Masire blames Lesotho government for unrest

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Thursday July 23, 2009 00:00

 

Addressing the media in Gaborone on Friday, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed mediator said during his attempts to help solve the political problems in Lesotho since last year, he had identified the government as the main problem - abusing the loopholes in the system and not willing to compromise. He said the opposition was a bit compromising and willing to accept any form of mediation and proposals to break the standoff.

Sir Ketumile said the opposition had filed their complaint with the High Court to challenge the allocation of the seats. He revealed that he was surprised when the court ruled that the opposition had no right to challenge the outcome of elections in court and that it also had no jurisdiction over such matters. 'How can the highest court in the land say it does not have jurisdiction over any matter of national concern?' he wondered. 

He said that it was resolved that experts on proportional representation system should be brought in to assist with finding solutions.  However, he said the government made it clear that it would not accept any form of advice from the experts and that it wanted to maintain the status quo. He said the government later told him that it was no longer interested in his mediation and that he could go home.

Sir Ketumile has since submitted a report to the SADC secretariat on his findings and the regional body will make a decision on the matter. Swaziland's King Mswati is the chairman of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security. Mswati has ruled his country under a state of emergency since 1973 and political parties are prohibited. Opposition activist Mario Masuku of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and his lawyer have been kept in jail since last year. As a result, analysts are questioning whether Mswati should preside over any moves aimed at solving the Lesotho impasse.

Some of the Highlights in Lesotho politics:

2007 February - Ruling LCD wins early parliamentary elections, taking 61 of 80 constituencies; leader of the opposition All Basotho Congress (ABC) challenges the outcome.

2007 March - General strike following opposition call for action in protest over allocation of parliamentary seats.

2007 July - State of emergency declared as Lesotho experiences its most severe drought in 30 years.

2007 October - Five charged with high treason for their alleged role in attacks on the homes of the opposition leader and cabinet ministers.

2009 April - PM Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili survives unhurt an apparent assassination attempt in the capital Maseru, according to the government.