The Bible says in the Gospel of Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
This particular reading is often quoted when money matters are the bone of contention and those deserving of remuneration stand in anticipation for delivery of their pay as per operational consent.
In light of the aforementioned, attention is drawn to elsewhere in today’s edition of the paper whence we carry near-fiction stories of people who are forced to be the subject of public ridicule yet they have gone beyond the call of duty to, not only provide service for but ensured the enthusing of national pride and patriotism in the service of their country.
First, the just-ended African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games which were held in the country in December last year, have left a bitter taste to some service providers after the government failed to pay them for services rendered throughout the games which ran from December 3 to 12, 2021.
The struggle of the country to host the esteemed regional games became evident when Lesotho claimed a weak financial muscle and that the games be passed to another country, but that was non-negotiable as the region stood firm that the games are held on a circulatory system from one country to another and it was Lesotho’s turn to host.
The irate hospitality services providers now say they have not been paid even a cent although they had bent-over backwards to make the tournament happen after they rendered full services of accommodating players and officials at their various establishments throughout the country.
Then it was the contingent of members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) doing national duty as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) peace-keeping mission to the Mozambique rebel situation.
Although the contingent of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) doing duty at the Mozambique mission continues to impress in delivering service to the troubled people of that country against the rebel formations, their upkeep remains a challenge.
The members of the force have been twice severed the challenge of non-payment of their service allowances.
This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense’s Public Relations Officer Matšepo Morojele who confirmed that the delay goes back to as far as November last year
“It is true that they have not yet received their allowances from the month of November and December. The delay is a result of many factors within the processes that are undertaken to issue the allowances,†she said.
It is truly shameful and in very bad taste for people to carry-out their call of responsibility and have someone else practically scoff at their efforts by dilly-dallying when they are to be paid.
It is reprehensible to say the least!
There is a notion that an apology offered after at or after deadline, is in fact, a mere excuse.
Whatever reason will or is being put forward for not paying the compatriots their dues when they are due, is in lime fashion a mere excuse and epitome that failing to plan is planning to fail
