Victoria Hotel shut down

MASERU-VICTORIA Hotel has been shut down for operating without a licence.
The Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture ordered the hotel to close last Thursday.
The hotel is owned by the government but operated by a private company controlled by local businessman Thabiso Tlelai.
The company has been running the hotel for the past 17 years.

The principal secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Tieho ’Mamasiane, said the company had been running the business without a valid licence “for a long time”.
He said his ministry once held talks with Tlelai in 2018, warning him that he should acquire all the necessary requirements to run the hotel.
“We last met him in that year,” he said.

“Our duty as the ministry is only to see that essential requirements are there for the hotel to operate,” ’Mamasiane said.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli said one the company’s shareholders, a 58-year-old woman from Motimposo, appeared before the Maseru Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to face charges of operating a business without a licence.

Supt Mopeli said the woman is accused of contravening some sections of the Accommodation, Catering, Tourism and Enterprise Act.
He said other shareholders are yet to appear before the court for the same charge.
Tlelai however said it is not true that the hotel had been closed.
He said there are “some issues that are being dealt with by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture” and he has “a working relationship” with the government that he could not discuss with newspapers.
“

I do not want to say much about the relationship,” he said.
Yesterday, before going to print, thepost crew found out that the hotel building was open but was not taking guests.
A notice on the main door said services had been suspended for maintenance.

Majara Molupe