SA Parliament urges end to Lesotho crisis

CAPE TOWN, Wednesday
South Africa should spare no effort in ensuring that Lesotho is back to normal, the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation said on Wednesday.

Committee Chairperson Siphosezwe Masango expressed hope that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mandated mediator, South Africa, will move with speed on outstanding matters on Lesotho.

‘‘Indeed the Committee notes the role of the SADC leadership. It is critical to ensure that the impasse in Lesotho is resolved completely and that Lesotho’s Parliament is established very soon. The region cannot afford to have a nation state whose legislative body is nonexistent,” Mr Masango said. 

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a SADC appointed facilitator on Lesotho, announced last week that conflicting parties in the kingdom have agreed to hold general elections in  February next year in a bid to end political tension in that country.

Mr Masango welcomed the success Ramaphosa in brokering a deal in Lesotho and said this was indicative of South Africa’s standing in the region and on the continent. 

But Mr Masango said outstanding matters on the Lesotho debacle still exist, which include the harmonisation of relations between the army and the police, preparation for elections and stabilisation of government. 

He said the Lesotho crisis took place when a suspended rebel commander temporarily took charge of government.

“The SADC region needs to stabilise for accelerated development to happen. The region cannot tolerate a situation where lives of people are compromised and acceptable governance practices are destabilised,” Mr Masango said.

PROGRESS MADE

“The Committee notes the progress made and thus congratulates all involved in the Lesotho matter. For the sake of the Basotho people, South Africa should spare no effort in ensuring that Lesotho is back to normal,” Mr Masango said.

Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane suspended Parliament in June to avoid a vote of no confidence that was being pushed by his coalition government partners.In late August, the Lesotho military staged a coup, forcing Thabane to flee to South Africa. He returned home in early September after the SADC, led by South Africa, intervened.

Under the SADC mediation, Lesotho’s parliament will reconvene on October 17 and dissolved in December to make way for the general elections.
At a summit on September 15, the SADC Double Troika plus the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania gave an ultimatum to Thabane to reopen the suspended parliament with immediate effect. (Xinhua)