Lesotho PM voted out

Mbongeni Mguni | Thursday March 2, 2017 19:00

 

The result means within three days Mosisili has to either resign or dissolve Parliament, the latter meaning a snap election.

Yesterday evening, clerk of the National Assembly in Maseru, Fine Maema confirmed that opposition MPs had voted out Mosisili. “The motion was passed and it will now proceed according to the constitution,” he told Mmegi from Maseru.

“According to the Constitution, the Prime Minister within three days has to either offer his resignation or dissolve Parliament. Those are the two options. “Should he dissolve Parliament, that would result in the calling of a snap election.”

Yesterday’s motion was held under the eagle eyes of various observers, including members of the SADC oversight committee set up by the Heads of State during President Ian Khama’s chairmanship of the regional body.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Balopi was reportedly in attendance at the vote of no confidence as part of the oversight committee. He was unavailable for comment yesterday evening.

Mosisili’s government has come under increasing fire from Lesotho opposition parties and regional bodies such as SADC, in the aftermath of political and military crises in 2015.

A SADC Commission of Enquiry led by local retired judge, Mpaphi Phumaphi in 2015, had recommended the removal of Lesotho Defence Force chief, Tlali Kamoli and amnesty for soldiers accused of being part of a planned mutiny.

Phumaphi said the alleged mutiny was a cover for a crackdown on Kamoli’s military rivals.

Mosisili’s position considerably weakened recently after his ruling coalition split, and former exiled opposition leaders, including the immediate-past PM, Tom Thabane, returned.

Yesterday morning, reports from Maseru indicated that all soldiers detained in maximum prison since 2015 under the “mutiny” charges stemming from 2015 had been released.