’Marafaele Mohloboli

THE National Assembly on Thursday adjourned sine die (an indefinite period) for a winter break after adopting the motion proposed by Justice and Correctional Services Minister Moeketse Malebo.

Mr Malebo proposed the motion on behalf of Leader of the House and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing who led the Lesotho delegation to the 27th African Union summit currently taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

The minister said the break was warranted after the National Assembly managed to pass 19 motions, 10 bills, 21 subordinate laws and 10 ministerial statements between 8 February 2016 and the date of adjournment.

He urged the Members of Parliament (MPs) to hold public gatherings in their respective constituencies urging Basotho to refrain from criminal activities in light of recent disturbances.

The motion was seconded by Police and Public Safety Minister Monyane Moleleki who said the adjournment was opportune since it afforded the MPs time to engage officials from some United Nations agencies currently in the country on developmental issues.

The House adjourned without finalising the Local Government Elections Act Amendment Bill of 2016 which was rejected by the Senate on 7 July.

The bill seeks to transfer the powers of determining the election period from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to the prime minister, through the advice of the Local Government minister.

Likhoele Principal Chief Lerotholi Seeiso had raised a point of order proposing the Upper House end debate on the bill since most Senators had rejected it.

He said priority should be given to enacting reforms on Parliamentary laws and regulations as well as the security sector which were important to Lesotho’s wellbeing. Chief Seeiso also said the bill would only benefit a “certain section” of the population, hence it was not a priority.

In its submissions to the Senate’s Law Committee, civil society organisation Development for Peace Education (DPE) argued the bill would empower the premier unilaterally set the date of elections without consulting other stakeholders.

“The implication of the bill is that it neutralises the dialogue mechanism in which the government would have to consult, negotiate and agree with all political actors,” said DPE Director Sofonea Shale.

For her part, Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs Minister Pontšo ’Matumelo Sekatle had argued the bill aims to broaden the Principal Act on the issue of authorising the premier to call the local government elections since there was no authorised office to play that role.

The local government elections were scheduled for October this year, but have since been postponed to February 2017.