In a startling revelation, former Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro has been implicated in a scandal involving the alleged theft of a government laptop during his tenure as the Finance Minister.
The disclosure was made by the Government Assets Search and Recovery Task Team (GASRTT), a unit established to trace and recover government assets, both movable and immovable.
Established in December 2022, the team operates under the Prime Minister’s Office and includes representatives from the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), National Security Service (NSS), and the Ministry of Public Service.
Efforts to obtain Dr Majoro’s response proved unsuccessful. His mobile phone went unanswered, and he did not reply to either the email or WhatsApp messages sent by Newsday by the time of going to press.
The GASRTT team led by advocate Seeeng Matšosa, expressed concern about a longstanding lack of follow-up on government assets, with some items left unaccounted for over many years. The team suggested that such negligence points to weaknesses in government asset management.
Meanwhile, authorities continue to complain about shortages of resources, a contradiction that highlights the mismanagement of existing property. According to the task team, failure to properly monitor and safeguard assets not only wastes public resources but also undermines service delivery.
The Auditor-General’s annual reports have repeatedly called for a stronger accountability framework to prevent abuse and neglect of government property. The reports emphasize that without proper controls, government services are hampered by resource shortages, even when those resources exist but are mismanaged.
The GASRTT also confirmed that it had recovered laptops from several other former senior officials. These included Advocate Thato Ponya, former Minister of Finance Thabo Sophonea, former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Kemiso Mosenene, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations ‘Matšepo Ramakoae.
In addition, the team recovered a desktop computer from Dr Majoro’s former economic adviser and head of the accountability unit, now Central Bank of Lesotho Governor, Dr Maluke Letete.
According to the task team, the recovered laptops and computers were originally allocated to these officials in their capacities as government office-bearers, with a combined value estimated at around M200,000. The team said further recoveries are expected as some devices remain “not easily located.”
The GASRTT noted a troubling pattern in which senior officials allegedly “unlawfully” seize government computers and laptops after their contracts expire. To prevent this, the team has recommended that all government employees undergo a clearance process before leaving office.
The unfolding scandal raises fresh questions about accountability in the management of public resources, particularly when set against the government’s continued claims of resource shortages. Whether this latest development will lead to stronger asset recovery systems and better controls remains to be seen.
Summary
- In a startling revelation, former Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro has been implicated in a scandal involving the alleged theft of a government laptop during his tenure as the Finance Minister.
- Established in December 2022, the team operates under the Prime Minister’s Office and includes representatives from the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), National Security Service (NSS), and the Ministry of Public Service.
- According to the task team, the recovered laptops and computers were originally allocated to these officials in their capacities as government office-bearers, with a combined value estimated at around M200,000.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
