MPs condemn PM perks
MASERU — Opposition MPs this week united in condemning the proposed Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister (Retirement and Spouses’ Benefits) Bill 2010 that was tabled in parliament last week.
The MPs told the Lesotho Times that the Bill was “a nasty piece of legislation” aimed at extorting public funds.
The Bill, which seeks to repeal the Prime Minister’s (Retirement and Benefits) Act, 1997 was tabled in parliament last Friday.
The Bill argues that there is need to facilitate for the increment of the retirement benefits of “the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister”.
The provision is set to extend to their spouses as well.
However, the opposition this week ganged up in vociferously opposing the Bill.
They said the Bill was an unnecessary drain on the fiscus considering the recent global economic meltdown and Lesotho’s economic status.
Some MPs also argued the Bill was discriminatory as it did not extend a similar provision to ministers, MPs and civil servants. They said they will look at ways to ensure the Bill “is not discriminatory”.
Popular Front for Democracy (PFD) MP Thabang Kholumo said the proposed Bill smacked of corruption.
“This is corruption of the highest order. It defies logic how a Bill of this nature could be tabled before parliament. It is a blatant extortion of public funds,” Kholumo said.
“The contents of this Bill are shocking to say the least. It just seeks to have the nation bear the burden for the upkeep of other people even when they are no longer in service.”
The Lesotho Workers’ Party deputy leader Sello Maphalla said the Bill was meant to prepare for a smooth exit “for some special people”.
“When the Prime Minister’s (Retirement Benefits) was drafted in 1997, they should have considered these other people. Why now?” Maphalla said.
“We are in the midst of a financial crisis which has clouded prospects of a bright future for students, but all they can think of is how to make it easy for themselves.
“We need to look at this Bill very carefully as the opposition and ensure that it is amended because in its current state it is discriminatory. Opposition parties need to come together on this one.”
Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP) leader Jeremane Ramathebane echoed Maphalla’s sentiments that “the Bill in its current state is discriminatory”.
“It is wrong because it discriminates against ministers, Members of Parliament and civil servants. It is not supposed to be enacted into law,” Ramathebane said.
Khauhelo Ralitapole of the Basutoland African Congress questioned the motive behind spouses being provided for by the Bill “as compensation for leaving their respective professions”.
“Nothing has ever been said about making a provision for pensions for MPs. What about MPs and their spouses?” Ralitapole said.
“What prevents the spouses of the prime minister and his deputy from working for themselves, from earning their keep in their respective professions?”
Marematlou Freedom Party leader Vincent Malebo however differed with his opposition colleagues adding “it is an international practice”.
“Other African countries are doing it, maybe Lesotho is just trying to follow suit. It is what it is,” Malebo said.
“It is meant to protect them from poverty once they vacate public office. They will be having no other means of making a living so they have to do it. It is done for chief executive officers of other countries.”
Development for Peace Education director Sofonea Shale said the government needed to give more reasons to justify the Bill.
“The reasons seeking to justify the Bill might have been provided but they are just not enough considering the country’s socio-economic status,” Shale said.
“We are looking at the state of our education and students who are facing a bleak future because there are no available funds to allow them to further their studies.
“It therefore makes it difficult for an ordinary man on the street to comprehend or find justification in the law.”
However, Shale was of the opinion that it was a noble move for the country to cater for the needs of people who “have served the country in earnest”.
Comment by Sebatalali on 30 September 2010:
Oh my God! Where are the ethos–the ethics and principles of the national law-makers of this country?Are not these the same MPs who embraced the award of the interest-free loans of M400,000 with open arms and burning enthusiasm? Are not these the very MPs who gave a unanimous vote to the recent bill that gave them Advanced Gratuity?
Our MPs should grow up mentally and pick a leaf out of the South Africa’s book on handling of issues of similar nature !!
Comment by Puzzle on 30 September 2010:
there are supernatural beings in these world who are born to benefit for being who they are, just like his majesty the king with his entire household
Comment by Sebata on 30 September 2010:
Sebatalali, the time has come to acknowledge corrupt practices and stop hiding behind party unity.
The proposal to give the PM and DPM’s wives pensions in excess of R20 000 is nothing short of morally reprehensible and disgusting and should be treated with the utmost contempt.
I support the LCD, but I have lost faith in this leadership. How can they be working day and night to take care of their own retirements when this country is facing serious issues.
What are they doing about the corruption that has been uncovered in the Block Farming scheme? What are they doing about the thousands of Basotho who are losing jobs and job opportunities because they don’t have passports? What are they doing to bring education standards into the 21st century?
They’ve had their chance to rule. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!
Comment by Sebatalali on 30 September 2010:
“They’ve had their chance to. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!” Toalaaaaaa !!
Comment by Mgwazen on 30 September 2010:
well, i am certainly not surprised by this. unless we do something as citizens of this country to stamp out corruption we will always feel the pinch for years to come.
very rently the minister of finance announced the public sector reform.which included freezing wages for the next 3 years, and also reducing scholarships by 104 million because the government had no funds.
reducing scorlaships and not increasing wages where will the students get funds to finance their education?
should we really believe that the government has no funds? is education no longer important in this country?
Comment by Batho on 30 September 2010:
This is tantamount to ligalizing theft and unfortunately those feeling the pinch can’t do anything to redress this nasty situation, we are freakin complacent jabbering idiots, these people are now running amok. Why can’t we axe the sh*t. There is a saying “the tree of liberty will always grow strong when it is watered by the blood of martyrs”. Let us stop the sh*t before it is too late.
Comment by 'Makaliseng on 30 September 2010:
Isn’t this a bill drafted by the same PM and his cronies? Had he not anticipated his and his wife’s retirement at the time? He must be preparing to make an exit and wants to be sure that his pockets are adequately lined. So what if the nation is starving and jobless and dying of disease? Way to go PM and LCD!!
Comment by LadyG on 30 September 2010:
I can understand an ‘opposition’ MP turning a blind eye to an obvious truth that a former Prime Minister and Spouse are the responsibility of the state until, and including, the day they are laid to rest. In fact, I am surprised Ntate Malebo decided not to capitalize on this one; I guess he respects our intelligence enough and thought this would be too cheap a trick to try to win us with. Question is, could he have been wrong?
Some things should transcend politics. I can tell you one thing for sure, I would rather have a very generous retirement package for a PM than have him in post forever for fear of the humiliation of having to look for a job or, eve more importantly, for fear of his security. Does it take one to be a rocket scientist to see that this is, in fact, a positive development in many ways. First, it is a strong signal that the current PM is planning to retire, a good thing for our democracy for which he has to be applauded. Secondly, it also says the successor will also not over stay knowing that he is secure. Now, tell me that this seamless succession is not good in the long run even for improving the very financial challenges that you so eloquently put forward as the reasons why we should not allow this. Well, I guess the logic is not that straight forward.
Comment by jorotane on 30 September 2010:
Sebatalali, you may be an LCD cadre but sometimes you have to face the reality and swallow your pride, this perks for PM and DPM are not good for this struggling economy. When will the LCD regime realise that administration of public funds should benefit the poor people of this country rather than the trend we are seeing now, where the few rich are getting richer through the public finances while the majority poor who happen to be the electorates are getting poorer. come on man, throw off the bowlines and sail away from the safe harbor, days are getting shorter and the signal on the horizon does not inspire a lot of hope for these beatiful nation
Comment by manyala on 1 October 2010:
ba nyela satane tsena
Comment by tebele le let'swana on 1 October 2010:
i am an lcd member but what has just been passed as the bill is disgusting and the thought of it makes me neuseous. how on bloody earth, could they even think about their pension funds when there is this crisis ka hara naha and the rest of the world? Hle bo ntate le bo-mme kea le kopa, what you are doing is beyond beyond beyond what, I do not know.
Le tsona li MP lia hlanya, ha hoa ts’oanela le hore ho nne ho buuoe ka ho ipha lichelete boemong bo tjena, they should condemn the idea eseng ba re e ea khetholla matona le tsona li MP ka kakaretso. IT SHOULD BE DISMISSED AT ALL.
Comment by lebohang on 1 October 2010:
Haeba ke utloisisa sekhoa litho tsa paramente ha ho moo li emang hore ke ntho empe hofa Tona-Kholo, motlatsi oa hae “pension” hammoho le basali ba bona. Ba mpa ba re ke ntho empe hobane eba seile ka thoko. Hona ho bolela hore haeba le bona ba ka kenyeletsoa ‘moho le balekane ba bona molaong ona, ho lokile. Ba tsebang sekhoha ba bua ka “logic”. E hlile hona ke eona ba reng ke “logic” hobane maoba litho tsa parament li ile tsa lenyaha ha ho fetisoa molao o ba kenyelelitseng oa ho fumana litsieane tsa bosebeltsi paramenteng. Joale potso eaka ke hore na re tla ba tsepa joang ba bohanyetsi le bona ba ‘muso? Mohla ba bohanyetsi ba ka bang lithulong, keng e fapaneng ba tlang ho e etsa, ha le bona ba le tjee? Sechaba se lokela ho ruteha ele hore se etse qeto tse nepahetseng hore na se batla ho busoa ke eona futa e tjena ea banna le basali?
Comment by Sebatalali on 5 October 2010:
Basotho ba lebala joaloka phoofolo e bitsoang sekome. Taba ea penshene ea mafumahali a litonakholo ha se lehoetla. ‘Me ‘ Mantahli Leabua Jonathan o ntse a e amohela. ‘Me ‘Maneo Ntsu Mokhehle o ntse a e amohela. It is disturbbing to note how some people can choose to have such a selective memory!!
Comment by Sebatalali on 5 October 2010:
Haele likhoho tsena tseo Ntate Mosisili a li ts’ellang poone ebe lia e nokola — bo-Thabane,Lekhanya, Malebo le ba bang — tsona li mpa li fapanya molomo le pelo hobane li tseba hantle hore mafumahali a litonakholo a amohela penshene!!
Comment by mothofeelamakhetha on 6 October 2010:
Yes, you are right, the spouses of former PM’s, including ‘M’e ‘M’antahli,do receive pension,however it should be in the form of residual benefits of a surviving spouse and not direct individual benefit, especially of the proposed amount against the backdrop of the financial crisis, unemployment in the country and poverty in general. The ruling party is privy to the coffers of the kingdom, especially the finance minister to advice otherwise. Not unless if his hands are tight on account of what happened and was reported in the papers about the money loaned to farmers by the back and he was one of the patrons,whatever you call that position. You see, in his situation perhaps its a question of “e se bebe e ea its’oha.” Quite frankly I am surprised his name is not among those some constituencies have expressed a vote of no confidence. Its very sad that almost 50 years since independence we’re still challenged by issues of poverty eradication in a country so small, with so many educated members of the cabinet. In the process, those in position to implement change to improve people’s lives show no compassion sechabeng sena sa thesele.
This makes wonder of our representatives don’t care, do the donors really care or there is something in it for them, such as the benefits which will accrue on their behalf under the so called new Land legislation????
I enjoy reading comments by readers to the stories, and I realise the strong informative debate by readers, but my advice is the valuable issues they bring in the discussion is overshadowed by the use of insulting language. So, it would be wise to reconsider this issue so that a commenter can be taken seriously.
Comment by mothofeelamakhetha on 6 October 2010:
Yes, you are right, the spouses of former PM’s, including ‘M’e ‘M’antahli,do receive pension,however it should be in the form of residual benefits of a surviving spouse and not direct individual benefit, especially of the proposed amount against the backdrop of the financial crisis, unemployment in the country and poverty in general. The ruling party is privy to the coffers of the kingdom, especially the finance minister to advice otherwise. Not unless if his hands are tight on account of what happened and was reported in the papers about the money loaned to farmers by the bank and he was one of the patrons,whatever you call that position. You see, in his situation perhaps its a question of “e se bebe e ea its’oha.” Quite frankly I am surprised his name is not among those some constituencies have expressed a vote of no confidence in. Its very sad that almost 50 years since independence we’re still challenged by issues of poverty eradication in a country so smalland a population of less than 2 million, with so many educated members of the cabinet. In the process, those in position to implement change to improve people’s lives seem to show no compassion sechabeng sena sa thesele.
This makes one wonder if our representatives don’t care, do the donors really care or there is something in it for them, such as the benefits expected to accrue on their behalf from the implementation of the so called new Land legislation????
Meanwhile, I want you to know that I enjoy reading comments by readers to the stories, and I realize the strong informative debate that takes place, but remain disturbed by the vulgar language used which in turn minimizes the argument and the point made. So, it would be wise to reconsider this issue so that a commenter can be taken seriously.
Comment by Thaba-Bosiu Chabeli on 9 October 2010:
Malebo is not being rational our economy has not accumulated that much for such laws. On the other hand, na re tla kopa ke batho ba shebaneng le maphelo a bona feela ba lebetse hore there are poor people out there. Instead of amending laws that strategise the rooting out of poverty and improving economic sectors, they are always thinking about the means of enriching themselves.