Ramats’ella says to appeal against judgment

MASERU – Bokang Ramatšella, of the Democratic Congress (DC) party, says he is appealing against “the slap on the wrist” judgement delivered against tycoon Lebona Lephema.

Ramatšella said he was not happy with the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) tribunal judgment which he said was “ineffective”.

He wants his appeal to be heard by the High Court.

Lephema, who was standing in for the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), won the Teya-Teyaneng constituency.

Ramatšella, Liteboho Mofolo of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), and representatives of the United for Change (UFC), and the Basotho Patriotic Party (BPP) accused Lephema of contravening two sections of the elections law.

They accused the businessman of making promises to build a mall in Teya-Teyaneng and moved his earth-moving equipment to a site in Ha-Mphele, within the constituency, where the mall was to be built.

The IEC tribunal, made up of Sofonea Shale, ’Mantsoaki Moorosi, and Advocate Moeti Marai, last week found that Lephema had violated the electoral law.

The tribunal also found that moving the equipment to the site where the mall would be built “was likely to influence voters in a manner that the Electoral Code of Conduct does not approve”.

The tribunal slapped Lephema with a fine of M3 000 payable within seven days.

But Ramatšella told thepost that they as the DC and him as an interested party are not satisfied with the fine given to Lephema.

“What is M3 000 to that man?” Ramatšella said.

“He is filthy rich, he will not even feel the pinch,” he said.

He complained that the fine is not helping people to respect the electoral laws as they know that the tribunal would be lenient with them.

“He violated both section 122 and section 153, but he is being fined for violating just one section.”

Ramatšella suggested that at least M250 000 “would be enough to teach Lephema and others to respect the law”.

He also lashed at the IEC for not delivering the fine before the election as their complaint came days before the October 7 polls.

“Now they release the judgment after three days from election. What help and difference will it make?”

He stated that they have been watching the IEC and are not pleased with the way it handles some issues.

“We will take them to court so that they take us seriously,” he said.

He criticised the IEC for delaying to notify him of their meeting to discuss the case.

“They told me at 3pm that I should come to their offices, that is so unprofessional. I was in Mafeteng,” he said, adding: “Maybe they thought I would not come, but I did.”

Both Lephema and the IEC spokesman were unavailable for comment.

Nkheli Liphoto