The rule of law in Lesotho is supposed to be the anchor of our democracy, but right now, it feels like it is floating away. Just a few weeks ago, the Sunday Express reported that some people have been given diplomatic jobs, just like that, handed over on a silver platter. To make matters worse, some of them are reportedly relatives of sitting ministers.
Now, let’s pause here. Diplomatic jobs are not birthday presents. They are public service jobs, paid for by taxpayers. And our Constitution is very clear about this. Section 20(1)(c) says that every citizen of Lesotho shall enjoy the right to have access, on general terms of equality, to the public service. That means: no favourites, no relatives, no handpicking. Everyone should have a fair chance.
The Public Service Act says the same thing. Section 8(1) makes it plain that entry into the public service should be based on merit, your qualifications, skills, and ability, after a fair and open competition. In simple terms, you apply, you compete, and the best person gets the job. It does not say, “If your uncle is a minister, you are in.”
And when it comes to foreign service jobs, the rules are even stricter. According to the Public Service Regulations of 2008, anyone serving in a diplomatic mission abroad is a public officer. These officers are supposed to move between embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Maseru as part of their service. That is the law. The law even lists the jobs in embassies—ambassador, counsellor, first secretary, typist, driver—you name it. What the law does not say is that these jobs are rewards for political loyalty or family ties.
So, if the law is this clear, why is this still happening? Why are people being plucked from nowhere and sent to represent us abroad while ordinary Basotho, who studied and trained for years, do not even get a chance to apply?
This is where the disappointment sets in. It is not just about the jobs, it is about the principle. Public office is supposed to be a public trust. When ministers treat it like a family business, they weaken our Constitution, kill public confidence, and tell young Basotho that qualifications do not matter. Connections do.
We do not have to accept this. These appointments can be challenged. Anyone has the right to go to court and ask that they be set aside because they are unlawful. And courts in Lesotho have the power to do that. Fairness and legality dictate so.
Think about it: diplomatic jobs are important. These people will represent Lesotho in foreign countries. They will be the face of our nation. Shouldn’t we want the best-qualified, most capable people doing that job, rather than someone who just happens to share a last name with a minister?
This culture of handpicking and favouritism has to end. Otherwise, what message are we sending to our youth? That no matter how hard they work, no matter how many degrees they earn, the real key to opportunity is political connections? That’s not just unfair—it’s dangerous for the future of this country.
The law is clear. The Constitution is clear. What’s missing is the will to obey it. If the government cannot respect its own laws, then citizens must demand that the courts step in. Because at the end of the day, this is not just about jobs, it is about the kind of country we want to live in.
Do we want a Lesotho where merit counts, or a Lesotho where family ties decide everything? The answer should be obvious.
Summary
- The rule of law in Lesotho is supposed to be the anchor of our democracy, but right now, it feels like it is floating away.
- According to the Public Service Regulations of 2008, anyone serving in a diplomatic mission abroad is a public officer.
- Because at the end of the day, this is not just about jobs, it is about the kind of country we want to live in.
Lesotho activist and journalist who is the Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Lesotho. He is an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumnus.
Boloetse is driven by the need to protect and promote the rights of others, especially the marginalized segment of society. He rose to prominence as an activist in 2018 when he wrote to Lesotho communications Authority (LCA) asking it to order Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) and Vodacom Lesotho (VCL) to stop charging expensive out-of-bundle rates for data when customers’ data bundles get depleted.
