PARLIAMENT is expected to pass two bills that will ensure that the anti-corruption watchdog and the Ombudsman have operational autonomy. The two bills are being read for the last time in parliament before passing them to the Senate for review in preparation for royal assent. The bills are part of the Omnibus Bill which is meant to transform Lesotho’s constitution.
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They are part of a process that is being spearheaded by SADC as part of a wider attempt to fix Lesotho’s political crises.
The Directorate on Economic and Economic Offences (DCEO), to be renamed the Lesotho Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission (LACEC), will report directly to parliament instead of the Ministry of Justice as is the case at present.
The Lesotho Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission will be set up through a constitutional provision rather than by an act of parliament.
The amendment to the constitution establishing the anti-corruption commission says it “shall be independent and free from interference from any person or any authority and subject only to this Constitution and an Act of Parliament”.
“The commission shall be impartial and exercise its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice; and accountable to Parliament,” the amendment reads.
The composition of the commission shall consist of a chairperson and two other members who shall be appointed on a part-time basis.
Functions of the commission shall be to prevent, detect, investigate, arrest and prosecute cases of corruption, economic crimes, and related matters.
It will also advise the government and other institutions on measures to enhance integrity and accountability.
The commission will employ staff including the Director-General and receive complaints against the secretariat.
It will also issue codes of conduct and report on the performance of its functions to parliament at least once a year.
The DCEO spokesperson, ’Matlhokomelo Senoko, said the bill is welcome because “it gives necessary power and autonomy to us”.
Senoko said the bill reflects the will of the people “following public consultation done earlier”.
She said the Justice Minister will still be the one presenting the budget in parliament “but he would have taken it from the relevant parliamentary cluster to which we will be directly reporting too”.
Staff Reporter
