Airport tender under scrutiny
Publish date: 03 February 2025
Issue Number: 1111
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Lesotho
Principal secretary of Public Works and Transport Tšepang Koele has been ordered to reappear before the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this week, according to the Lesotho Times. This after he fa iled to explain how a portion of the lucrative M184m (R184m) Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport refurbishment tender was awarded to the ‘former’ company of his political boss, Minister Matjato Moteane. The Minister’s ‘former’ company – Khatleli Tomane Architects – was part of a joint venture awarded the refurbishment tender. Koele and his tender evaluation team, which appeared before the PAC last week, failed to tell the committee about the evaluation criteria they used when awarding the tender. It has also emerged that the Department of Civil Aviation, which falls under the Public Works Ministry, and must supervise all refurbishment projects at the airport to ensure they meet the required international air traffic standards, is not even aware of the current work at the airport.
Moteane claims he sold his shares when he entered politics. According to the Lesotho Times, PAC members seem to view the explanation as a ‘ruse’. LSP Construction is the main contractor. One of the tender panel evaluation members, Tebe Ncheke said they had awarded the contract to the consortium involving Moteane because his name was not mentioned in the tender documents. Hence, they didn’t deem it a conflict of interest. Koele was also quizzed about why the Ministry had postponed an audit of the airport by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Acting director of the Department of Civil Aviation in the Ministry, Mphonyane Moloi, said they had sought the postponements because the airport was not in the right condition and the country would fail the audit.