Letuka Chafotsa
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials will tomorrow meet South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the country’s readiness to hold credible general elections.
On 15 September 2014, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) recommended that Lesotho should hold early elections before the original date of 2017 to ensure the country returns to political stability.
This recommendation was made after it emerged the coalition government comprising the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP), which formed a unity administration in June 2012, had failed to resolve their differences and could no longer work together.
At its latest meeting on the Lesotho crisis—a crisis which began early this year after LCD leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing had accused Prime Minister Thomas Thabane of not consulting his fellow leaders when making important government decisions—SADC recommended the general election be brought forward to ensure a new government is put in place and stability returns to the kingdom.
The IEC Director of Elections, Mphasa Mokhochane yesterday told the Sunday Express: “We were supposed to go to Pretoria to meet the facilitator, Mr Ramaphosa on Monday.
“But the meeting has since been moved to Maseru because Mr Ramaphosa is coming here on Monday to continue with his facilitation, so we will meet with him here.
“We will be discussing our readiness to hold the election as recommended by SADC, and highlight whatever challenges we might encounter considering the short notice of the poll.”
Meanwhile, in addition to ensuring an early poll, Mr Ramaphosa is also expected to facilitate the re-opening of Parliament which has remained closed since Dr Thabane suspended it for nine months on 10 June this year.
The premier decided to prorogue the House to avoid a no-confidence vote in his leadership by MPs who accused him of maladministration.
Despite SADC recommending that the House reconvenes on 19 September, Dr Thabane has refused to budge, insisting the country’s security situation remained a concern.
Among the issues the premier has pointed out is the refusal by Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli to vacate office despite being fired as Lesotho Defence Force Commander on 29 August this year.
Dr Thabane insists for as long as Lt Gen Kamoli continues to defy the order, Lesotho remains insecure as he remains in control of the army in violation of the country’s constitution.
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