THE introduction of the Office of Paramount Chief in the constitution will serve as a buffer between the King and politicians, principal chiefs have said. The Principal Chief of Kueneng, Chief Peete Lesaoana Peete, said they want a Paramount Chief who will be allowed to work with the Cabinet and address their problems. Chief Peete said they are aware that “politicians want to do away with the chieftainship”.
This content is for subscribers only. To subscribe, Click Here. Or Sign In
The Paramount Chief, in terms of the amendment to the constitution in the last reading in parliament this week, will report to the King.
“We are accountable to the Ministry of Local Government,” Chief Peete said.
“We take our needs to them and they are the very same people who want to abolish the Chieftainship,” he said.
For him, taking their grievances to the Minister of Local Government will be like “taking our grievances to the same person we are complaining against”.
Chief Peete said the law says the King “is not sued and cannot be sued”.
“He is on the throne,” he said. “He is just silent and the Attorney General acts on his behalf.”
Chief Peete said they want “the Paramount Chief who will come to the showdown here”.
“These politicians have brought councils as another way to clip off the power from the chiefs,” he said.
He said they want the Paramount Chief to get their needs heard and addressed.
The Principal Chief of Leribe, Chief Joel Motšoene, said they want to disconnect with the Minister of Local Government “simply because he is a politician”.
“We are oppressed,” he said.
He said they just need someone who will attend to their problems.
Chief Motšoene said they have a lot of issues that they want addressed by someone who is not a politician.
Chief Lerotholi Seeiso of Likhoele said the office of the Paramount Chief is not new in Lesotho.
“It was first introduced a long time ago, during the reign of King Moshoeshoe II,” Chief Seeiso said.
“We have suggested the establishment of the office of Paramount Chief because we have been encountering challenges when serving Basotho,” he said.
“Now Basotho will have someone to go to if the principal chiefs cannot help them with their challenges.”
Chief Seeiso said the principal chiefs will also have a place to run to “when politicians make political decisions that hurt them and the communities they lead”.
The amendment says the Paramount Chief’s office shall be in the Office of the King.
“The Paramount Chief shall be a person of the royal lineage and having the prior right to succeed to the office of the King as may be determined by the King,” the amendment reads.
The functions of the Paramount Chief shall be to assist the King in the performance and discharge of the chieftainship functions and duties.
He shall coordinate chieftainship institutions, but without prejudice to any Act of Parliament.
He shall also facilitate induction for prospective chiefs in terms of an Act of Parliament and exercise any powers over principal chiefs in line with this Constitution or any Act of Parliament.
He will preside over all meetings of the College of Chiefs, recommend the appropriate action to the Ministry responsible for chieftainship, and coordinate the activities of the Office of King and College of Chiefs with those of government.
The Paramount Chief shall adjudicate and assume any other administrative duties conferred by the Constitution and an Act of Parliament.
“The nature and scope of recommendations and or decisions made by the Paramount Chief shall be as may be prescribed by an Act of Parliament,” the amendment reads.
Staff Reporter
Comments
Mikayla
Asking questions are really good thing if you are not understanding something fully, but this piece of writing gives
pleasant understanding even.
https://jlrppatterns.com/