Lephema bids to dislodge Majara as RFP’s deputy leader 

—as he galvanizes his wish to succeed Matekane as PM 

Mohloai Mpesi 

FORMER Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Lebona Lephema, is reportedly positioning himself to unseat Nthomeng Majara as deputy leader of the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), the Lesotho Times has learned. 

Sources within the ruling party say Mr Lephema and his allies are pushing for the RFP to hold National Executive Committee (NEC) elections, where he is expected to contest for the deputy leadership position. 

The move is seen as an attempt to weaken Ms Majara’s alleged influence over party affairs and her natural positioning as Mr Matekane’s obvious successor. 

The RFP is currently divided into two factions — one aligned with Mr Lephema and the other with Ms Majara. 

Mr Lephema was reshuffled and later dismissed from Cabinet, allegedly at the behest of Ms Majara. Prime Minister Sam Matekane first transferred him from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development a fortnight ago. However, he allegedly declined the appointment, arguing that it would conflict with his business interests, including efforts to acquire the defunct Loti Brick company and secure a bailout for Executive Transport. The Lesotho National Development Corporation, which operates under the trade ministry, and would have had to make decisions on Mr Lephema’s request  to buy Loti Brick falls under the trade ministry. 

Mr Lephema was eventually fired by Mr Matekane on Monday this week. 

Ironically, Messrs Matekane and Lephema were among the founding architects and principal financiers of the RFP. However, relations between the two are said to have deteriorated following Mr Lephema’s removal from the local government ministry, which has since been split into two ministries. 

Mr Lephema is also said to enjoy significant support from councillors who worked closely with him during his tenure as Local Government minister. 

His dismissal comes amid deepening divisions within the RFP, with factionalism increasingly threatening party unity and widening cracks among members of parliament. 

A source close to the developments, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said Mr Lephema’s faction was considering forcing NEC elections through a vote of no confidence in the current leadership. 

The NEC elections were initially scheduled to take place after the 2028 general elections. However, the source alleged that Mr Lephema’s camp now wants to challenge the current committee and force fresh elections, where he would contest against Ms Majara for the deputy leadership position. 

The source also dismissed speculation that Mr Lephema was planning to form a new political party. 

“He is not going to form a new party. He is going to work for the progress of the party outside government. 

“What they are pushing for, together with Nthati Moorosi and others, is for NEC elections to be held so that Mr Lephema can contest for deputy leader. 

“The elections would be triggered through a vote of no confidence in the NEC,” the source said. 

Another source claimed Mr Lephema was attempting to consolidate support at constituency level as part of a broader strategy to eventually take control of the party. 

“Mr Lephema will not form a party now. He is going to attempt to take over the RFP through constituency structures. He will only consider forming another party if he fails to take over the RFP. 

“There are several RFP MPs supporting him, including some who defected from other parties. I know of at least 19 MPs, but I am told there are more. Should they leave and form another party, the RFP would lose its parliamentary majority, potentially forcing the Prime Minister to call snap elections,” the source said. 

RFP spokesperson, Mokhethi Shelile, dismissed the allegations, citing a resolution adopted during the party’s September 2023 special conference at Ha Leqele, which resolved that the current NEC would remain in office until 2028. 

“I have heard those rumours. But the special conference resolved that another committee would only be elected after the general elections. Being deputy leader of the party does not automatically mean one will occupy a senior Cabinet position because that remains the Prime Minister’s prerogative. 

“So, to what end would that happen (forcing leadership elections)? I do not think it would be important. In other words, there is nothing like that. It does not make sense. I have heard people discussing it and wondered what the objective would be in undermining the conference resolution,” he said. 

Mr Shelile said the party leadership was instead focused on restoring unity within the RFP. 

“We are currently working tirelessly on party unity and, personally, as an RFP member and spokesperson, I do not see the importance of pursuing NEC elections at this stage. It would only add salt to the wound,” he said. 

He also dismissed claims that Mr Lephema commanded majority support among RFP MPs. 

“In an elective conference, MPs are only a small fraction of the delegates. There are more than 200 committees that would participate, as well as over 400 councillors. Legislators are therefore just a drop in the ocean. Having MPs supporting you is good, but it is nowhere near enough,” he said. 

RFP Abia constituency chairperson, Moloi Ralentsoe, told the Lesotho Times yesterday that he supported calls for fresh NEC elections. 

Mr Ralentsoe and his Makhaleng counterpart, Cowboy Sethathi, previously wrote to Ms Moorosi in 2023 demanding that the party hold NEC elections. 

Their demand followed remarks by Mr Matekane during an election victory celebration for Thaba-Tseka legislator, ’Mamamello Holomo, where he indicated that the RFP would not hold an elective conference. 

Messrs Ralentsoe and Sethathi later approached the High Court seeking an order compelling the RFP to convene an elective conference. However, the matter became moot after the September 2023 conference resolved that the NEC would remain in office until after the 2028 elections. 

Mr Ralentsoe said he later withdrew the case following that resolution. 

He also confirmed hearing about Mr Lephema’s reported bid for the deputy leadership position. 

“I have heard about those plans to call a special conference to elect a new committee and I strongly support them,” he said. 

He argued that the current NEC consisted mainly of friends appointed without a democratic mandate, which he said had contributed to ongoing tensions within the party. 

“My argument has always been that this NEC was not elected by the people, therefore it will not serve the people. They are friends, and they are bound to fight because they were never elected. 

“That is why I proposed that we elect a committee chosen by RFP members themselves. Every one of them believes he or she is more powerful than the other because they were not elected by the public. They are therefore serving their own selfish interests. 

“There was an annual general conference in 2023 which endorsed the committee, and that is why I dropped the case. But I support the election of a new NEC 100 percent,” he said. 

Mr Lephema’s phone rang unanswered while Ms Majara’s phone was unreachable when this publication sought comment from them yesterday. 

However, this publication has learned that Mr Lephema is expected to issue a public statement soon regarding his dismissal and future political plans. 

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