… Accused of dodging PAC hearings for LNDC interview
Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) Chairperson Thabo Khasipe has come under scrutiny from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for allegedly misleading Parliament about his whereabouts on Tuesday, this week.
Khasipe had reportedly asked to be excused from the PAC’s afternoon session that day, citing a doctor’s appointment.
However, PAC member Thabiso Lekitla on Wednesday challenged that explanation, alleging that Khasipe had instead attended an interview at the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), possibly for the position of Chief Executive Officer, which was advertised towards the end of last year.
Pressed to respond before the committee, Khasipe declined, saying he was not comfortable discussing personal matters in a public forum.
PAC Chairperson, ‘Machabane Lemphane-Letsie, intervened and requested Lekitla to produce evidence supporting his claims. Lekitla promised to furnish the committee with the necessary proof, which Lemphane-Letsie said would be reviewed before any determination is made.
On Monday, LEC board members and staff took an oath to speak the truth before the hearings commenced. According to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, providing misleading information to Parliament or its committees is a punishable offence.
Contacted for comment yesterday, LNDC’s Corporate Communications Manager, Tiisetso Moremoholo, said she could not confirm whether interviews took place on June 17, stating that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the LNDC board.
Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Lekitla maintained that Khasipe had been summoned by parliament to appear before the PAC and that his travel from Namibia, including flights and accommodation, had been covered by public funds through LEC.
He claimed that while he did not have written proof, he personally saw Khasipe at Avani Lesotho Hotel on June 17, where the LNDC interviews were reportedly held.
“He was not alone, other candidates and LNDC representatives were present. As the head of a major state-owned utility funded by taxpayers, Mr. Khasipe is expected to be accountable to the PAC. He cannot simply evade questions by calling them ‘personal’,” Lekitla argued.
He added: “This committee derives its authority from the Constitution and is fully empowered under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act No.12 to carry out its oversight role.”
The LNDC advertised the CEO position towards the end of 2024, with applications closing on January 24, 2025. The Corporation, established by an Act of Parliament, is tasked with promoting industrial, commercial, and mining development to boost income and employment in Lesotho. The role requires a strategic leader with at least 10 years of executive-level experience and a relevant master’s degree.
Khasipe currently serves as the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), a role he assumed on February 1, 2023. Prior to that, he was Commissioner General of the Lesotho Revenue Authority (now Revenue Services Lesotho).
He is widely recognised for his service in national and regional institutions and holds qualifications including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), a Master’s in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and an MBA in Business and Commerce.
