‘Marafaele Mohloboli

THE ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC)’s national executive committee (NEC) will meet again tomorrow to discuss the contentious issue of Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro’s removal from office.

Tomorrow’s crunch meeting follows the first meeting on 8 February 2021 which was inconclusive as the divided NEC failed to come up with a single definitive position on the issue. After the meeting, two factions led by erstwhile allies, deputy leader Nqosa Mahao and secretary general Lebohang Hlaele issued conflicting statements.

Mr Hlaele’s faction, which includes spokesperson Montoeli Masoetsa, said the NEC had resolved to recall Dr Majoro while the Mahao faction other rebuffed the claim as a “big fat lie”.

The bitter factionalism within the ABC’s NEC reached a nadir on that day with factional members exchanging fistfights at the meeting over the Majoro recall issue.

Tomorrow, the factions will square up again over the issue.

Mr Masoetsa yesterday told the Sunday Express that tomorrow’s meeting would “finalise the Majoro issue”.

“Nothing new will be added to the previous meeting’s agenda. The main item on the agenda is Dr Majoro’s issue and whatever will be decided shall be final,” Mr Masoetsa said.

The previous meeting also discussed the removal or redeployment of Lekhetho Mosito who had just been appointed as Defence and National Security minister in place of fellow ABC member, Prince Maliehe, who was booted out in a 3 February 2021 cabinet reshuffle.

In the meeting, Dr Majoro had been given an ultimatum to sack Mr Mosito or face the boot himself. Dr Majoro bowed to pressure and fired Mr Mosito.

The NEC was also miffed by the premier’s decision to fire longtime ally, Keketso Rantšo from the Labour and Employment minister post and the reshuffling of former Communications, Science and Technology to the to the Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing portfolio.

Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, the ABC’s deputy chairperson, Chalane Phori, yesterday stoked the flames by calling for Dr Majoro’s ouster.

A self-confessed loyalist of ousted former Prime Minister and current ABC leader, Mr Phori described Dr Majoro a “total failure” who was pursuing his personal interests at the expense of party unity and cohesion.

“He must go because he is destroying the party,” Mr Phori said, adding “he is not working for unity”.

“Ntate Majoro is not to be trusted in any way. He is busy firing people who have worked hard for this party. We have also heard that he has given a directive to his coalition partners not to hire any ABC member in any ministry under their control.

“Soon after becoming prime minister, he chased away all vendors who had stalls at Ha-Thetsane. These are things we have seen happening during the past regimes led by other parties. He even fired his spokesperson who is a loyal member of our party (Mosito Moqhekoana) and replaced him with a die-hard congress supporter ( Buta Moseme), who is now his press attaché,” said Mr Phori.

Messrs Moqhekoana was replaced by Mr Moseme last month. The two were reachable for comment yesterday on Mr Phori’s claims.