‘Snap elections looming’ – opposition 

Mohloai Mpesi 

LEADERS of political parties represented in Parliament say snap elections are now possible in Lesotho in light of the ongoing ructions in the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP). 

They say the potential formation of a breakaway party by former Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Lebona Lephema, could destabilise the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Sam Matekane leading to the snap elections. 

The ruling party, led by Mr Matekane, is said to be under pressure amid uncertainty over whether Mr Lephema will establish his own political movement following his dismissal from Cabinet earlier this week. 

According to political party leaders, the RFP cannot withstand another splinter group, warning that such a development could significantly reduce its numbers in Parliament and potentially trigger early elections. 

There are fears that a number of MPs could follow Mr Lephema, who is regarded as politically influential and well-resourced, potentially weakening the RFP and its coalition partners: Selibe Mochoboroane’s Movement for Economic Change, Professor Nqosa Mahao’s Alliance of Democrats, Mothetjoa Metsing’s Lesotho Congress for Democracy, and others. 

The coalition currently relies on a parliamentary majority of 73 seats. But that is no longer certain after Mr Lephema’s dismissal. 

Mr Lephema’s dismissal reportedly followed an impasse with Mr Matekane. Reports indicate he rejected his reassignment from the now-split Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development. Mr Lephema allegedly cited a conflict of interest due to the financial bailout his company, Executive Transport, has sought from the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), as well as his interest in buying the now-defunct Loti Brick from LNDC. 

He is said to have only learned of the reshuffle while in Cape Town, South Africa. Upon his return, Mr Lephema is said to have demanded that he be reinstated to his old ministry. Mr Matekane refused to oblige, fearing that acceding to Mr Lephema’s demands would effectively degrade him into a hapless lame duck. 

Mr Matekane eventually fired Mr Lephema after the latter remained obstinate. Mr Lephema is now said to want to focus on party work to take over as deputy party leader, in place of Ms Nthomeng Majara, and position himself to become Mr Matekane’s successor.  All that has created an atmosphere of uncertainty in a country in which no government has lasted its full cycle since 2012. 

Leader of the opposition Democratic Congress (DC), Mathibeli Mokhothu, said the RFP cannot afford further fragmentation, warning that it has already suffered multiple political splits. 

He cited the departure of Matlakeng legislator Dr Mahali Phamotse, who formed the United Africans Transformation, as well as the recent formation of the Khanya party by Peka MP Mohopoli Monokoane. 

He also noted movements of MPs between parties, including legislators from Lithoteng, Malimong and Abia who moved to the DC, as well as others who joined the RFP from opposition ranks. 

Mr Mokhothu warned that another split could severely weaken the governing coalition and force early elections. 

“Until now RFP encountered three splits; Dr Phamotse, Members of Parliament who diverted to DC, as well as Khanya. If it fails to manage this wave as it includes prominent people with a large followership in and outside parliament, and RFP main financiers, it will definitely be a blow to RFP and reduce it to lower numbers that could not sustain government…. 

“If there will be a split between Mr Matekane and Mr Lephema, that split will reduce their numbers to the required threshold and that would mean elections,” he said. 

He added that even if Mr Lephema does not form a new party, internal tensions could destabilise the RFP. 

“Be that as it may, if Mr Lephema’s faction decide not to form a new party, and remain within the RFP fold, there will be party infights. 

“It means the party will reach the elections without form and shape. They will not consolidate governance and the party. They will fight during the primary elections with two big camps, each fighting for their candidates to win at the constituencies; it will be a struggle to control the party through the camps,” he said. 

He further warned of competing power blocs within the party. 

“As of now, the camp which is more aligned to Mr Matekane and Ms Majara seems to be controlling Cabinet. But on the other side, who will be controlling most RFP constituencies and the masses between Mr Matekane and Mr Lephema? 

“The issue of controlling the Cabinet might be short-lived because we are left with a year toward the general elections. If Mr Lephema controls Secretary General (Nthati Moorosi), then he will be able to put his candidates to contest for elections; they will then make a deal with some from Mr Matekane’s camp after the elections,” he said. 

He added: “Whichever way, it is a recipe for disaster for RFP. Whether others control the Cabinet, and others struggle to control the party, what remains is that RFP is drowning, both in terms of governance and party management. 

“The party had no structures. They cannot hold the fight because they don’t have structures. Being a party without structures, once it becomes fragmented, it would die. Those are the signs that it is dying a natural death. It will not survive to deliver services to the citizens.” 

Hope-Mphatlalatsane leader, ‘Machabana Lemphane-Letsie, said she supported the changes made within the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, arguing that the ministry was previously underperforming under Mr Lephema’s leadership. 

She said frequent changes of principal secretaries had affected performance. 

“I applaud the changes in the Ministry of Local Government, Home Affairs and Police because I believe it was necessary so that we can see the light. 

“During the budget season I lashed out at Minister Lephema for frequently changing the PSs every day because that made the ministry underperform, and truly speaking the ministry was not performing well. 

“Now this issue has put us here where he is no longer a minister. I can’t say he was performing well. Maybe he might have performed well in another ministry should he have agreed to be reshuffled there. So, he is no longer a minister. His ministry was poor, and I attributed that to his frequent changing of PSs, which are supposed to run the ministry. 

“So, it was a necessary change….It was obvious that he was burdened with the various departments he was supposed to oversee,” she said. 

She added that a breakaway by Mr Lephema could trigger snap elections. 

“We can expect snap elections anytime. If he (Mr Lephema) can decide to form another party, we will find ourselves going to snap elections; it is possible. 

“If he forms his own party, that will cause a call for snap elections; it is possible,” she said. 

However, she cautioned that elections would place a heavy burden on the national budget. 

“Elections are operated with a large budget. It is important to be within the constitutional timeframe. Right now, we are in the fourth year. We are close to finishing the lawful term, just that sometimes people lack patience. 

“We are left with less than 20 months. We were used to spending like 10 months, then go for snap elections, but I think we are close to finishing the five-year term. 

“I don’t support any move that would cause us to go back to snap elections. I wish that we must have patience for each other,” she said. 

Leader of the Basotho Action Party, Professor Nqosa Mahao, said snap elections remained possible depending on whether Mr Lephema formed his own party. 

“I am not sure whether snap elections would happen because it depends whether Lephema will leave RFP. If he does not, it means the ruling coalition remains with numbers. 

“But if he leaves, depending on how many people he would be leaving with, it (RFP) will lose the majority and that’s when you can have snap elections. Now we don’t know because we don’t know the intention of Lephema,” he said. 

He added that political parties may be unprepared for such an outcome. 

“The trouble is that it catches all the political parties unprepared. Some parties are still being formed. Others are not fully prepared, even RFP itself, I am not sure that it is prepared for the elections now. So, the effect of snap elections would be to catch all of us unprepared,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Mr Lephema has remained silent since his dismissal on Monday. It remains to be seen what course of action he will take. 

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