Staff Reporter
The leader of the Basotho National Party (BNP), Machesetsa Mofomobe, has declared his readiness to face the Principal Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Energy, Tanki Phapano, in court over a defamation claim.
This follows a demand letter from Phapano’s attorneys, seeking M3 million in damages and a public apology.
“I do not know what they are talking about. I think this letter is lost. They are talking about something that does not exist, so I decided not to reply to it. I am waiting for them to take the matter to court; we will meet there,” Mofomobe told Newsday last night.
The demand letter, dated November 21, 2024, from K.J. Nthontho Attorneys, outlines allegations against Mofomobe for a Facebook post on November 8, 2024.
According to the letter, Mofomobe shared a video of Phapano counting money, accompanied by a caption accusing the government, including its ministers and principal secretaries, of corruption.
The letter read: “Client informs us that on or around the 8th November 2024 on your social media Platform, namely Facebook, which happens to have a large following in and outside the country, you intentionally and wrongfully published a video of Client, which was taken without his knowledge and consent, by posting same on your timeline thereby causing him reputational harm.”
The caption reportedly read:
“Bobolu ba puso ena le tjotjo li holimo mane li kenyelletsa matona le li PS. Re tla utulloa le tsohle tse patiloeng, ntumelisetseng ntate PS Energy.”
This was loosely translated as:
“The current government is riddled with corruption, including its ministers and PSs. We will expose everything that has been hidden. Pass my regards to Mr. PS Energy.”
The attorneys allege that the video and caption insinuated that Phapano, as a government official, is corrupt or accepts bribes.
“It further suggests that the money he is seen counting in the video is either the proceeds of bribery or corruption,” the letter stated.
The attorneys argue that Mofomobe’s actions were deliberate and defamatory, intended to harm Phapano’s reputation.
“When you published the said video and words, you were fully aware of their defamatory nature, as they would lower him in the estimation of ordinary, right-thinking members of society,” the letter added.
Phapano’s legal representatives demand that Mofomobe pays M3 million in damages and issues an unconditional public apology within seven days.
Failure to comply, they warn, will result in legal action without further notice.
