Cabinet to be announced tomorrow

MASERU – PRIME Minister Sam Matekane announces his much-anticipated cabinet tomorrow. Matekane has kept the list of cabinet ministers a closely guarded secret even to some in his inner circle.

So meticulous has been his selection that he is only likely to finalise the list today.

Hints of what he is brewing can however be gleaned from the list of Senators to be sworn in today. thepost understands that a few of those Senators will be in the cabinet which with 15 members will be the smallest Lesotho has had in decades.

One of those Senators likely to make the final cut for the ministerial position is Matjato Moteane, a prominent architect highly regarded in business circles and credited for driving the Sekhametsi Investment Consortium into a multi-billion maloti company.

Also speculated to be on Matekane’s list is Limpho Tau, the leader of the Democratic Party of Lesotho (DPL) which folded into the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP).

Other potential cabinet members seem quite straightforward.

Dr Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, the former governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho, is highly likely to be a minister.

The same applies to former Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara who is Matekane’s deputy in the RFP.

Nthati Moorosi, secretary general, could also be in the cabinet. So is Mokhethi Shelile, the spokesperson.

Businessmen Teboho Kobeli and Lebona Lephema are also said to be on the list. Whoever is appointed to cabinet would however have to use their personal vehicles as part of Matekane’s austerity measures.

They are also expected to sign performance contracts as Matekane promised in his inauguration speech last week.
Matekane has set the example by using his own vehicle as part of the motorcade.

The RFP’s coalition partners, Monyane Moleleki’s Alliance of Democrats (AD) and Selibe Mochoboroane’s Movement for Economic Change (MEC), are expected to each provide one minister to the cabinet.

Mochoboroane is expected to be a minister but Moleleki is expected to pass the opportunity to his deputy Professor Ntoi Rapapa.