A damning reminder from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) has exposed widespread non-compliance among Members of Parliament (MPs), with only two lawmakers having submitted their asset declarations for the year ending 2025/2026.
In a strongly worded letter dated June 9, 2026, DCEO Director General Mantšo Sello warned Members of the National Assembly of their statutory obligation to declare assets, noting that failure to comply within 14 days, from 10 June 2026, would attract legal consequences under the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Regulations.
“The office of the Director General (DCEO) has the honour to request your good office to remind the Honourable members of the National Assembly of their statutory obligation to declare assets, liabilities, and interests for the year ending 2025/2026,” Sello wrote.
The letter, addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, states that the DCEO had, by June 9, received declarations from only two MPs, Mohopoli Monokoane and Lekhetho Rakuane.
“Pursuant to Regulation 66(5)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Regulation, all persons who have not submitted are reminded to do so within fourteen days with effect from June 10 2026,” the letter read.
“Failure to comply with this declaration will attract legal consequences provided by the Act,” it added.
When contacted by Newsday on Thursday, Monokoane confirmed that he had submitted his declaration and expressed surprise at the low level of compliance.
Rakuane also confirmed submitting his declaration, adding that asset declaration by public officials was an issue he was particularly interested in.
The DCEO has urged non-compliant MPs to contact Mohau Mokhochane, Chief Compliance and Integrity Officer, for assistance.
The development comes amid growing public scrutiny over accountability and transparency in Lesotho’s public institutions. Asset declaration is a key anti-corruption tool designed to prevent conflicts of interest and detect illicit enrichment among senior public officials, including Members of Parliament.
Regulation 66(5)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Regulations makes the submission of these declarations mandatory, with clear legal penalties for non-compliance.
“A person who fails to make a declaration within the specified time shall be reminded through a public media platform or an outlet to make such a declaration within fourteen days of such a reminder,” the regulations read.
They add: “A person who fails to make a declaration as required or makes a declaration that is false commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding M20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.”
The Director General, according to the regulations, must designate an officer holding a position not below that of a chief to be the custodian of records of declared assets, special gifts and offers to public officers, departments and ministries.
“Information contained in the Central Registry shall only be released with the written authority of the Director General,” reads the regulations.
Summary
- “A person who fails to make a declaration within the specified time shall be reminded through a public media platform or an outlet to make such a declaration within fourteen days of such a reminder,” the regulations read.
- “A person who fails to make a declaration as required or makes a declaration that is false commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding M20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both.
- The Director General, according to the regulations, must designate an officer holding a position not below that of a chief to be the custodian of records of declared assets, special gifts and offers to public officers, departments and ministries.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
