Basotho National Party (BNP) spokesperson, David Letela, has resigned with immediate effect. Letela resigned as the BNP national executive committee was about to summon him for grilling over allegations that he was now backing the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party.
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Letela told thepost yesterday that he had already tendered his resignation to the party.
The BNP NEC was scheduled to meet tomorrow to decide Letela’s fate.
Letela is said to have infuriated his boss, Machesetsa Mofomobe, after he was heard on various radio stations publicly praising Prime Minister Sam Matekane for revamping the capital city.
Letela told thepost that he resigned because Mofomobe insulted him for praising Matekane.
“I have realised that we see a lot of things differently with my party leader,” Letela said.
Letela said Mofomobe “only likes it when we criticise the current government even when it has done right”.
He added that he has intelligence that Mofomobe had called a National Executive Committee meeting to boot him out of the party.
“Why should I look back when I know that I am about to be kicked out?” he said.
He also said Lesotho “has never seen a hardworking prime minister like Matekane as he has filled the potholes and fixed the street lights”.
“They do not want us to tell the truth that Matekane has done what they failed to do in many years.”
He refuted allegations that he has been bribed to change his rhetoric.
“Machesetsa (Mofomobe) should stop telling lies that we were bought. He must stop his usual lies that we know him of.”
Letela said he is taking a break from politics and has no immediate plans to join any political party.
He said it is wrong that politicians do not want to applaud other politicians when they do right.
“Lately we do not want to recognise the good things done by our opponents.”
He added that the street lights that were erected by Matekane have helped reduce the high crime rate that happens at night in town.
He recalled that he lost his vehicle that crashed due to a pothole on the Mpilo Boulevard under the past regime where the BNP was a coalition partner.
“Matekane has dealt with that pothole now.”
Mofomobe told thepost that the party’s National Executive Committee was already about to sit “to discuss the rogue behaviour that has been displayed by Letela recently”.
Machesetsa accused Letela of not informing the party secretary before visiting radio stations.
“He knows that he has to tell our secretary before going to the media,” he said.
He said he has intelligence that Letela met the RFP MPs recently.
“We know that they were promised something there,” he said.
“He has changed on many other issues that our party believes in.”
He said by deviating from the official party position on issues Letela had violated the BNP principles.
He said Basotho “do not need Matekane’s infrastructure (projects) but job opportunities and projects that can help alleviate poverty that is rampant in Lesotho”.
“He has wrapped street lights that were installed by another prime minister with a tape that has globes,” Mofomobe said.
“It is not the first time a prime minister in Lesotho constructs a road and installs a few street lights. The road from Mpiti to Sehlaba-Thebe was constructed by Thabane.”
“Letela is defecting because he is rogue and connives with the enemies of the party.”
Nkheli Liphoto
