Bongiwe Zihlangu
MASERU — The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) national executive committee is said to be in fresh turmoil with members struggling to reach consensus on decisions, the Sunday Express heard this week.
Highly placed sources within the former ruling party said more than a month after the executive dissolved the youth and women’s leagues, the committee is still to issue a circular announcing dates for new elections.
This they said indicated all was not well within the LCD with the party’s public relations officer, Mahlomola Makhube, being virtually sidelined from party activities.
The LCD youth and women’s committees were dissolved two days ahead of the party’s leadership conference arguing its members did not qualify to participate at the indaba as they had not been constitutionally elected into office.
The youth league provisional committee was headed by Ts’oanelo Ramakeoana, an LCD proportional representation MP while the women’s committee was led by former education deputy minister ‘Matanki Mokhabi.
Both Ramakeoana and Mokhabi along with LCD executive committee spokesperson and Makhube were said to be voices of dissent within the party.
Makhube was said to have been backing members of the dissolved committees.
The sources said since the dissolution of the committees, Makhube had now been virtually sidelined from party activities.
“Although it is a requirement for the executive committee to meet as a collective, Makhube has now been sidelined and deprived of information,” the source said.
“This is because when the executive committee met soon after last month’s leadership conference, Makhube continued to question its decisions. They decided to close the door on him.”
The LCD executive comprises leader Mothetjoa Metsing, deputy leader Motloheloa Phooko, Secretary-general Keketso Rants’o, chairman Thabang Pheko, treasurer-general Lebohang Nts’inyi, deputy secretary general Ts’eliso Mokhosi, deputy chairman Sethunya Koqo, spokesman Makhube and deputy spokesperson Selibe Mochoboroane.
Former secretary general, Mpho Malie, represents the LCD’s elders’ committee in the executive committee as its chairman.
The source added that Makhube had been virtually sidelined to the extent that he is no longer speaking on behalf of the party with that duty now being performed by his deputy Mochoboroane.
“Makhube has not had the opportunity to perform his duties as PRO because Mochoboroane has taken over. It’s a sad situation and we’re scared another split is just around the corner,” the source said.
Another source complained that despite the urgency to appoint new youth and women’s committees “the executive committee seems reluctant to execute its duties in this regard”.
“Currently there seems to be no initiative from the committee to issue a circular and make preparations for the conferences to elect the two committees,” the source says.
“It’s weird and totally against the constitution for a congress movement to function without the women and youth committees. This committee is not doing its job.”
When contacted for comment yesterday, Makhube declined to elaborate only saying there were problems within the party “especially where I’m concerned”.
“There are problems, yes and I have so much on my plate right now. Please allow me to first deal with issues I’m faced with, after which I’ll be in a position to give you a clear picture of what’s going on,” Makhube said.
“For now, please give me time to sort myself out because truth be told, I’m faced with a lot.”
Party secretary general, Rants’o also declined to comment saying it was tiring to “always have to defend the LCD against malicious allegations”.
On the question of when the executive planned to call elective conferences for the two committees, Rants’o said that was dictated solely by the LCD constitution.
“According to the constitution of the LCD, the women’s league conference will be held sometime between March and April with the youth following between August and September,” Rants’o said.
“All the conferences, I should add, will be held in line with preparations made by the executive committee. We will issue circulars to announce them at the appropriate time.”