Caswell Tlali
MASERU –— Democratic Congress (DC) leader Pakalitha Mosisili has appealed to party supporters to stop a culture of insulting, bad-mouthing and embarrassing their political opponents before, during and after leadership elections.
Mosisili was addressing throngs of DC delegates at the party’s first elective conference since its formation in February last year.
In his keynote address on Saturday at the Methodist High School Hall in Maseru, Mosisili said there was a tendency to gossip, insult and embarrass other people especially in the run-up to party elections.
“May we stop embarrassing people when we know their personal weaknesses because we too have our own weaknesses,” Mosisili said.
“We are all sinners and it is not good that we publicly talk about other people’s sins in public with the aim of embarrassing them,” he said.
“The DC is not a party of angels but of men made of blood and flesh who are not immune from wrongdoing.”
Mosisili’s speech came a few hours before the party’s first executive committee elections.
It is a norm in the congress movement that people fighting for positions conspire to bad-mouth their opponents in an effort to turn voters’ attention from them.
Almost the entire executive committee is likely to be retained as is because there are no challengers.
Mosisili, his deputy Monyane Moleleki and secretary general Ralechate ’Mokose have not been challenged.
Semano Sekatle has withdrawn his name from contesting for the general secretary position and decided to stand for the deputy secretary general’s post, which he currently holds, and he does not have a contender.
The deputy general secretary’s post was also to be contested by former assistant minister Lineo Molise-Mabusela and the Koro-Koro 2012 parliamentary election candidate Refiloe Litjobo but they have also bowed out so that they would not compete with Sekatle.
Litjobo will also not contest for the position of party treasurer, which is currently held by ’Mamphono Khaketla.
Instead he will compete with Mosala Mojakisane, Molise-Mabusela and Palo Leteetee for the position of deputy editor of Thebe, the party’s mouthpiece.
The substantive editor will be Tsoeu Mokeretla, who does not have an opponent.
The chairman’s position will be retained by Lebamang Maqaleha after the Mokhotlong MP and former government secretary, Tlohang Sekhamane, withdrew his nomination at the last minute.
Kose Makoa, also without an opponent, will still deputise Maqaleha.
The entire committee will return as it is.
The only change might be in the position of deputy editor, which is new in the DC and other congress movement parties.
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