MASERU — Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma arrived in Lesotho yesterday for a two-day visit.
Sharma who is on his inaugural visit here since taking over from Don Mackinnon in 2008 meets opposition leaders this morning.
He will then hold discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Lesao Lehohla before having an audience with King Letsie III.
Sharma winds up his visit with a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili before flying out at lunchtime, according to his official programme.
Both the government and the opposition would not say what the discussions would focus on.
The Commonwealth said the visit would discuss preparations for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for Perth in October.
Sharma is also expected to discuss ways of deepening relations between the Commonwealth and member countries such as Lesotho.
Before coming to Lesotho he was in Mozambique.
Sharma’s visit will also accord him an opportunity to update leaders on the Commonwealth Network of Election Management Bodies (CNEMB).
The CNEMB was set up to increase collaboration and boost the standards of election management bodies, which play a significant role in strengthening democracy across the Commonwealth.
Also under discussion will be a review of the role and mandate of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which deals with serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values,” read the Commonwealth’s note on Sharma’s visit.
The Commonwealth is a grouping of 54 countries, mainly former British colonies.