FORMER Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka has slammed the controversial contract signed between the government of Lesotho and German businessman Robert Frazer, describing it as fraudulent.
business
July 2, 2021
STAFF REPORTER
3 min read
Frazer Solar deal a fraud – Mphaka
Former Government Secretary, Moahloli Mphaka
He said this on Thursday during his testimony before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) where he showed that the government could not have signed an agreement of that magnitude with just an individual because it would be difficult to recourse on if the latter failed to deliver.
“Government cannot in any way get into contract with fraudsters and it is wrong for Frazer to have taken the government of Lesotho to court. Our police as part of the international police sector should have dealt with this Frazer issue as the company has tried to defraud the government,'' he added.
Commenting on his own interactions with Frazer, he said as the former secretary to Cabinet, he only learned about Frazer when the then Cabinet Principal Secretary brought the paper before Cabinet.
He said since the then Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Temeki Tšolo was at the time out of the country on official duty, his Deputy Leshoboro Mohlajoa withdrew the memorandum from Cabinet.
Mr Mphaka said the memorandum was withdrawn on the basis that it was not taken to Cabinet by the relevant authority, the Ministry of Energy.
He said it looked like a loan, adding that according to the constitution, the only person who can source or expend money for the country is the Minister of Finance.
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He said that was the last time he heard about Frazer Solar until recently when he saw the company in the news on different media platforms.
Mr Mphaka left the office of the Government Secretary in August 2020.
He did not recall receiving any summons in respect of the deal, saying if at all Frazer was taking the government to court, the Attorney General should have been served.
He therefore said the claim that he was served is null and void, describing the case as a scam because there is no way the government could be taken to court without the AG.
He said Frazer should have served people he signed the contract with, adding that the government of Lesotho does not owe him anything as Cabinet withdrew the memorandum in respect of the project.
“The agreement should have been signed by the Minister of Finance and not anybody else,” Mr Mphaka reiterated.
Frazer Solar proposed to install solar systems to the tune of 100 million Euros (M2.9 billion Euros in government offices and buildings.
Frazer Solar is now embroiled in a court battle with the Government of Lesotho, after the South African High Court in Johannesburg awarded the Germany-based company an order for seizure of assets belonging to Lesotho worth M855 million as compensation for the breach of the contract. LeNA
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