losing parliamentary seat
. . . as he mulls crossing from BAP to RFP
Mohloai Mpesi
THE Basotho Action Party (BAP) Member of Parliament (MP), Tello Kibane, is at risk of losing his Proportional Representation (PR) seat should he choose to leave his party and join the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP).
BAP spokesperson, Lepolesa Makutoane, told the Sunday Express on Friday that Mr Kibane would automatically forfeit his PR seat under the Electoral Act of 2011 if he indeed joins the RFP, as PR seats are tied to party affiliation and not individual candidacy.
This follows a letter Mr Kibane received from the RFP’s Peka constituency committee, inviting him to an official welcoming event scheduled for 10 August 2025.
“With this letter, the Peka constituency committee would like to thank you for the step you have taken in joining RFP. We believe your presence will strengthen and help the party grow at constituency level. The committee invites you to a meeting at 10am on 10 August 2025, where we will officially welcome you,” the letter reads.
Contacted for comment, Mr Kibane confirmed receiving the letter but said he was yet to decide whether to accept RFP’s invitation or formally join the party.
Meanwhile, Mr Makutoane revealed that he had written to Kibane, asking for clarification following allegations that his name appeared on an RFP membership list linked to the Peka No. 17 constituency.
He was seeking clarification about the latter’s alleged RFP membership.
“Basotho Action Party Central Executive Committee has noted your features (sic) on the membership list of RFP, which is said to belong to the Peka No. 17 constituency,” the BAP letter reads.
“In light of this allegation, you are requested to submit a written explanation, which must reach the office of BAP no later than Friday, 01 August 2025.”
Mr Makutoane confirmed to the Sunday Express that Mr Kibane has the liberty to choose whether to join the RFP but reiterated that such a move would mean losing his PR seat in Parliament.
He said the BAP leadership is scheduled to meet on Monday (tomorrow) to deliberate on Kibane’s written response, in which he denies being a member of RFP.
“He can make his own decision, but what I can say is that BAP does not allow dual membership. I do not know about other parties. Perhaps RFP permits dual membership, but in our party, it is not allowed.
“People who have been appointed to Parliament through the party, not directly through constituencies, have to fulfil the mandate of the party. The Electoral Act clearly states that if a person withdraws from their party, they will lose their PR seat in Parliament. Whether RFP will then give him a PR seat is another issue altogether.”
He continued: “He will lose his seat in Parliament. However, it seems our legal advisers differ. His legal advisers say there is no problem and that he can join RFP.
“We, on the other hand, believe that if he truly wishes to join RFP, he should also resign from Parliament so that we can appoint another representative in his place.”
“He must decide what is most beneficial for him. If he chooses to join RFP, he will have ample time to campaign ahead of the next election. We will consider his response on Monday when the Central Executive Committee (CEC) sits. While he has answered our letter, he denied being an RFP member.”
According to Mr Makutoane, Mr Kibane responded to the letter on Friday.
On his part, Mr Kibane confirmed to the Sunday Express that indeed he had received a letter from the RFP Peka Constituency Committee informing him that he would be welcomed to the party.
He explained that although RFP members had allegedly taken out membership on his behalf, he had not yet formally decided to join the party.
“You will recall that I was suspended for five years and banned from participating in any BAP activities. That prolonged suspension may have prompted the people in Peka to want to work with me, especially after noticing the good working relationship I have with RFP MPs in Parliament.
“Maybe that’s the reason they took membership for me in the RFP — they want to work with me. However, I have not yet decided to join the party. They only extended an invitation to welcome me, but I am still weighing my options. Even though I am suspended from BAP, I must be careful and consider the implications,” Mr Kibane said.
He also said he was currently consulting and would only respond to the RFP’s invitation after concluding them.
“At this point, I have not yet decided whether to accept their invitation, even though they have already taken out RFP membership for me. I am still consulting and assessing what benefits joining would offer me.
“I will provide them with a response once I finish my consultations and decide whether or not to accept their proposal.
“People of Peka and the RFP committee, through its secretary, wrote to me indicating that they are going to officially welcome me on the 10th of this month. I have not yet responded to that invitation. I am still deliberating.”
He also confirmed that he had responded to Mr Makutoane’s letter on Friday.
Mr Kibane is the BAP parliamentary caucus chairperson.
He is one of the four BAP MPs who have opposed party leader, Professor Nqosa Mahao’s bid to pull BAP out of the Sam Matekane-led coalition government.
Other three are BAP deputy leader Motlatsi Maqelepo, ‘Mamoipone Senauoane and Hilda Vanrooyen.
Messrs Kibane and Maqelepo were suspended from all BAP activities by the party in January this year and was slapped with a five-year suspension while Mr Maqelepo was suspended for seven years. However, Prof Mahao’s efforts to remove Mr Kibane as the BAP caucus chairperson have failed.