Billy Ntaote
THE opposition Alliance of Democrats (AD) says a stable and conducive environment for the implementation of constitutional and security sector reforms is only possible if Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and his seven-party coalition government partners accede to the formation of a government of national unity (GNU).
The AD’s call comes in the wake of the recent return from exile of the leaders of the opposition, namely, Thomas Thabane of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Thesele ‘Maseribane of the Basotho National Party (BNP) and Keketso Rantšo of the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL).
The trio returned to the country on 12 February 2017 after almost two years in exile in South Africa where they sought refuge in May 2015, citing plots to assassinate them by members of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). However, the LDF has consistently and strenuously denied the allegations.
The then tripartite opposition signed an agreement last November with AD leader Monyane Moleleki — who was still deputy leader in the Dr Mosisili-led Democratic Congress — to form to try and oust the current government.
Under the agreement, Mr Moleleki would head the coalition for the first 18 months upon forming government and thereafter trade places with Dr Thabane who would initially be deputy prime minister.
The opposition quartet are hoping Dr Mosisili can compromise and agree to a GNU arrangement before parliament reopens on 24 February this year, to avoid a no-confidence vote on against his administration.
In an interview with the Sunday Express, AD spokesperson, Teboho Lehloenya said his party was convinced that the “best way forward is for the country to forge a GNU based on proportionality in the National Assembly”.
He said although government had not approached them to share their views over the formation of a GNU, they were prepared to suspend their proposed no-confidence motion “to give a GNU a chance as it is the best option for this country”.
“Even if we have a motion of no confidence on the floor of the National Assembly being argued, as long as we have not yet voted on such a motion, we can still have it pulled out if they agree to a GNU which will be conducive to the reforms process.
“But as of now, we do not have confidence in the administration to run the public affairs and oversee the reforms process,” Mr Lehloenya said.
“We have agreed that my leader, Ntate Moleleki shall be prime minister after we defeat the current government in a no-confidence vote and a hand over of power without elections. But we also stand ready to negotiate a GNU based on international principles of proportionality.
“However if they do not approach us now, then they shall have to be subjected to what we agreed with other opposition parties where our leader will be prime minister for the first 18 months period and then Ntate Thabane would take over for another 18 months,” said Mr Lehloenya.
He said the AD was ready to contest elections and afterwards “go for a GNU as this country needs to go through a healing process”.
“We agreed with other opposition parties that there must be stability and an environment conducive for the socio-economic development of Lesotho and we will get there.”
The AD’s position on a GNU has received support from the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN) whose Executive Secretary, Seabata Motsamai said it would be the best way of creating an enabling environment for national dialogue to facilitate national healing and end the polarisation and instability.
Mr Motsamai said prior to the announcement of the 2015 election results, civil society tried in vain to bring together the major parties to form a grand coalition or a GNU.
“We tried to bring the ABC and the DC together in a grand coalition upon realising they would be the biggest parties in the National Assembly.
“However, the ABC didn’t want a GNU that would include Prime Minister Mosisili, but they preferred Moleleki to be the one to lead the DC. So this failed as there was no agreement on the issue,” Mr Motsamai said, adding even now they supported an arrangement that would reconcile Basotho.
“In the event of a GNU being agreed to on the basis of proportionality, the major focus should be on the national dialogue that Ntate Moleleki says should be like South Africa’s CODESA and this could create a fertile environment for reforms to take place.”
CODESA was the acronym for the Convention for a Democratic South Africa which brought together different organisations and parties in October 1991, including the then ruling Apartheid-era National Party and the African National Congress to discuss the mechanism and technicalities of transition and a changeover of political leadership from Apartheid to the current multiparty democracy.
Mr Motsamai said a simple change of government through a vote of no confidence after the National Assembly resumed sittings was not ideal as it would only lead to more polarisation and persecution of people.
“It shall continue the norm of a government going after those who were in office. And we would be running the risk of now seeing the LCD leader and Deputy Prime Minister (Mothetjoa) Metsing being the one to flee the country as it is clear those in the opposition do not see eye to eye with him.
“This phenomena of people who have been the hunters being turned into the hunted is a vicious circle that perpetuates instability,” Mr Motsamai added.