The Kingdom of Lesotho was represented by Methetjoa Metsing, the deputy prime minister. Clad in a blue traditional Sesotho blanket known as seanamarena in his colloquial, he spoke in his soft, affirming voice to the grief stricken crowds about how he knew the late Motswaledi. After the funeral we both settled down in the same tent and I was glad to be rubbing shoulders with political heavy weights like him. I jokingly asked him a question in Sesotho saying, “a kae masole a ha Leabua?”(where are Leabua’s loyal soldiers?) He laughed his lungs out and asked if I knew about them. I told him the reason why Botswana had so many of Basotho refugees in the 70s and 80s was because they were agitated by soldiers loyal to Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan. Interestingly, all those accompanying Metsing, including his Ade Camp (ADC) and personal assistant, did not take any interest in our conversation because they came from another era and a different generation.
Little did Metsing know that in a matter of three weeks he would be a refugee himself in neighbouring South Africa, running away from the same military we were discussing. Lesotho is one country in southern Africa that has been very prone to coups since achieving independence from the British in 1966. The last time they were at this was in 1996, which ultimately cost lives on both side as South African troops attempted to bring in a military solution to the problem. Botswana sent in a contingent of troops but came back without any casualties. SADC, as the regional body on politics and economic affairs, sent in a very strong warning that they would not tolerate such actions of unconstitutional change of government anywhere in the region. It seems the message was clear as it has taken a solid eighteen years before this current coup.
