Fears of vote-buying

By Mikia Kalati

MASERU — Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) has announced October 26 as the day set for the presidential elections.

Lesotho Times can reveal that the association also reached a decision to buy computers for the 10 district football associations (Difas) during a special meeting on Monday where they also resolved that a special congress for the presidential election will be held in October.

The move and the timing has been seen in some quarters of the association as an act of vote buying ahead of the congress.

The association, at last December’s leadership congress was also marred by controversy with allegations that some candidates had offered delegates to the congress M10 000 bribes to vote for them.

Lefa public relations officer, Thabo Maretlane, on Tuesday, confirmed that the presidential elections are scheduled for October 26 and the developments to buy computers for their Difas.

“Indeed, the executive committee on Monday resolved that a special conference be held on October 26 to elect the president of the association,” said Maretlane.

He denied allegations that buying computers for the Difas was a subtle act of buying votes.

Votes of the representatives from the district football associations will be very vital in deciding who wins the race to be the new Lefa president.

During the last presidential election held in 2009, Lefa president, Salemane Phafane, was re-elected unopposed. Phafane, who is also the vice president of the regional football governing body Cosafa took over the reins of the Lefa presidency after the death of former president, Thabo Makakole in 2004.

Phafane, who is yet to announce his candidacy faces competition from premier league chairman, Lebohang Thotanyana, who is also the vice president of the country’s football association.

Thotanyana, also the president of league champions Lioli, confirmed to this paper that he will contest in the coming Lefa presidential elections. Without saying much, Thotanyana told this paper that his colleagues have asked him to challenge for the Lefa presidency.

“Yes, I have been asked by my colleagues to contest for the position of the president during the upcoming elections,” said Thotanyana.