Mosisili lives to fight another day
Mbongeni Mguni | Wednesday March 8, 2017 15:59
After last Thursday’s vote of no confidence, Mosisili had three days in which to either resign or dissolve Parliament, the latter requiring that he formally ask for the King’s assent.
Observers said yesterday’s decision by Letsie III is a lifeline for Mosisili, who faces the stiffest challenge to his three year reign after the split of his ruling coalition and the return of opposition leaders from exile.
According to Lesotho media, deputy prime minister, Mothetjoa Metsing yesterday afternoon announced that the King had signed a Gazette confirming Parliament’s dissolution. Elections will be held in 90 days and an exact date will be announced before Saturday.
Lesego Makgothi, a member of the opposition All Basotho Convention said the party’s legal team was working on establishing whether the King’s action could be challenged.
“The King acceded by signing for dissolution without consultation of the Council of State,” he told Mmegi from Maseru. “The PM remains in place until the Council of State sits and agrees on the proclamation of elections. The million-dollar question is whether the Council of State agrees to sit with His Majesty to assist, as he (King) indicated it was not prudent to call for the sitting of the Council of State.
“Our legal team is working on checking whether the King acted outside his mandate, whether the advice he got from the Attorney General and the Prime Minister in terms of executive advice are binding and constitutional.
“Issues of dissolution are outside the mandate of the Executive. The powers rest with the Council of State to advise the King.”
Lesotho’s Council of State consists of, among others, the president of the Law Society, Judges, defence force and police commanders, the Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament, leader of the opposition and others.
Describing the manner of Parliament’s dissolution as a “serious constitutional coup”, Makgothi said the side-stepping of the Council of State was grossly improper.
“This is a serious way of undermining the supreme tool that governs the country if the Council of State cannot be consulted on matters that are clearly stated in the constitution,” he said.
The latest developments throw another bruising electoral battle in the mountain kingdom, with the newly revived opposition parties already having begun mobilising support through well-attended rallies. Mosisili too has held rallies urging his supporters to resist plans to oust him.
Mosisili reportedly told a rally recently in Leribe district the dissolution of Parliament and snap elections were his favoured path out of the latest crisis in the country.
“Me leo lekhalo ke leo ke le ratang haholo, le nepahetse,” he was quoted as saying.
Lesotho political commentator, Professor Maja Sejanamane said there were several reasons behind Mosisili’s push for elections.
“First of all, he wants elections now when he is still in control of the unreformed state apparatus. It’s not only about the use of state resources for campaigning, though that is important too.
“He wants to have elections before any security sector reforms are undertaken. “He is not oblivious to the fact that free and fair elections will not improve his situation. On the contrary, he wants to ensure that his iron grip on the military becomes his main electoral strategy,” said Sejanamane, a political science lecturer at the National University of Lesotho.