Knives out for PAC boss

By: Moroke Sekoboto

A parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the administration of Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) took a dramatic turn this week, with PAC chairperson ’Machabana Lemphane-Letsie being asked to recuse herself from her position as chairperson because she herself is “corrupt” and thus “unfit” to lead a body tasked with probing graft.

Ms Lemphane-Letsie is accused of ridiculing senior government officials who appear before the Committee despite her being subject to corruption charges filed by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) in the Maseru Magistrates Court. This is according to QMMH Managing Director Dr ‘Makhoase Ranyali and the hospital’s Deputy Managing Director for Human Capital, Planning and Contracts, Thenjiwe Dlangamandla, who have petitioned the Constitutional Court to nullify Ms Lemphane-Letsie’s role as PAC chairperson.

They further argue that the PAC acted outside its mandate when it labelled them incompetent during the Monday and Tuesday morning proceedings.

Dr. Ranyali and Ms Dlangamandla failed to appear before PAC on Tuesday this week, reportedly due to fears of continued “demeaning” treatment by Ms Lemphane-Letsie and her team. This prompted the PAC to involve the police and issue warrants of arrest to compel their attendance. However, their lawyers, Hudssons Chambers, wrote to Ms Lemphane-Letsie the same day requesting her recusal.

The lawyers raised concerns about Ms Lemphane-Letsie’s conduct, citing an incident where she allegedly spoke harshly to Ms Ntene. They argued that to prevent further humiliation, the PAC chair should step aside and that the Committee should, instead, furnish questions in writing for formal responses.

Efforts to reach Ms Lemphane-Letsie for comment were unsuccessful, while Dr Ranyali also declined to comment.

11.12.2025