Bongiwe Zihlangu
ALLIANCE of Democrats (AD) leader, Monyane Moleleki, says the first task of the new parliament to be sworn in after the elections should be to probe the M6 billion which the outgoing Moeketsi Majoro-led government failed to account for.
Mr Moleleki said the new parliament should also prioritise the implementation of the multi-sector reforms which the recently dissolved 10th parliament failed to pass during its five-year tenure.
Addressing his final campaign rally yesterday at the Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village, Mr Moleleki accused the governing parties of prioritising their election campaigns instead of spearheading the reforms process.
“You will recall that all the constitutional amendments which were passed by parliament when it was recalled late in August were subsequently nullified by the courts last month,” Mr Moleleki said.
“The failure to timeously pass the reforms can be blamed on the governing parties who failed to prioritise them. As the AD, we will ensure that the new parliament will prioritise the implementation of the reforms.
“Secondly, we will ensure that the new government investigates the M6 billion which was reported as missing by the Auditor-General. This money disappeared in the two years that this outgoing government was in charge. We must establish where that money went to. People must account because if they don’t, Lesotho will never realise the prosperity it yearns for. It is time for Basotho to remove these governing parties and install a new ones. That has to happen,” he said.
Unlike the AD’s final 2017 election rally which was a grand and flamboyant affair, yesterday’s was low-key with a lower turnout.
“Saturday has always been our day to hold rallies. But some parties have decided to take our shine by holding their rally on the same day. They have taken all available transport because all those vehicles belong to their friends,” Moleleki said.
Although he refrained from naming the party in question, Mr Moleleki was referring to businessman, Sam Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), which held its rally also yesterday, at Mazenod.
Mr Moleleki said the huge turnout at the RFP rally would not necessarily translate into votes for the party.
“Despite the attendance, abundant greenery does not guarantee harvest. No, it does not,” Mr Moleleki said.
Mr Moleleki said his party would focus on winning as many seats as possible before thinking about engaging potential coalition partners.