NRA wins temporary reprieve

MASERU – THE National Reforms Authority (NRA) won a temporary reprieve yesterday after the High Court ruled in its favour.
The NRA dragged Law Minister Advocate Lekhetho Rakuoane to the High Court last week after the cabinet resolved to shut down its operations on the grounds that its time was up.

High Court judge, Justice Polo Banyane, interdicted Rakuoane temporarily while she gave the NRA a chance to be heard on urgent basis.
The NRA’s argument was that cabinet has no role to play in the extension of its duration or dissolution which is the preserve of political parties, civil society organisations and parliament that established it.

They further said Advocate Rakuoane should show why the decision of the cabinet to dissolve the NRA should not be stayed pending finalisation of the case.
However, the cabinet argued the NRA’s tenure is over and the officers should return the cars they were using.

One of the cabinet’s arguments was that the NRA was given a six-month extension in November and as a result, they knew very well that their time would come to an end in April this year.
The cabinet argued before the court that the NRA had deliberately delayed to complete its work so that its time could be extended for the second time.

The cabinet said even though the NRA sought an extension, the government was not going to be able to pay them as their time is up.
Because of this, the NRA launched an urgent application in the High Court to stop the process.

The NRA argued that the matter is of public interest because it is reforming the judiciary, media, constitution, parliament, security and others.
The court granted their prayer under conditions that both the respondents and the applicants should submit their heads of arguments.

Justice Banyane said since this matter is of public interest, it should be heard on an urgent basis as everyone is looking forward to it.
The matter was postponed to May 23.

’Malimpho Majoro