CHINESE businessman operating the Thaba Bosiu Wool and Mohair Centre, Stone Shi is alleged to be exporting wool and mohair to foreign countries in spite of the fact that his trading licenses have been suspended by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

This was announced in the National Assembly by a Member of Parliament, Kimetso Mathaha on Monday.

He had asked the Acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Likopo Mahase if he was aware that the controversial businessman was still trading outside the country, notwithstanding that his licenses had been revoked.

Mr Mathaha wanted the acting minister to explain why Shi was still in operation and was also keen to know the measures that were being taken to put an end to his illegal activities.

In response, Mr Mahase agreed that Shi was not supposed to be operating his wool business, adding that his licenses had been suspended in 2020.

The same licenses, he showed had also expired in December 2020 and have since not been renewed.

“He has no right to be operating or exporting the wool and mohair, as one must have valid licenses in order to work,” Mr Mahase said, promising to work hand in hand with police to get to the bottom of the matter.

Shi is at the centre of the scuffle between government and the wool farmers.

After his company bought wool and mohair from the farmers to sell them to the international market on their behalf, it failed to pay them, triggering a chain of disputes and mass actions that also landed in court.

When the company could no longer pay the farmers as promised, the government finally came to the rescue and settled the unpaid balances on his behalf.

Shi claims that he approached the Chinese embassy in Lesotho after the Lesotho National Wool and Mohair Growers Association (LNWMGA) refused to supply wool and mohair to the Lesotho Wool Centre in Thaba Bosiu following a fall out with the government.