THE chairman of a commission of enquiry investigating the escape of prisoners in Maseru last year has issued a damning assessment of the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) boss’ leadership skills.
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Justice Realeboha Mathaba grilled Mating Nkakala over the lack of a strategic plan for the LCS.
He said the Lesotho Correctional Service Act mandates the commissioner to draft policies for the organisation.
Nkakala responded by saying they were on the verge of engaging a consultant to help draw up strategies for the LCS.
“Normally consultants do not do everything, they just facilitate, meaning you have to have a vision as a leader,” Justice Mathaba said.
He also asked Nkakala about how long the institution has been operating without a clear strategic plan and policies and he answered saying the last time it was done was in 2010.
“Meaning for the past 14 years the institution has been operating without any direction,” Justice Mathaba said.
Nkakala admitted that it has been 14 years without a strategic plan.
Justice Mathaba again asked Nkakala if he had received any training before getting into high office.
“Not only you but other officers who help you. Did you get any training?”
Nkakala said their wish is for every officer to get training and attend workshops on their promotion to the next rank.
“But, due to budget constraints, we cannot get such training,” Nkakala said.
Justice Mathaba said most of the problems that Nkakala had mentioned show that there is lack of leadership and teamwork.
“It is evident that there is no teamwork between you and your senior officers,” he said.
Nkakala also conceded that there are divisions among the staff with some supporting him while others do not.
He said there are some officers who work well with him, “even though it is not everyone who supports me”.
Justice Mathaba said Nkakala should have been equipped with the necessary skills to lead the institution.
“I am still on the issue of how capacitated you are in leading the institution,” he said.
He said Nkakala is still leading the institution by using the assistant commissioner’s tactics and principles as he never received any training after being promoted.
“Did you get any training that equipped you with the leadership skills while still an assistant commissioner?”
Nkakala said he recalled attending a course.
Justice Mathaba then said based on Nkakala’s evidence, he sees that there is no teamwork at the institution’s leadership.
Nkheli Liphoto
