as poor working conditions raise fears over safety of state documents and stamps
‘Makananelo Manamolela
THE National Identity Card Registry (NICR) officers serving the Ha Mabote community have been forced to work from a cramped, unsecured shack after being evicted from their former office, raising concerns about their working conditions and the security of official documents.
The officers, who operate from Chief ’Mabohlokoa Majara’s residential plot, say they endured the winter without basic office furniture or adequate working space, with bad weather sometimes forcing them to work from their vehicles.
The makeshift office is also raising concerns about the security and suitability of the premises for a government service that handles sensitive registration documents and official stamps.
Mabote Electoral Division supervisor, Lorden McPherson, told the Lesotho Times this week that he had submitted a report to management in May 2026 explaining why the office, which had operated from its previous premises for about 10 years, had to relocate.
He said he was nevertheless accused of moving the office without informing the relevant authorities, despite having reported the circumstances surrounding the relocation.
“I was surprised and hurt at the same time when I was told that I had relocated the office on my own, yet I submitted the report on the matter to the director’s office,” Mr McPherson said.
He said he had explained the circumstances to his superiors but was still waiting for the matter to be resolved.
Mr McPherson also alleged that shortly after Home Affairs and Police Minister, Voeswa Tsheka, assumed office, he faced accusations, including claims that he had issued fraudulent birth certificates. He further alleged that police officers were sent to search the premises where he works.
“That was a very disappointing moment, to have been accused of such things, especially in such a respected area. In other words, that was very disrespectful,” he said.
Mr McPherson said he suspected that the accusations may be linked to political differences with the minister, although both belong to the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party.
He their working conditions have remained dire, with the lack of basic furniture forcing them to improvise to keep the office running.
“I had to bring my own furniture to make it possible for us to work. This desk and bench that you see, I brought them from my house,” Mr McPherson said.
He said his attempts to obtain updates on being afforded a proper office had repeatedly been met with requests to be patient.
His colleague, Malimpho Thamae, said the conditions had been particularly difficult because she was heavily pregnant during the winter period.
“I was heavily pregnant during that time, and working under such conditions was unbearable for me. But I had to endure, especially given that I had recently lost my husband,” Ms Thamae said.
The officers said bad weather sometimes forced them to work from their vehicles. They also occasionally had to suspend services when the chief’s office was occupied with sensitive cases or when the weather made working in the cramped space unbearable.
Although they say they were promised alternative accommodation, no solution has materialised.
Their uncertainty is compounded by concerns over the ownership of the shack. The officers say it belongs to a community member who has a pending matter before the chief, raising fears that they could lose their current workplace if the matter is resolved.
For her part, Chief Majara said the officers were initially borrowed two roomed house by a Ha Mabote resident. She said the owner had allowed the Home Affairs department to use the property for years but eventually evicted them, saying she wanted to renovate it.
“The owner had previously requested that his child be considered for formal employment by the ministry, but this did not happen. I suspect that the failure to secure employment for the child may have contributed to the owner’s decision to evict them,” Chief Majara said.
She said she later tried to find another community member willing to provide free office space, but her efforts proved unsuccessful.
The chief confirmed that the officers were now operating from a shack belonging to a community member with a pending matter before her office, further clouding the future of the service at the site.
For residents, the potential loss of the office would mean more than an inconvenience. It could force them to travel to town to access national identity registration services, incurring additional transport costs and facing longer queues.
One community member, who requested anonymity, said the office had made registration services more accessible to residents.
“We would be really hurt if the issues concerning this office are not addressed or if the office has to close. It has come to our rescue by saving us travel expenses to town and long queues,” the resident said.
The resident appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene urgently to prevent the community from losing access to the service.
This reporter encountered the situation while visiting the office to obtain services and was directed to the small shack, which was also being used as business premises.
During the visit, a person knocked on the door seeking to deposit cash, apparently in connection with digital money transfer and withdrawal services advertised at the premises. The incident raised further questions about the suitability of the location for official government operations.
When approached for comment, Minister Tsheka initially asked the journalist to leave a message. She later said she was unable to comment because she was on compassionate leave and referred the journalist to the ministry’s Principal Secretary, Mabataung Khelane.
Ms Khelane was also unable to comment, with her promising to return the reporter’s call. The NICR department’s director, Napo Khoele, also did not answer calls. Neither official’s response was obtained before publication.