In a chilling account of bravery and resilience, Machesetsa Mofomobe, the leader of Lesotho’s Basotho National Party (BNP), has vowed to continue his fight against corruption despite surviving a near-fatal assassination attempt last week. Shot twice in the back outside his home in Maseru, Mofomobe remains undeterred, declaring that he will not be silenced, even if it costs him his life.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday World, Mofomobe expressed gratitude for surviving the attack, which he believes was orchestrated to stop his relentless campaign against corrupt government officials.
“They want to kill me for constantly exposing government ministers involved in corrupt activities in my country,” he said.
The incident occurred last Friday around 9pm, as Mofomobe was walking his best friend, Mohato Seleke, to his car.
“The gunman came from nowhere and shot me twice in the back while I was busy on the phone with another member of parliament and trying to get Seleke to listen to the phone call,” Mofomobe recounted.
The assailant fled into the night after firing several shots, seemingly unaware that Mofomobe had survived the attack.
A Decade-Long Battle Against Corruption
Mofomobe has been a vocal critic of corruption in Lesotho for over a decade, earning him both admiration and enemies. His exposés have targeted high-ranking officials, including ministers implicated in multi-million-rand scandals. Among the allegations he has brought to light are:
- A minister who allegedly awarded his own company a tender to renovate the Moshoeshoe I International Airport. The project, initially valued at R50 million, ballooned to R184 million.
- Another minister who was allegedly flown to Hong Kong by a Chinese company for 15 years without cost after signing a contract for a solar plant project, despite the deal being rejected by authorities.
- A minister who reportedly purchased a state-owned enterprise worth an estimated R14 billion for a mere R200,000.
- Diamond companies allowed to export goods tax-free while claiming R40 million in tax refunds from the state every month.
- The government’s decision to service luxury vehicles owned by a senior politician at public expense.
“These cars are very expensive, and the struggling economy can’t afford to maintain them. It is the first time in the history of Lesotho that the government is forced to maintain private cars that belong to a politician,” Mofomobe said.
A Target for Speaking Out
Mofomobe’s outspoken nature has made him a target for harassment and intimidation. He revealed that hours after being admitted to a private hospital in Lesotho following the shooting, soldiers arrived to inquire about his condition and whereabouts. “My shooting is a police matter and had nothing to do with the army. My family was forced to check me out of the hospital the same night and whisked me off to South Africa for my own safety,” he said.
This is not the first time Mofomobe has faced threats. He has been arrested multiple times over the past 15 years, allegedly on trumped-up charges, though he has never been convicted of any crime. “I am not a criminal, but I have been in and out of police cells more than a dozen times in their effort to silence and neutralise me and taint me as a lawbreaker. I don’t even have a traffic violation,” he said.
No Justice in Sight
Despite the gravity of the attack, no arrests have been made, and the government has remained silent on the matter. Mofomobe expressed frustration at the lack of action, questioning the authorities’ commitment to justice. “I am a leader of the opposition party and a member of parliament, and I get shot, and our government can’t even issue a press statement about it. How can I expect them to solve my case?” he lamented.
A Defiant Return
Currently receiving medical treatment in South Africa, Mofomobe has vowed to return to Lesotho to continue his fight against corruption. “I am not a coward, and I will fight against corruption until the last drop of my blood,” he declared. His unwavering resolve has inspired many, even as it places him in continued danger.
Mofomobe’s ordeal highlights the pervasive corruption and political instability in Lesotho, a small kingdom grappling with governance challenges.These are also the same challenges most African countries face. The opposition leader's courage in exposing wrongdoing has made him a symbol of resistance, but it has also underscored the risks faced by those who dare to challenge the status quo.
