By : Lloyd Mahachi

Joshua Setipa, a candidate from Lesotho, is vying to become the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, but his background is marked by controversy. His tenure as the Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (UNTB) was terminated by the UN’s Audit Report and Functional Review due to significant overspending on administration and travel, lost expense accounts, and inadequate oversight structures.

The audit revealed that Setipa’s planning and implementation were ineffective, and procurement due diligence processes were inadequate. Gaps were identified in supporting governments, running projects, fundraising, complying with UN rules and regulations, and the effective use of resources. Essentially, the audit found that Setipa failed to perform the core functions of the UNTB.

Setipa’s travel expenses were also a concern, with a third of the bank’s budget spent on travel between 2019-2021. However, details of his travels were scarce, and reports for 19 of the 45 trips he took were not made available to auditors. When questioned about the audit, Setipa claimed that he took early retirement from the post voluntarily and amicably, denying any wrongdoing.

Despite this controversy, Setipa has been appointed as Senior Director of Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships and Digital for the Commonwealth Secretariat by Baroness Scotland. This decision raises questions about accountability in the UN and the Commonwealth system. As a candidate for Commonwealth Secretary-General, Setipa’s experience and leadership style are under scrutiny. His plans for the role include strengthening the Secretariat, enhancing collaboration with member states, and promoting sustainable development. However, his past actions and the controversy surrounding his tenure at the UNTB may impact his chances of being elected.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi