Mohale FM
Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) Interim Managing Director Tseliso ‘Mokela says his decision not to address a group of employees who threatened to down tools last Wednesday stems from a long-standing stance against what he describes as a culture of bullying within the organization.
In an interview with Mohale FM, Mr ‘Mokela said he refused to give in to what he termed scare tactics by staff members, noting that similar strategies had allegedly been used in the past to pressure previous management into approving bonuses. He maintained that yielding to such threats would only entrench intimidation and undermine proper governance at the utility.
He said the stand-off erupted after he had communicated to the union representing the workers his decision to not offer bonuses this year, after clearly explaining the company was under some financial constraints. He said following that fateful Wednesday morning meeting, he was later taken by surprise as he attempted to re-enter the premises and found the alternative entrance, usually used by the executive barricaded by the workers demanding he address them directly instead of through their union.
Mr ‘Mokela said his refusal to comply with that request was what resulted in the go-slow which lasted as we now know, for a few hours and had not escalated to other offices outside the Maseru branch and headquarters. Mr ‘Mokela explained that although LEC lacks the financial capacity to pay bonuses, he would not award them in any case, as bonuses were a privilege rather than an entitlement.
Efforts to get the comment from National Union of Cultural and Creative Arts Workers (NUCCAW) proved fruitless as Mr Elliot Ramochela explained he was not in a position to delve into the matter due to illness, while other Unionists were no longer available at the office due to closure of the office for the holidays.
