Health Minister Ntšekhe Allegedly Ordered Qoaling Filter Clinic Pharmacy Technician Back to Work After She Was Fired for Negligence
9 October 2026 by Pascalinah Kabi
Authoritative sources within the Ministry of Health revealed to Uncensored News that minister ‘Mamokete Ntšekhe has allegedly tried to bypass human resource procedures by reinstating former pharmacy technician ‘Maente Moaki. She was fired for negligence and failure to report for assigned overtime work.
Moaki was fired from the Qoaling Filter Clinic on 5 August 2024.
Qoaling Filter Clinic falls under the Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH), a tertiary hospital funded by the Lesotho government that is currently undergoing parliamentary inquiry into, among other issues, political employment and salary increases that have contributed to a ballooning hospital budget. In the 2026/27 financial year alone, M224 million of the M550 million allocated to QMMH and its filter clinics is earmarked for salaries.
QMMH management told Uncensored News that Moaki went to the Qoaling Filter Clinic on 28 September 2026, not to report for work. “QMMH has not recalled Ms Moaki to work, she came to HR office only on Monday 28th September 2026, seeking clarity on her personal matters,” said the hospital in a written response.
But a leaked email that Uncensored News is in possession of suggests otherwise. It shows Assistant Human Resource Manager Filter Clinics, Tholoana Kompi, enquiring from QMMH Deputy Managing Director, Thenjiwe Dlangamandla that “‘m’e Maente reported to the HR office this morning (28 September 2026) indicating that Honourable Minister of Health, Mrs Mamokete Ntšekhe instructed her to resume her duties today, Monday 28/09/26 at 08:00 am.”
Kompi added: “I told her that the office has not received such communication. I am therefore reporting the matter and seeking guidance on how to proceed.”
Efforts to obtain a comment from Ntšekhe were unsuccessful. Her phone rang unanswered and WhatsApp inquiry was delivered, but Uncensored News cannot ascertain whether the inquiry was read.
When contacted for comment, Moaki failed to respond. Initially, her WhatsApp indicated that she read the questions yet did not reply. Uncensored News then contacted her directly, Moaki ended the call after the journalist introduced herself.
Meanwhile, according to three authoritative sources in senior management, Kompi was verbally told to inform Moaki that a communication will be send to her once her employment details have been finalised.
“It does not make sense that the hospital management says it will communicate with her when there is a pending labour case at the DPPR (Directorate on Dispute Prevention and Resolution), lodged by Moaki against the hospital following her dismissal in 2024,” a source said.
In response to Uncensored News, QMMH said: “The DDPR case between Ms Moaki and QMMH is still ongoing.”
Termination, revocation and termination again
Moaki’s termination has been marked by what appears to be indecisiveness from the ministry. For example, then Principal Secretary ‘Maneo Ntene communicated government’s decision to dismiss Moaki on 5 August 2024.
“This letter serves to confirm that your service with Qoaling Filter Clinic has been terminated with immediate effect following a disciplinary hearing that was held on 3rd June 2024 and a report was submitted on 26th July 2024. You were found guilty on all accounts of negligence, failing to report for overtime work when scheduled without a valid reason and insubordination,” Ntene told Moaki in the dismissal letter.
Moaki is believed to have collected her termination letter on 15 August 2024 from the Ministry of Health. Following that, she appealed her termination to Ntene and that suspension was revoked on 8 October 2024.
“This serves as a withdrawal of the letter dated 5th August, 2024 where your contract of employment was terminated. After careful consideration, it is wise to conduct more investigations pertaining to the matter,” Ntene said.
Eight days later, on 16 October 2024, Ntene communicated the Ministry’s final decision that Moaki’s earlier termination initially communicated on 05 August is sustained.
“We have now completed the additional investigation as requested. Based on the findings, relevant facts and evidence, the decision to terminate your contract of employment remains justified. Therefore, we are hereby reinstating the original termination, with the date remaining as 5th August 2024,” Ntene told Moaki that her employment with Qoaling Filter Clinic is formally terminated as of 5th August 2024.
“This decision has been made in accordance with company policy, and all procedural steps have been carefully adhered to throughout this process.”
Moaki’s alleged return to work, and the allegation that she was instructed to do so by Minister Ntšekhe, is the latest political employment controversy involving QMMH and its filter clinics.
