Billy Ntaote

Lesotho’s political leaders on Thursday signed an agreement aimed at ending the country’s political and security crises, which have since seen the collapse of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.

Dubbed the Maseru Facilitation Declaration, the leaders agreed to re-open Parliament on 17 October following its nine-month suspension on 10 June 2014 by Dr Thabane, dissolve it early December and hold general elections towards the end of February 2015.

The Declaration was signed by, among others, the three ruling party leaders—Dr Thabane, Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing and Senior Minister Thesele ‘Maseribane, whose All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP) respectively, formed the country’s first coalition government in June 2012—as well as deputy leader of the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC), Monyane Moleleki.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitator, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Thembinkosi Mhlongo, also signed the Declaration as witnesses.

Announcing the much-anticipated agreement at the Lesotho Sun Hotel, Mr Ramaphosa said the people of Lesotho would have yet another opportunity to determine their government, albeit two years earlier than originally expected. Lesotho was supposed to go to elections in 2017 but the polls had to be brought forward due to the LCD’s fallout with its two government partners, ABC and BNP, over Dr Thabane’s alleged failure to consult his partners when making key decisions with a bearing on good governance. The party cited Dr Thabane’s unilateral prorogation of Parliament—which the premier imposed to avert a no-confidence vote in his leadership—as one of the many instances he had failed to abide by the coalition government’s spirit of consultation, hence its decision to abandon the alliance.

However, in an effort to ensure instability returns to the kingdom, SADC has been mediating in the crises, resulting in the Maseru Facilitation Declaration.

Mr Ramaphosa said: “Parliament will be opened on 17 October 2014, and dissolved at the beginning of December to prepare for the general elections.

“The business of parliament between 17 October and its dissolution will be limited to the passing of a budget for the holding of the elections towards the end of February 2015 and all other election-related matters.

“All political parties represented in Parliament are called upon to recognise their responsibility to the people, respect the Constitution, uphold democratic principles and secure the restoration of peace, political stability and security in the Kingdom of Lesotho.”

Mr Ramaphosa also called upon “all citizens of Lesotho, non-governmental organisations, traditional, civic and religious leaders and all other role-players to support the critical endeavour for the restoration of peace and political stability and security in Lesotho”.

According to Mr Ramaphosa, the SADC Observer Mission came up with the Maseru Facilitation Declaration following extensive consultations with the three coalition partners in government (Dr Thabane, Mr Metsing and Chief ‘Maseribane), leaders of the country’s opposition political parties, College of Chiefs, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials, Council of Churches as well as NGO representatives.

Mr Ramaphosa also said the SADC Observer Mission had briefed the Commonwealth Expert Adviser to Lesotho, Dr Rajen Prasad, of New Zealand on the country’s prevailing crisis, which has not only left the kingdom without a government but also with feuding security agencies, namely the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).

The IEC, Mr Ramaphosa added, would also be expected to conduct “free and fair elections” in February next year.

“We have no doubt, whatsoever, that the IEC of Lesotho has the capacity to run the coming elections freely and fairly. SADC will assist the IEC in its efforts to hold credible, free and fair elections, and position itself to give as much assistance as will be necessary to make sure the will of the people of Lesotho is declared,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

“The SADC Facilitator, SADC Politics, Defence and Security Observer Mission and SADC Secretariat commit themselves to assist all parties in the interest of the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho, in the peaceful conduct of free and fair elections.

“In order to secure peace and stability in the Kingdom of Lesotho, appreciating how indispensable it is for the conduct of free and fair elections, the SADC Politics, Defence and Security Observer Mission will continue, as provided for in its mandate, to monitor the political and security situation in the country, and to monitor and assist in the maintenance of law and order and the relations between the country’s security forces.

“During our meetings, we had an opportunity to share the SADC terms of reference with all political and other role-players.

“These terms of reference from the SADC troika mandate, guided our facilitation process in Lesotho with a view to finding a lasting solution to the current security challenges and ensure the restoration of political stability and security.”

Mr Ramaphosa also said the SADC Observer Mission would “look very closely” at the country’s security structures to make sure there is lasting peace in Lesotho.

“In this regard, we call upon the leadership of the security arms of this country, in the form of the police and the army, to do everything they can in the interest of the people of Lesotho.

“They must desist from having conflict between themselves, at leadership levels as well as member level. It is important that the level of peace between these two arms is restored so that Lesotho can be restored to normalcy.”

Mr Ramaphosa further said SADC would not want to see incidents such as last Tuesday’s shootout between members of the LDF and LMPS, which turned Khubetsoana into a mini-warzone for close to three hours beginning 9pm. The LDF and LMPS have since accused each other of triggering the gun-battle which took place near the residences of Acting Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka and Mr Metsing’s bodyguard, resulting in the injury of two senior police officers.

“The signing of this Declaration is a step towards stabilising the situation in Lesotho and should send a clear message to those in the disciplined forces that the best way of resolving problems is through democratic means rather than military and having skirmishes and allowing tension to erupt the way we heard about this week.

“This is a good foundation to make sure that we move forward with a great deal of determination to find peace and clearly, incidents like these, do not lend themselves to a climate of resolving problems and we hope we have seen the last of such incidents.

“And indeed, the SADC Mission would be taking upon itself to discuss and have continued interaction with members of the security forces to see how best we can avoid such situations.

“We are determined to find a lasting solution to Lesotho’s problems; our determination derives from what I see as willingness from the political leaders and preparedness in this country and even members of the security forces themselves, to ensure there is lasting peace in Lesotho.”

Mr Ramaphosa also said the security issue would be looked into “broadly” and not just at Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli’s refusal to step down despite being fired as LDF Commander by the premier on 29 August 2014. Lt Gen Kamoli argues his dismissal was unfair, and remains firmly in control of the LDF, while his successor, Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, is in the wilderness.

“We want peaceful, amicable dealings between the army and police, but more importantly, we want the army and police to be depoliticised. We would want the armies in the region and on the continent at large, to be depoliticised to serve the interests of the people and not of political parties.

“We want them to pay their allegiance to the Head-of-State, and in this case, it is the King (Letsie III). That is what a good army and police force does. It is only when the security forces serve the people that there can be stability in a country,” Mr Ramaphosa said.

Commenting on the Declaration, ABC secretary general, Samonyane Ntsekele said: “We are satisfied with the agreement although we did not get all what we needed. It was a give and take in the negotiations, but we still need the security issues to be resolved speedily by the SADC Observers before elections or this Declaration would be affected”.

On the other hand, Mr Moleleki was sceptical about the Prime Minister’s commitment to re-open Parliament on 17 October, pointing out the ABC leader had already failed to honour three such commitments, which had also been recommended by SADC.

However, Mr Moleleki said his party hoped the premier would honour the Declaration.

“We are satisfied with the Declaration and we believe the presence of SADC Observers would guarantee the Prime Minister that there is no security threat against him and he would go ahead and honour the roadmap. We are, on the other hand, compromising by allowing the powers of our Parliament to be limited in this manner,” said Mr Moleleki.