Mohloai Mpesi / Rethabile Pitso
THE ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) Member of Parliament for Teyateyaneng constituency, Lebona Lephema, has vowed he will not leave RFP to form a new political party.
Mr Lephema, who was recently reshuffled to head the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development, made the remarks yesterday during his 63rd birthday celebration at Ha Ratšiu in Teyateyaneng.
The celebration was attended by Minister of Public Service Stephen Mputi (Maputsoe MP), the recently fired former Minister of Trade, Industry and Business Development Mokhethi Shelile (Lithabaneng), and former Minister of Environment and Forestry Letsema Adontši (Mokhotlong).
Other RFP legislators present included Isaac Malebaleba (Thaba-Bosiu), Teboho Notsi (Tšoana-Makhulo), ‘Mope Khati (Pela-Tšoeu), Maimane Maphathe (Matelile), Peiso Kelane (Maletsunyane), Lehlohonolo Hlalisi (Maliepetsana) and Cloete Mdlokovana (Mohale’s Hoek).
Notably, members of the RFP executive committee did not attend, except for party spokesperson, Mr Shelile.
A large crowd of RFP supporters from his constituency gathered at the celebration, chanting party songs with the tagline “Ha ba tšoha” (they are so scared).
Addressing his supporters, Mr Lephema emphasised that he would not abandon the party he co-founded with Prime Minister Sam Matekane. He recounted that the idea to form the RFP was conceived during a meeting between the two in Bangkok, Thailand, after which Mr Matekane held further discussions with other members in Cape Town, South Africa, to map the way forward.
He maintained that he is a co-founder of the RFP, having convened the initial meeting with Mr Matekane in Bangkok.
“He contacted me and said we should go to Thailand. The two of us went to Bangkok, and that is where we decided to form a party. I told him we should take them head-on. It was only the two of us.
“When we returned, he told those he met in Cape Town that I had given him the green light to form the RFP,” he said.
The RFP was eventually formed in March 2022, six months before the October 2022 general elections, where it won 56 constituencies.
Mr Lephema also dismissed rumours that he had fallen out with Mr Matekane or intended to form his own splinter party. The alleged fallout is said to have stemmed from Mr Matekane’s decision to move him from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development.
His former ministry was subsequently split into two: the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship, now led by Nkhethoa Seetsa, and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Police, led by Voeswa Tsheka. Meanwhile, Mr Shelile was dismissed from the Trade Ministry to make way for Mr Lephema.
Without mentioning names, Mr Lephema claimed that some individuals believed he would abandon the RFP after making his stay within the party uncomfortable.
“Let me tell you, I will not form the RFP and then turn my back against it. Never!
“They say they will make my life uncomfortable and disturb my peace. They think that because I am Lebona of Executive Transport, I will jump ship.
“I will not leave. It would be unfortunate if I leave you when you voted for me with votes equal to the leader. You elected me with 4414 votes, and I will never turn my back on you,” he said.
He further stressed that he has no intention of forming another political party.
“Those who have heart disease should fall. Those who are angry and want front seats should also fall. I am not afraid.
“It is my intention to win the hearts of all those who were outside the RFP. I guarantee you, there will be no other party here but the RFP,” he said.
Mr Lephema reaffirmed his support for Mr Matekane, stating that no one would be able to destabilise his leadership.
“Matekane is the leader of the RFP. There will be no one to shake him as long as I stand beside him. When you look at my pictures with him, you have never seen me lying on his chest and whispering lies to him.
“When we discuss serious issues about strengthening the RFP, we speak face to face. Whoever you see lying on his chest, you should know they are telling lies with the intention of dividing the party. They will not succeed.
“I do not solve issues emotionally; I use my mind. It is the mind that should resolve issues, not emotions,” he added.
He concluded by encouraging his supporters to remain united as the 2028 general elections approach.
“We have to stay united. It is only through unity that we will change the lives of Basotho.
“I say to Mr Matekane, come 2028, we will stand unshakable. The RFP will remain strong. We are almost at the finish line, and no government is going to fall,” he said.
Mr Lephema spoke amid reports of heightening factionalism within the RFP. Reports have alleged that Lephema was on the cusp of forming a new political party because he is unhappy with how he has been sidelined in RFP processes. After having founded the RFP with Mr Matekane and invested substantially in its evolution, Mr Lephema is said to believe that he should be the Deputy Prime Minister and natural successor to Mr Matekane. He is allegedly miffed that Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara has become increasingly influential in Cabinet decisions.
Reports suggest that Mr Lephema was not happy that his highly influential Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police had been split into two separate portfolios and had been redeployed to the Trade Ministry. The reports suggested Mr Lephema was so unhappy that he had demanded to be moved back to his old ministry and that he had not set foot at his new office at trade more than a week after the reshuffle.
In his address, Mr Lephema did not address all these allegations. It remains to be seen whether he will stay true to his vow of loyalty to Prime Minister Matekane. The absence of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister at his birthday celebrations, which both have previously attended, will only aggravate speculation about the tensions crippling the RFP.