More than M300,000 will be withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund to cover Prime Minister Ntsokoane Sam Matekane’s international travel expenses for his upcoming holiday in the Maldives, according to official government financial records.
A report on the management of the 2025/2026 Contingencies Fund shows that on November 10, 2025, the Prime Minister’s Office requested M393,768 to finance “international travel costs for the Prime Minister’s annual leave trip to the Maldives from 7th to 14th December 2025.”
The request was approved on November 18, 2025.
The approval means funds meant strictly for emergencies will now be used to finance a personal holiday for the Head of Government.
The Contingency Fund, created under Section 114(1) of the Constitution, allows the Minister of Finance to authorise expenditure “if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen need” for spending where no other provision exists.
However, the same section demands that every advance from the fund must be followed by a supplementary estimate and a supplementary appropriation bill, to be tabled in Parliament “as soon as possible” to replace the withdrawn amount.
Section 114 explicitly states: “Parliament may make provision for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund and for authorising the Minister for the time being responsible for finance, if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances from that Fund to meet that need.
“Where any advance is made from the Contingencies Fund, a supplementary estimate shall be presented and a supplementary Appropriation Bill shall be introduced as soon as possible for the purpose of replacing the amount so advanced.”
However, the 2025/2026 Contingencies Fund Management Report reveals that the fund has increasingly been used for expenditures that raise questions about whether they meet the constitutional threshold of urgency and unpredictability.
The report provides a detailed picture of how advances were approved, the ministries involved, and the cumulative amounts withdrawn.
Initial Appropriation
On April 2, 2025, the fund was established for this financial year with an allocation of M955,684,354, the total amount available to respond to unforeseen emergencies.
Expenditures approved from the Contingencies Fund
Below is a comprehensive account of each withdrawal, the ministry involved, and the amount approved.
Energy – M40,703,843
Approved on July 23, 2025, the Ministry of Energy requested additional funding to complete the Belo Substation in Botha Bothe under the Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project.
Foreign Affairs and International Relations – M61,243,903
Approved on July 23, 2025, this allocation covered the purchase of a vehicle for missions in Brussels and Rome and costs associated with posting and returning diplomats.
Defence – M65,608,357
Approved on October 2, 2025, the Defence Ministry requested funds to complete the rehabilitation of Makoanyane Military Hospital’s Physiotherapy Centre and construct boot camp dormitories.
Refunds to erroneous receipts – M2,238,535
Approved on October 20, 2025, this allocation addressed shortfalls caused by the transfer of long-held retention monies.
Law and Justice – M8,218,980
Approved on October 20, 2025, funds were used to establish a tribunal under Section 141(a) and (b) of the Constitution to inquire into the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Natural Resources – M1,400,000
Approved on October 16, 2025, for hosting celebrations in honour of His Majesty King Letsie III on October 24, the anniversary of the Lesotho Highlands Water Treaty.
Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police – M30,640,140
Approved on October 16, 2025, this allocation covered additional passports, ID cards, and consumables.
Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition – M95,000,000
Approved on October 16, 2025, the ministry required “additional funds to support intensive crop production through the provision of agricultural inputs.”
Disaster Management Authority – M12,000,000
Approved on October 16, 2025, this was one of the few expenditures that clearly aligns with the fund’s intended purpose, providing reconstruction support after severe September 2025 windstorms.
Education and Training – M90,900,000
Approved on October 24, 2025, consisting of M79,000,000 for school feeding (due to arrears and suspension of donor aid) and M11,900,000 for school construction and weather-damage repairs.
Finance and Development Planning – M200,000,000
Approved on October 31, 2025, these funds extended the Lesotho Post Bank Credit Guarantee Facility, including procurement of tractors and farm machinery.
Independent Electoral Commission – M8,382,176
Approved on October 31, 2025, covering local government by-elections caused by resignations, death, or councillors vacating office.
Public Works and Transport – M14,000,000
Approved on October 31, 2025, for the production of number plates and security features, stemming from delays in privatisation.
Public Service – M436,070
Approved on October 31, 2025, to restore Public Service Day celebrations last held in 2018.
Prime Minister’s Office: COP30 travel – M1,087,468
Approved on October 31, 2025, to support the Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara’s participation in COP30 in Brazil.
Prime Minister’s Office: World Children’s Day travel – M1,185,043
Approved on November 11, 2025, covering travel to Gaborone for the Regional World Children’s Day celebration and other official travel.
Prime Minister’s Office: Prime Minister’s Maldives holiday – M393,768
Approved on November 18, 2025, for “international travel costs for the Prime Minister’s annual leave trip to the Maldives from 7 to 14 December 2025.”
While many of these expenditures relate to government operations, they do not meet the threshold of being unforeseen or urgent.
The use of the Contingencies Fund for a Prime Minister’s private holiday marks one of the clearest departures from its constitutional purpose, and raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and adherence to public finance laws.
According to the last entry in the report, dated 18 November 2025, total advances approved to date: M531,490,537. This represents the total amount already withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund since the beginning of the 2025/26 financial year.
The report also shows the remaining balance after the latest withdrawal, which is M424,193,817. This is the amount still left in the Contingencies Fund as of 18 November 2025.
These figures show that more than half of the Contingencies Fund has already been spent, with four months still remaining before the financial year ends on 31 March 2026.
Summary
- A report on the management of the 2025/2026 Contingencies Fund shows that on November 10, 2025, the Prime Minister’s Office requested M393,768 to finance “international travel costs for the Prime Minister’s annual leave trip to the Maldives from 7th to 14th December 2025.
- The same section demands that every advance from the fund must be followed by a supplementary estimate and a supplementary appropriation bill, to be tabled in Parliament “as soon as possible” to replace the withdrawn amount.
- “Parliament may make provision for the establishment of a Contingencies Fund and for authorising the Minister for the time being responsible for finance, if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances from that Fund to meet that need.
Authored by our expert team of writers and editors, with thorough research.
