Maseru – Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has strongly defended his decision to issue diplomatic passports to members of the Gupta family and rejected opposition demands to withdraw them.
He said the diplomatic passports were essential in facilitating their work in securing investments for his country.
“I have appointed them to market the country (Lesotho) in countries where they have influence… These people (the Guptas) are good friends of the ANC and we have good relations with the ANC,” Thabane said in an interview with the Independent Foreign Service at his official residence on Friday.
“I was introduced to them by the ANC president (Jacob Zuma) and other ANC officials… I then appointed them to help scout for investment for my country.
“They have influence in a number of countries that can help Lesotho. They have undertaken to hunt for investors for us.”
The Gupta family precipitated a diplomatic crisis in South Africa last year when they secured special landing rights for a chartered aircraft at Waterkloof Airforce Base, a privilege normally limited to visiting heads of state…
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