Maseru, June 08 – The Director General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO), Advocate Brigadier General Sello Mants’o, says corruption affects every Mosotho either directly or indirectly, depriving citizens of services and opportunities meant to improve their lives.
In an interview with the Agency, Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o said corruption is not only about money being stolen, but also about people being denied services they are entitled to receive.
He said in some instances citizens are forced to pay bribes to access public services such as passports, driver’s licences and national identity documents, placing an unfair burden on families, especially the poor and vulnerable.
According to the DCEO boss, corruption diverts public funds intended for essential services such as healthcare, education, road construction and water supply. As a result, communities experience poor service delivery, inadequate infrastructure and delays in development projects.
He further noted that corruption often leads to the procurement of poor-quality goods and services because contracts may be awarded based on personal interests rather than merit and value for money. Consequently, roads deteriorate quickly, buildings develop defects and public resources are wasted.
“Simply put, corruption takes resources away from the people and benefits only a few individuals,” he said.
Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o said the DCEO has declared 2026 as “Selemo sa Ho Teneha khahlanong le Bobolu” (The Year of Being Fed Up with Corruption), aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent, investigate and combat corruption while promoting integrity and accountability.
He said the campaign is also a call for all citizens to join the fight against corruption and help address the problem more decisively.
The DCEO is mandated under the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act of 1999, as amended, to prevent, investigate and combat corruption and economic offences in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking about the impact corruption has on the country’s economy, Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o described corruption as a major obstacle to economic growth and national development.
He said corruption discourages investors, weakens entrepreneurship and diverts resources from productive sectors of the economy. Investors, he noted, prefer countries that uphold transparency, accountability and predictable governance systems.
“When corruption is widespread, investors become reluctant to commit their resources because they fear unfair competition, increased costs and uncertainty in decision-making processes,” he said.
He explained that reduced investment results in fewer businesses, limited employment opportunities and slower economic growth. He added that if corruption were significantly reduced, Lesotho would be better positioned to attract investment, create jobs, improve service delivery and reduce poverty.
Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o also stressed that transparency and good governance are among the key factors investors consider before investing in a country.
He said corruption increases the cost of doing business and weakens confidence in public institutions. Consequently, investors may choose to invest in countries with stronger governance systems and lower levels of corruption.
On challenges faced by the DCEO in tackling high-level corruption cases, he said corruption often fights back, making investigations and prosecutions difficult.
He revealed that some individuals accused of corruption attempt to frustrate legal processes at various stages, including investigations, prosecutions and court proceedings.
Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o disclosed that there are ongoing investigations into allegations that judicial officers were approached and offered incentives to influence decisions in a high-profile corruption case.
He said one judicial officer had to recuse himself from a matter after allegedly being approached and fearing for his safety.
The DCEO boss said high-level corruption cases are often complex and costly, involving sophisticated financial transactions, multiple suspects and extensive documentation, sometimes across international borders.
He added that delays within the criminal justice system, including frequent postponements, case backlogs and shortages of judicial officers, also affect the progress of corruption cases.
To strengthen accountability and improve anti-corruption efforts, Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o said the DCEO is exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve fraud detection and investigations.
He said Information and Communication Technology specialists and Digital Forensic Investigators are working to integrate AI into investigative tools and train officers on its use.
According to him, investigators and prosecutors received AI training in March this year as part of efforts to improve the speed, accuracy and effectiveness of investigations.
He further suggested increasing the number of judicial officers, improving case management systems and establishing specialised courts for corruption and economic crime matters.
Adv. Brig. Gen. Mants’o emphasised that while the DCEO remains committed to pursuing corruption cases without fear or favour, success also depends on the efficiency of the entire criminal justice system.
He warned that if corruption continues unchecked, Lesotho risks experiencing higher unemployment, deeper poverty, slower economic growth and declining public services.
He noted that the government has already declared youth unemployment a state of emergency, adding that corruption could worsen the situation if not addressed.
He said corruption weakens institutions, erodes public trust and undermines national development efforts, which could eventually lead to increased inequality, social tensions and instability.
“My message to Basotho is simple: corruption is not inevitable. It can be defeated if we work together. We must resist corruption, reject corruption and report corruption. Only then can we build a prosperous, transparent and accountable Lesotho for future generations,” he said.
Ends.
