

In a circular dated 11 August, Mr Matekane said  unsanctioned events being conducted by party officials were against party policies. He then directed that party members seek authority from him and the NEC to convene events. 

“It has come to my attention, and that of the National Executive Committee (NEC), that there are groups that hold visits, meetings, rallies, Chillas, and convoys at constituencies that are not theirs. 

“They also invite members of the party and other constituency committees to similar events without informing or seeking approval from the headquarters. 

“I want to clarify from the onset that RFP is not against working relations between constituencies, branches and members of the party. Visiting, sharing ideas, helping each other, discussing challenges and strengthening relations between members are things that can help in building RFP. 

“However, all these issues have to be aligned with the policy of RFP as per the constitution, leaders of the NEC and the leader,” Mr Matekane’s letter reads. 

“According to Section 24.1 of the constitution, the leader is the ‘political head and chief directing officer’ of RFP. This section gives the leader responsibility for the leadership of the party. It also gives him responsibility to guide the party on issues under the NEC. 

“The responsibility of the leader is not only to lead the party but also to ensure that it works in unity,” the letter reads. 

It adds that Section 20.2 gives the NEC responsibility for leadership in accordance with the party’s constitution. 

Among its duties and powers, the NEC is responsible for strategies, programmes, directives and announcements to constituencies, as well as receiving reports from constituencies and overseeing the functions of the party and its committees. 

Mr Matekane said it was the leadership’s responsibility to unite the party around its vision, adding that events should be properly prepared and coordinated, particularly when they involve multiple constituencies. 

He stressed that the directive was not intended to discourage members from working together. 

“Guidance elaborated in this letter should be understood as a way of fulfilling the responsibility, under the constitution, of uniting, leading and protecting the party, not as an attempt to create new powers that do not exist in the constitution. 

“The leadership has a responsibility to ensure that the party works in unity, with a shared vision, strategy, and intentions. Hence, events prepared by the party need to be coordinated, especially when they involve other constituencies, their members, and branches. 

“This does not mean that members are not supposed to work together, but it means that working together should be done in a way that does not give the impression of a faction breeding within RFP, or that there are groups working to a mandate different from that of RFP.” 

He added that party members had a responsibility to protect the organisation against those seeking to undermine it. 

“Section 8(a) of the constitution places a responsibility on members of RFP to protect the party against members who might undermine its interests, confidence and integrity. 

“We all have to work in a way that builds, rather than weakens, unity and stability,” he said. 

Mr Matekane said the party leadership was preparing a programme of events to ensure that all activities were aligned with the party’s mission. 

“The intention of the programme is to ensure that all events of the party, in all areas, are linked to the mission, intentions and policies of the party. 

“Therefore, for the sake of party members, where possible, members should wait until the programme of events is complete and accepted, so that we can all work knowing very well the direction of the party and what things come first,” the RFP leader said. 

He said members wishing to hold events before the programme was finalised would have to apply to party headquarters for approval. 

“This does not mean that all the activities of the party should stop. Where there is a need for an event before the publication of the programme of events, an application should be made to the headquarters for evaluation and approval. 

“From this day, when two or more constituencies, branches, committees or members of the party want to prepare a visit, meeting, rally, Chillas, convoy or any other activity within a constituency that does not belong to them, or that involves members of other constituencies, an application should be made before the day of the event. 

“The application should be written, signed by the people making the application, and submitted to headquarters. It should indicate the constituencies or members of the party that are involved, stipulate the date, time and place, and purpose of the event, and provide a clear agenda of the issues that will be discussed and what will be achieved. 

“Constituencies, branches, committees and members are expected to wait for a decision or written approval from the headquarters before proceeding with the event,” he said. 

He added: “In a case where the application is not accepted, or when no approval is granted, the event is not supposed to continue under the RFP name.” 

Though the letter did not mention Mr Lephema by name, it seems obvious that his actions have given rise to  Mr Matekane’s directive. 

“It shows that the Prime Minister is now effectively taking charge of the party and stopping Lephema from buying it. That is a good thing as Matekane has generally been a weak leader…He needs to impose discipline in his party” one party insider said. 

“Even though Lephema and his proxies must now seek permission from the NEC, it is clear Matekane will determine which activities proceed and which don’t….The letter is carefully worded to imply that the NEC will make the decisions but it is clear that Matekane himself will be in charge of sanctioning these chillas. If they feel too curtailed, the only option for Lephema and his supporters might just be to form their own party. Only time will tell…..” 

Mr Lephema has since his dropping from cabinet vowed not to form a splinter party but remain within the RFP. 

It remains to be seen whether he sticks to that pledge if Mr Matekane persists with plans to rein him in. 

Mr Lephema’s phone rang unanswered when this publication sought his comment. Mr Shelile’s phone rang unanswered while Mr Maretlane dodged the interview saying he was responding to an urgent phone call.  

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