Maseru, Oct. 11 — The Three dismissed Members of Parliament (MPs) for Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) say they remain members until the ruling from courts of law as their dismissal was unlawful.
This was said by one of the dismissed MPs, Dr. Mahali Phamotse of Matlakeng at the press conference held in Maseru on Wednesday.
Dr. Phamotse said they were unlawfully suspended by the RFP Executive Committee from the party for a period of six years, saying the case is before courts of law.
She added that the party’s conference decision to dismiss them on September 30 was also illegal as per the constitutional law and RFP regulations.
She indicated that amongst other reasons that led to their suspension and dismissal include failure of the party to implement its manifesto which it presented to Basotho while it was campaigning.
She said the party pledged to use meritocracy when employing people but they are surprised that it practices nepotism, adding that some members of cabinet are given first priority in tendering for projects that the government intends to implement.
She further said the party failed to put a stop to M5000 petrol allowance given to members of parliament as well as alcohol and tobacco levy amongst others.
She therefore emphasised that it is vital for the party to fulfil what it promised the nation, emphasising that they were dismissed for standing for what is right as parliamentarians.
“We are not above the law even though we are Parliamentarians but the Parliamentarian Powers Act of 1994 give parliamentarians the power to do their job,” she stressed.
Asked where they will sit when the Parliament re-opens on Friday, another dismissed member of parliament for Abia Mr. Thuso Makhalanyane said they will sit on the government side because they still regard themselves as members of the party.
“Those who will have a problem with us sitting on the government side will be free to join and sit on the opposition side,” he stressed, adding that they will remain parliamentarians until 2027 when the country goes for general elections.
Meanwhile, Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) conference resolved to dismiss its MPs from the party during its Annual General Meeting held on September 30 and they include Dr. Phamotse, Mr. Makhalanyane and Mr. Rethabile Letlailana from Lithoteng.
RFP won 56 constituencies with no Proportional Seat (PR) in the past general elections and had to form a coalition government with Alliance of Democrats and Movement for Economic Change (MEC) which won two constituencies with three PR seats and one constituency with three PR seats respectively.
