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Small Businesses Minister locked out

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MASERU – SMALL Businesses Minister Machesetsa Mofomobe is working from his vehicle after the ministry was locked out for not paying rent.

The ministry owes over M2 million in monthly rentals to the landlord.

Mofomobe told thepost yesterday that he has been working from his vehicle beginning Tuesday.

The entire ministry has been locked out of the offices opposite Pitso Ground in Maseru.

All the services offered by the ministry have come to a standstill in Maseru.

“I am working from my car because I do not have an office,” Mofomobe said.

He said his ministry has always been moving from one rental place to the next even before he became the minister at that ministry.

Mofomobe said they are hoping to rope in the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences “to look carefully into the matters of this ministry especially regarding its renting of offices”.

The minister said his ministry has been forking out staggering stashes of cash amounting to M500 000 and M250 000 for rentals.

“The offices have not only been shut down in Maseru but also in another district,” Mofomobe said.

But he could not disclose the name of the district.

“This ministry was already mired in debts even before I came here,” Mofomobe said.

He said when he arrived at the ministry, he spoke to the Principal Secretary to look into the debts.

Mofomobe said the ministry had debts amounting to M9 million at one point.
He said the ministry owed people who did renovations at the Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation for years and the people who offered catering services to the ministry.

“All the cars were grounded when I came here. We had to pay for their repairs,” Mofomobe said.

He said they have to approach the Ministry of Finance to assist them with funds to pay rent.

He said his ministry should be housed at the government premises.

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