Diamond millionaire PM foresees no conflict of interest

The multi-millionaire businessman who is to become the new prime minister of Lesotho says he is going to use his commercial experience to create jobs and tackle corruption which he described as the country's "worst disease".

Sam Matekane formed the Revolution for Prosperity party just six months ago and has gone into a coalition with two others after narrowly missing out on an absolute majority in the election.

He told BBC Focus on Africa radio that retraining the security forces was also a priority as some of its members had been politicised.

The diamond magnate denied there would be any conflict of interest between his business activity and his position as head of government.

"I don't have contracts with government - I have contracts with other companies outside the government," was his response.

Lesotho has had a succession of fragile coalition governments over the last decade.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: BBC News