‘I will come out as clean as snow on a mountain’
MASERU — Former natural resources minister, Monyane Moleleki, has challenged the police and government to investigate his financial affairs to their “hearts’ content”.
And he claimed he is confident that at the end of that investigation he will “come out as clean as snow on a mountain”.
Moleleki was speaking to the Lesotho Times on Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after the police told the High Court they were dropping their investigation into his financial affairs.
The police have been investigating the deputy Democratic Congress (DC) leader for the past three months for alleged corruption and money laundering.
As part of the investigation they froze accounts of an orphanage he owns before raiding his house, office and orphanage in Machache.
Initially the police had been given two weeks to charge him.
When they failed the High Court ordered that the accounts be opened. The police then made an urgent application pleading for more time to investigate Moleleki.
However on Tuesday the police threw in the towel saying they had found no case against Moleleki.
That decision, Moleleki said, vindicates his position that the investigation was politically motivated.
He said although the case has been stopped he still challenges the police to thoroughly investigate him.
“I am saying they should investigate me thoroughly, both locally and internationally. This is an open challenge to the government and the police,” Moleleki said.
“I assure them that at the end of it all they will come out with nothing. I will come out as clean as snow on a mountain.”
But he says after investigating him the police must then investigate everyone else who has been in previous governments.
“And I am talking here about the Prime Minister himself (Tom Thabane), his deputy (Mothetjoa Metsing) and many other ministers who were in the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) government with me.”
Thabane was the minister of communication in the LCD government before he left in 2006 to form the All Basotho Convention which is now a senior partner in the coalition government of the LCD and the Basotho National Party.
“If the idea is to investigate possible corruption,” he added, “then we must all run the gauntlets.”
“I don’t have a problem with an investigation that is fair and includes everyone.
“I am also open to the idea of declaring my assets. I will comply with any inquiry but we must all undergo the same process,” Moleleki said.
He said the investigation and the declaration of assets must be transparent and include everyone “so that no one can claim immunity on the basis of their current position in the government”.
Moleleki said he believed the police only started investigating him after instructions from the cabinet.
“I got to know soon after that cabinet meeting that a decision had been made to have me investigated. That is the investigation was maliciously determined and politically motivated,” he said.
He said it was the cabinet that ordered the police to freeze his orphanage’s bank accounts.
“It’s unfortunate when ministers have strong feelings to instruct police to pursue some cases”.
The former minister alleged that although the investigation was targeted at him it was also meant to discredit and destabilise the DC.
“By attacking me they were not only casting aspersions on me alone but the party as well,” he said.
He said the coalition government wanted to discredit the DC because it has weaknesses that make it unsustainable.
“A majority of one in parliament is too narrow for comfort,” he added.
Moleleki said the DC was already seeing ominous signs of an “undesirable interference” in the civil service by the government as it seeks to purge perceived DC supporters.
“It’s still early days but the little we have seen points to a lot of attacks on the civil service. There is an attempt to make the civil service political.”
Comment by Leqe on 20 September 2012:
Patloo..maea ke maboea.
Comment by Leqe on 20 September 2012:
Patloo..maea ke maboea.rea khutla..
Comment by Pholo on 20 September 2012:
U kae ntata lona Semenekane kapa Mokola ona senye mae hake tsebe
Comment by semenekane on 20 September 2012:
His Lordship Sir Hon. Mahaletere, u se ke oa ea le khongoana holimo, oa nkoa ke maululu a thabo ka lebaka la stupid LMPS. Mona u nkile monyetla monna heso ka bofokoli ba lipatlisiso tsa Stupid LMPS.
Re tla u ts’oara ka lintho tse ling hle within a very short period of time.
Itsoelle pele ka shadow cabinet ea hau, re tla bona ‘mila o ntse o puta
Comment by semenekane on 20 September 2012:
@ Pholo
Ke tla u eletsa hore u bue taba u se ke oa kenakenana le ‘na ka ho nthoaka. Ha re bueng litaba ka thata empa re ntse re sielana tlhompho Mohlomphehi.
Comment by semenekane on 20 September 2012:
“Lekoata-koata ho ea ka letsohong le ho letona leho le let’s'ehali” Mahaletere Moafrika FM
U ts’osa Masupha, no defamation of character case mono. Haha!
Comment by fito on 20 September 2012:
@ semenekane….fotsek hle wena, ehlile eka re Mokola o jele mmao joale u ntso belaela, hao monna.. Nxa
Comment by fito on 20 September 2012:
Ke utloa u ntena maosebono tooe!ho thoeng u semenekane, hantle u batlang ha kale ho mahaletere monna?
Comment by Kleva on 20 September 2012:
Semenekane u ska hobosa mapolesa ana hobane ba laetsoe ke bo ntatao bano…! Mahaletere u raha mmeri mpeng mona u be u phutse
Comment by tsimo kholo on 20 September 2012:
Kea tsepa le haeba ha joale ho sena bopaki bo amahanyang Monghali Moleleki le bobolu bonnete ba taba ke hore re le Basotho re tla kopa ho tseba mohloli oa leruo le lakana la monghali enoa Mme nna ke leboha hobane ke mona o lumetse hore mmuso o nke mecha e nepahetseng ho fuputsa bohle ba ka belaelloang hore e kanna eaba ba ithuisitse ka mokhoa o seng molaong
oa supa hape ho bontsa hore a ka thaba ha bohle ba ka fuputsoa mme retla leboha mme ebang ba sena molato re tla ba lebohisa
Comment by Italy on 20 September 2012:
Hao BATHO BA MORENA MOLIMO NA KE LIPUO TSE NTLE TSE?? PLS TLOELLANG MAHLAPA LE BUE TABA HLE KA KOPO.
I’m repeating my words LEKHOTLOANE lena is goin to loss more money on the cases, because what they want ke ho isa MaDC toronkong ntle le molato. Shebang tseo le iketileng ka tsona le tsebe ho hloleha nako esale teng.
Comment by poho on 20 September 2012:
Lekoatlakoatla 2 de left & right! mo2 e mong o tlaya ka banneng a le molato kapa a sena molato hake sheba. taking mahaletere 2 prison will destroy DC. ba2 bana ba sebeletsa lemong tse hlano tse tlang hobane potso ke hore na ke mang ya tla sala a tshwere marapo ha ba2 ba tshepetsweng ho etsa jwalo ba kaya ka banneng? che Lesotho!!!
Comment by Limpho on 20 September 2012:
se ka hlaselang tsehetshethang taba moo e teng. re ntsha maikutlo mona ha re loane hleng bahlomphehi, ka boikokobetso.
Comment by moshe on 20 September 2012:
nna kere lehaeba lefatse leka hloloa hore ahlolela ka tona, Nt. Molimo o teng he knws hore na re batlang mme otla re etsetsa ka toka, tsoelang pele le leqetse hahona taba.
Comment by moshe on 20 September 2012:
nna kere lehaeba lefatse leka hloloa hore ahlolela ka toka, Nt. Molimo o teng he kwn mathata le lillo tsa rona, otla re ahloleka ka toka, tsoelang pele le leqetse hahona taba, bt nnete eona qetellong etla hlahella.
Comment by `MAMANKOE on 20 September 2012:
MAY THE BLOOD OF JESUS PROTECTS BASOTHO IN JESUS NAME AMEN.
Comment by Young BK on 20 September 2012:
Let he without the sin cast the stone first against Mahaletere.re ba etsa libe ka ofela.
Comment by dizzyha on 20 September 2012:
A majority of one in parliament is too narrow for comfort,” he added.
100% true
Comment by Rantso 2 on 20 September 2012:
Shapa Monyane bau ts’aba le hao use use’musong ache he monna enoa oa Machache ke boss le Pakalitha ke ntja le Monna Moholo Thabane ha a sechoe
Comment by ABC/LCD/BNP on 20 September 2012:
“”"”“I am saying they should investigate me thoroughly, both locally and internationally. This is an open challenge to the government and the police,” Moleleki said.
“I assure them that at the end of it all they will come out with nothing. I will come out as clean as snow on a mountain.”
But he says after investigating him the police must then investigate everyone else who has been in previous governments.
“And I am talking here about the Prime Minister himself (Tom Thabane), his deputy (Mothetjoa Metsing) and many other ministers who were in the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) government with me.” RURI THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE EVERYBODY ELSE!!!!
Comment by manyonyoba on 20 September 2012:
ebe ha le ne le shebane mahlong le ne le ka roakana tjee? a ke le roakaneng ka lona hle banna kapo ka bo ntata lona hoba ke bona ba sa le rutang ho hlompha bo mme, plis
Comment by mosali oa mosotho on 20 September 2012:
nnete e tla hlaha qetellong ea letsatsi. sekhooa sere say hey whn the sun still shines. rea khutla,ho checha hoa ramo hase ho baleha ke ho nka matla motao
Comment by ABC/LCD/BNP on 20 September 2012:
ke cho k mehla hore Mokola ha se motho eo ke motsepang HO HANG!!!! ketenoa feela ke hore taba tsa naha ena li sebetsoa ka mafufa le litsekamelo tsa lipolotiki!!!!!!
Comment by Thope ea Bochabela on 20 September 2012:
Masopha hoseng o itse bona ba se ba emetse mochochisi e moholo ba tsebe ho lokolla koetla. Na Halti o sure hore esele ha a phonyohile tjee??? *wondering*
Comment by Selomo on 20 September 2012:
Kereeeeee… The Rule of Law is Paramount in a Modern Democracy!
Comment by Bobete on 20 September 2012:
Off the hook for now, but investigations are continuing. Enjoy your freedom while it lasts. I just hope the police will this time be careful and come up with water tight case instead of this one full of holes. A person running an orhphanage which has a board of trustees like a spaza shop, I smell a rat here and only time will tell.
Comment by Bobete on 20 September 2012:
Off the hook for now, but investigations are continuing. Enjoy your freedom while it lasts. I just hope the police will this time be careful and come up with water tight case instead of this one full of holes. A person running an orphanage which has a board of trustees like a spaza shop, I smell a rat here and only time will tell.I was also listening to MoAfrica this morning and heard the dialogue between Mahaltere and Masopha, it is not yet over.
Comment by Melo on 20 September 2012:
“I assure them that at the end of it all they will come out with nothing. I will come out as clean as snow on a mountain.” said Moleleki.trully i am inclined to say m sure that you are clean sir
Comment by 'Nete Feela on 20 September 2012:
RESPECT, RESPECT AND RESPECT!!
Turning threats into opportunities!
Basotho ba Morena Moshoeshoe ho etsahetseng ka tlhomphano pakeng tsa lona? The internet has provided a platform for us to discuss issues affecting this country even though we have not met or seen each other before, but no! Lona you use this tool to insult and fight each other, why guys?
From now on I will be chairing your discussions in this forum until such time that proper elections are conducted to elect the chair or president of the discussions. My main duty and responsibility will be to ensure that our discussions are smooth and free from vulgar language. This is not a rule or law but rather a code of conduct that I appeal to you all to abide by. I have learnt that there is a lot we can learn from each other about the issues affecting our country, the problem is that some few individuals continue to see this as a platform they use to air their anger and hatred against their fellow Basotho.
First of all let us all agree that vulgar language and insults are not acceptable in our discussions here. Ntate Moleleki or any person for that matter – is a leader in this country and as Basotho we have all the right to discuss with a purpose to understand what he says or does whether we hate or like him. As a human being and a leader he deserves all the respect from all of us as we discuss him. To call him “Mahaletere”to me is acceptable – this is a nickname he knows and appreciates.
So Pholo and fito, I make a plea to you guys to apologize to Semenekane, unfortunately you used rude language and insults to Semenekane and I am sure you will avoid doing the same in future.
Remember that as you discuss issues here before you write anything for us to discuss make sure you avoided being emotional in your comments. Whether you hate or like a particular leader being the subject of the discussion should be irrelevant if we were to make sure we are truthful in discussing issues that affect the nation.
To say sorry to Semenekane will not necessarily mean you are cowards guys becuase you would feel the same if the same words or language was used against you…
Apart from that, you can continue as I am following your comments guys, I enjoy reading comments hammering only on facts as those raised by Bobete and others…
Comment by Lobengula on 20 September 2012:
As I said when this issue surfaced; Ntate Moleleki is innocent till proven guilty by a court of law and the case against him has been dropped. Lesotho is a democracy and we have to respect the rule of law. But I am worried about two issues: firstly, how can the cabinet discuss or direct the police on who to investigate? If this is true, we have a problem because I don’t think that is the mandate of the cabinet. Secondly; Ntate Moleleki says he was tipped soon after a cabinet meeting that there was a directive to investigate him. This to me tells me there are people who sit in the cabinet meetings who leak whatever is discussed. Lastly, this is a good forum for us the electorate to discuss issues of national importance; therefore, I humbly urge the Lesotho Times to censor the comments made in this “parliament” and delete the vulgar language and comments made by some irresponsible people.
Comment by Pakalitha on 20 September 2012:
Ena ea mahlapa banna le basali ba heso ha ea nepahala let us be mature re baballeng forum e na ea rona re thakelaneng ka maikutlo le likeletso, e tle re letsatsing le leng re lo kopana kae-kae joalo ka maleta-thojana re sa tsebaneng ebe re ea tsebana re tseheng ho be monate, mohlomong uena Fito u ka nna ua iphumana u khahloa ke Semenekane la ba la theha motse, ‘Mokola a ba ba teng lenyalong la lona
Comment by PING PONG on 20 September 2012:
Batho bana ha ba fuputsoe hle. Corruption was the order of the day just under the nose of mccd. taba ena e tla ts`abisa le ba na ba litulong ho bapalla cheleteng ea sechaba. Molimo o hlile o kene lipakeng ho pholosa sechaba sa Basotho se neng se bonahala se le tsietsing ea tlala ea boja likata ba lakatsa le papa ena e pala fela batho ba bang ba tlotsa bohobe ka botoro mahlakore a mabeli. taba ea ho fuputsa bohle eona ke e opela liatla. Coalition government ke kopa e sekebe ea etsa puso e ts`oanang le ea MCCD e ne se puso ea lefatse lena empa ea liheleng koana ke ka hona Molimo a e behelletseng ka thoko.
Comment by semenekane on 21 September 2012:
His Lordship Hon.Sir Mahaletere still has a case to answer
1 : re batla tlhaloso ea hore ho tlile joang hore karolo ea chelete e polokelong ea Investigation acc e kene joang accounteng ea Lesiba?. Investigation account ke eane e nang le 7 million.
2 : re boetse re batla tlhaloso ea hore difference ea about M1.5 million accounting ea Lesiba etsoa ho kae?. Se re tseba hore e ngoe o e fumanoe joang ho latela tlhaloso ea Mahaletere.
Leha batho ba ka roakana, e sale hoseng hore e be hlathe e se e lelekisa tsebe ho bo – Tona ba His Lordship Hon. Mahaletere
Mapolesa le tlameha ho sebelisa intelligence ea lona effectively nyeoeng ena, le etse Case Map before taking a legal action. E tla le thusa to identify relevant evidence, case technicalities, loopholes and you should confiscate any information devices tt can help to implicate Mahaletere.
Comment by semenekane on 21 September 2012:
@ Nete Feela
Ke ea leboha Monnaheso ka tlhokomeliso eo ho bo Fito. ‘Na ke eme ka ntlha kemo ea molao feela. Leka mohla hake so roake ntate Mahaletere. Lebitso leno oa le ananela keka hona ha a le Liea – le – moeeng a ipitsang ka mabitso ohle a hae ho kenyelletsa le la Mahaletere leo ke le ratang haholo.
Makhotla a tla etsa liqeto tsa ona, ha Mahaletere a se molato liqosong tsohle tseo a belaelloang ka tsona, ‘na ha kena khang le eena. A ka tla itsoella pele ka shadow cabinet ea hae eo ke e ts’ehetsang.
Taba ena e lokela hore e be thuto ho batho bohle ba pusong ho qoba ho etsa litlolo tsa molao hobane ka letsatsi le leng ba tla lokeloa ho araba. Ke nako ea Mahaletere ho araba. Mocks le ena o se ntse a qopetsa le ba bang ba tlo tsamaea holima lesika la Thole joalo ka Mahaletere a khothallelitse. Let us avoid corruption in all costs because it doesn’t pay
Comment by Lihanaboi Handcuffs on 21 September 2012:
Lekoata Koata, o tla li hlatsa hle thepa tse u li rekileng ka chelete ea naha ea Lesotho. Le li merchant ships le li oil rigs o tla li hlatsa hle Lekoata Koata. Ha re e-s’o qale. Withdrawal of freezing of accounts does not mean investigations have stopped. Anyway Margistrate court by issuing first court order, it has taken note of evidence in those accounts. Cheap politicking will help you Lekoata Koata.
Comment by kompi on 21 September 2012:
Moleleki has no case to answer.Finido tsiba ho lla tse ka mahafing ho mapolesa.
Comment by molemo on 21 September 2012:
MOLIMO BOLOKA BASOTHO LE LESOTHO BA KHOTSO
Comment by malikotoana on 21 September 2012:
ntate moleleki is innocent, masupha oa icontradita they were given 2 wks hore ba qose mokola ba faitse tt is wht lawyr ea hae e se chong joale ena ke mang.
Comment by semenekane on 22 September 2012:
Lekoata-koata to the left, lekoata-koata to the right. Halti batho bana haba tsamae holima lesika la Thole kaofela. Re qalile ka uena u le Phulamaliboho. Re tla lebella ha ngoale e khiba hore na u tle hle u ts’ele molatsoana ona kapa u tla sala ka koetseng.
Forestic auditors hali qetile ka uena, ea ka li ka kena ho Phafane kaha le eena. A belaelloa hore khale a ja mashome a sechaba. Bo Mphu Ramatlapeng, Mocks, Lehata le ba bang ba tlo tsamaea holima lesika la Thole e be mohoula feela ho likela Makhaleng.
Bro Tom u ts’oere hantle monnaheso. E se ke eaba bo Halti feela, nthoena e be kobo anela. Ka toants’o ea bobolu le tlala, I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Comment by 'Molomane on 22 September 2012:
‘Nete Feela, I concur with you. This discussion z so educational and informative. Some of us follow for weeks on end without commenting just to be informed.
Comment by 'Molomane on 22 September 2012:
Ehlile ha ho ka hoa phenngoa mahafi ho tloha khale ke mathata feela.
Ke ntse ke hopola hantle ha lifofane e le “li-taxi” bahlomphehi ba li palama ba ea bananeng Gauteng koana, ba ea ba khutla mantsiboea. Kapa ba booka (book) lihotele tsa majabajaba ho oa kopana le likharejana tseo.
Feela joale motho o ipotsa na re tla ea pele neng na re ntse re fata tsa morao.
Comment by Lefefooane on 24 September 2012:
Mr.Moleleki should stop singing praise songs on his innocence on this platform. He should come clean in court of law. That he suggests even Thabane, Thahane and Metsing should be investigated leaves a lot to be desired regarding his so-called innocence. It only shows he is aware of corruptions and fraud that Thabane and Metsing allegedly committed but he never laid the charges when he had all the ample time as a government minister to do so. He is only telling us now that he himself is facing own charges that he must answer. I will not sleep until Mr.Moleleki gets cleared in a court of law. As of now, the only thing he got cleared of is not on the merits and demerits of the case rather it is purely on technicality, which still leaves a cloud hanging on his head. Once the police get the technicalities sorted out, I will not be surprised if they charge him again.
Comment by Nkosazana Zuma on 25 September 2012:
@Semenekane, ha!ha!ha! oa seka ithohakela mapolesa le khale. Haba le stupid uena u eng? Bothata ke ba hore batho ba busitseng Lesotho pele ‘moho le ba ntseng ba busa Lesotho hajoale ba qopelitse corruptioneng lilemong tseo ba neng ba le boholong ka tsona. Joale mapolesa ana a Molimo a laeloa joaloka uena ha u laeloa mosebetsing oa hau, ‘me ba tla phethisa litaelo tsa benghali.
Haeba mapolesa a fumane bobolu boo mahaletere a neng a bo kopanetse le e mong oa ba pusong hona joale, ‘me mohlomong motho eo o laetse mapolesa hore a nyahlatse liqoso tseo khahlanong le mahaltere, ehlile mapolesa a tla li nyahlatsa kamora hore high court e laele joalo kaha le eona e nka litaelo hoba pusong. Bothata ba lona Basotho ke ba hore le iphanyetsa linnete tse etsahalang kahara naha ka mona, le etsa eka ha le tsebe hore na culture ea Lesotho mona ke efeng. Mapolesa a Lesotho mona a fuoa litaelo, ‘me a sebetsa ka tsona joalofela ka mosebetsi e mong le e mong ea fuoang litaelo ke ba etsang liqeto ts’ebetsong. Joale hee Semenekane, u ne u batla hore mapolesa a etse thato ea hau hore e tle ebe haba stupid? Le uena aku tsamaee u eo etsa investigate Mahaletere.
Ke eeno o itse investigations tse etsoe ho tloha ho PM e teng hona joale. Ha u nahana Mahaltere o se nka kae sebete sa ho bua joalo hore le PM ‘moho le matona ohle a bileng pusong le bona ba investigatoe? Ke hobane o ea tseba hore na ba entseng e corrupt nakong eo ba neng ba ntse ba le ‘moho pusong. Joale, tlohella ho re hloliea ka mapolesa hobane ke basebeletsi ba ‘muso joaloka uena, ba tsamaea ka litaelo joaloka uena. Basotho lea tena, le tseba ho bona sekoqo se ka leihlong la motho e mong empa le sa bone sekoqohali se ka leihlong la lona. Tlohang mona!!
Comment by Nkosazana Zuma on 25 September 2012:
@PING PONG
Ho investigatoa hoa mahaltere ho keke hoa ts’abisa batho ba busang hona joale letho-letho leo ba batlang ho le etsa. M60 million e se e tsoile ba ikaroletse eona ele maparamente fela sechaba se ntse se lapile, motho ka mong o kibakiba ka M500 000, ea fumaneng e tlase o tsamile ka M200 000. Hana sebe se sebe ha se etsoa ke bafe?
Bobolu naheng ea Lesotho ke mofets’e o jang Basotho ba nahanang hore ba hlalefile ho feta Basotho bohle, ‘me bona ba tla nne ba itsoelle pele fela ka bobolu, ‘me ha mebuso e fetoha ba tla lula ba qosana ka liqoso tse sa thuseng Lesotho ka letho hobane e mong le e mong haa fihla o ichebetse lesoba la ho utsoa a ithuise.
Comment by Matamong on 26 September 2012:
Hantle Mahaletere haeba u ka hopola taba tsa Masupha Sole, o ne a bolele hore a keke a bua ka mang kapa mang malebana le seo a se qosetsoang fela haa tsoa ka banneng hona le ba bang ba eang ka teng. O ne a bolela uena. Moetsi o ea lebala. La rekisa ntho engoe le engoe hammoho le ntlo ea hae le nahana hore Molimo haa bone joale boy engoe le e ngoe e tla chabeloa ke letsatsi la eona. Neeeete ea potoana.
Comment by if-you-like on 26 September 2012:
2PAKALITHA “”"Ena ea mahlapa banna le basali ba heso ha ea nepahala let us be mature re baballeng forum e na ea rona re thakelaneng ka maikutlo le likeletso, e tle re letsatsing le leng re lo kopana kae-kae joalo ka maleta-thojana re sa tsebaneng ebe re ea tsebana re tseheng ho be monate, mohlomong uena Fito u ka nna ua iphumana u khahloa ke Semenekane la ba la theha motse, ‘Mokola a ba ba teng lenyalong la lona”"” OA BOLELELA RURI KE MANTSOE A MATLE ANA
@Nkosazana Zuma KE RATILE TABA TSA HAU ETSOE O RE LE “TOM” A FUPUTSOE ESENG BO “THAANE” FEELA!!!!!!!!!!! A KO UTLOE “”Ho investigatoa hoa mahaltere ho keke hoa ts’abisa batho ba busang hona joale letho-letho leo ba batlang ho le etsa. M60 million e se e tsoile ba ikaroletse eona ele maparamente fela sechaba se ntse se lapile, motho ka mong o kibakiba ka M500 000, ea fumaneng e tlase o tsamile ka M200 000. Hana sebe se sebe ha se etsoa ke bafe?”" CHE SEBE HAESALE SBE HA SE ETSOA KE BA BUSANG????
Comment by Willard Mubvumbi on 26 September 2012:
If his words are anything to go by, then, the man is innocent.