Moleko appoints ‘unqualified’ RFP member to LHWP

…as Minister denies allegation, says Khali is qualified for position

Mohloai Mpesi

NATURAL Resources Minister, Mohlomi Moleko, has been accused of appointing a senior Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) member to an advisory position linked to the multibillion-maloti Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), despite allegedly not meeting the qualifications required for the post.

The Lesotho Times has established that RFP Women’s League Secretary General, Matsikane Khali, has allegedly been appointed as an Advisor to the Minister on matters relating to the binational project.

Sources close to the development claim Ms Khali does not possess the qualifications prescribed for the advisory position, which requires at least a master’s degree in engineering, built environment or project management, coupled with extensive experience in bilateral negotiations and diplomacy, infrastructure or the built environment, governance and the management of large-scale projects.

While some critics had said Ms Khali only studied up to Form D, the Lesotho Times established that she instead possesses a tourism degree.

It is further claimed that she will pocket a whooping M350 000 per month.

The allegations have raised concerns within government circles, with one source describing the appointment as a political decision that could weaken Lesotho’s negotiating position in the LHWP, particularly now that the treaty review was eminent.

However, Mr Moleko has strongly rejected the allegations, saying Ms Khali was not appointed to the position being referred to by the sources and insisting that she is qualified for the job she was given.

“They are talking nonsense. Firstly, they don’t know which job she (Khali) has been appointed to,” Mr Moleko said yesterday.

“Tell your sources they are talking nonsense. They don’t know the work she has been appointed to. They should go and find out first. They should not talk about things they don’t know.”

He said he would issue a statement explaining Ms Khali’s appointment and the structure of the relevant unit.

Ms Khali, when contacted for comment, declined to discuss the appointment.

“I am not at the position to answer these issues. I can’t comment. Ask the minister,” she said.

The source alleged that the position was not advertised, despite this being the normal procedure. The source added that the appointment was supposed to have been done in consultation with Lesotho’s Chief Delegate at LHWC, Advocate Mafiroane Motanyane.

Another source alleged that Ms Khali’s appointment was political and that the Minister had not received proper advice before making the appointment.

“This is true, and I can confirm that this is a purely political appointment. The Minister was ill-advised on this particular one. The government’s Head of Delegation is responsible for providing such guidance,” the source said.

The source said the advisory positions required highly specialised qualifications because of the strategic importance of the LHWP.

“The Advisory positions require candidates with at least a master’s degree in engineering, the built environment or project management, along with extensive experience in bilateral negotiation and diplomacy, infrastructure or the built environment, governance, and exposure to managing large-scale projects,” the source said.

“Remember, this is a M53 billion project. Lesotho is therefore exposing itself by recruiting unqualified people. She is going to earn M350 000 per month. On top of that she will get M4000 for cell phone airtime, M1000 for home internet.”

The source warned that the appointment of people without the required expertise could undermine Lesotho’s interests in the project.

“Although these positions are strictly Lesotho positions that advise the Minister under the Ministry of Natural Resources, they still have a major impact on the Commission’s ability to carry out its oversight, monitoring and approval roles,” the source said.

“The two ministers — the Lesotho Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Water and Sanitation in the Republic of South Africa — take the final decisions on the project through the Commission, based on the advice they receive.”

The source said weak technical advice could also affect Lesotho’s bargaining position during bilateral engagements.

“If Lesotho has unqualified and weak advisors, they will negotiate from a position of weakness, to the detriment of the Basotho as far as the benefits from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project are concerned,” the source said.

Moleko hits back

Mr Moleko dismissed the claims that Ms Khali lacked qualifications, saying the sources had misunderstood the position to which she had been appointed.

“Ms Khali has the qualifications for the work she has been appointed to. It is not true that she only did Form D (as others claimed),” he said.

“Your source should go and do proper research to avoid creating unnecessary animosity.”

Asked whether the position had been advertised, Mr Moleko said the Ministry had previously advertised vacancies that could arise within the Commission and was now selecting candidates from the pool of applications received.

“We released an advert about two years ago for vacancies that may arise within the Commission. We received many applications, so we are picking from those applications, because they are nominations that follow a clear policy on how we work.

“I will release a statement explaining that unit and everything, so that you understand where we are going,” he said.

He said he also intended to publish information explaining the treaties governing the project and what his Ministry had implemented.

“I am going to publish articles explaining what we are trying to do and what we have implemented on the treaties. It is important that people know about the treaty, what we have done and what we plan to do going forward,” he said.

For his part, Mr Motanyane distanced himself from the recruitment, saying it was a Ministry responsibility.

“The recruitment of the Advisor to the Minister is not part of my job. I am not involved in that at all. It is the Ministry’s matter. Please ask the Ministry,” he said.

The LHWP

The LHWP is a multi-phase binational project established under the 1986 treaty between Lesotho and South Africa to supply water to South Africa’s Gauteng region while generating hydroelectric power for Lesotho.

The project harnesses water from the Senqu/Orange River through a network of dams and tunnels for the benefit of both countries.

Phase I, completed in 2003 and inaugurated in 2004, included the construction of the 185-metre-high Katse Dam, Mohale Dam, the ’Muela Hydropower Station and an extensive network of transfer and delivery tunnels.

Phase II is currently under construction in Mokhotlong and includes the 165-metre-high Polihali Dam and a 38-kilometre transfer tunnel linking Polihali to the Katse Reservoir, increasing Lesotho’s water-transfer capacity.

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