NATIONAL AGENDA
WHAT exactly is going on within the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) youth league?
I raise this question after observing the events within the ruling party over the past fortnight. This is with particular reference to events surrounding the letter sent to Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili by a faction of the ruling party.
A section of the youth league is alleged to have written a letter to Mosisili in his capacity as party leader demanding a reshuffle of cabinet and sacking of under-performing ministers.
Also fingered in the letter were permanent secretaries whom the youth league said were thoroughly inefficient.
The letter to Mosisili is a clear signal that all is not well within the ranks of the ruling party’s youth league.
It is a sign of dissatisfaction among a segment of the youth league.
In a startling development last week the president of the LCD youth league, Mosala Mojakisane, disowned the letter sent to Mosisili.
Mojakisane curiously told a party rally in Butha-Bothe last week that the ruling party youth league was not behind the petition sent to the prime minister.
This was quite surprising and raised a number of questions that warrant answers.
If it was not the youth league that sent the letter, who did?
Mojakisane lambasted those who were behind the letter and threatened that they would face disciplinary action from the party.
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Whatever stance that Mojakisane took it is clear that the LCD youth league is split in the middle.
The genesis of the LCD youth league’s troubles can be traced to last year’s decision to dissolve the league.
The LCD national executive dissolved the youth league for alleged insubordination and indiscipline.
The ousted members appear not to have accepted the disciplinary action by the party.
The fragmentation seems to have its roots in members who were barred from contesting for positions within the youth league.
There have since been rumblings of discontent within the ranks of the youth league.
This in my opinion is the reason why the league has been failing to speak with one voice. This is the reason why the league appears divided and incoherent.
In my opinion the LCD leadership must allow the youth league to run its affairs with minimal intervention.
Youths who challenge their seniors within the party should not be victimized. Constructive criticism is a measure that solidifies good political decisions. Such an approach will deepen the democratic ethos within the party.
Stifling the youth will result in sterility of ideas. It would be a travesty of justice for senior party leaders to “discipline” the youth for expressing divergent views.
The youth league provides a platform for the youth to grow into leaders for tomorrow.
The youth league is a political learning curve. It is where the youth are nurtured and developed into leaders of tomorrow.
The youth must therefore be allowed to use their intuition and cognition.
The youth must therefore be allowed to keep checks and balances regarding the party’s vision.
In most cases the youth are vocal in protesting against irregular acts in the governance of the country.
They should be allowed to play this role freely.
It is as clear as daylight that the LCD has been split into two factions over a number of years now with each faction supporting key officials eyeing to succeed Mosisili.
This can never be disputed.
The voting pattern at the last LCD youth league conference proved this assertion.
Most party members had no problem with the outcome of the conference.
What they were not happy with was the manner in which they were elbowed out of the race for leadership positions.
This sparked animosity despite the clear attempts to present a united front to the media and the general public.
Speaking after their election Mosisili said the new youth league committee should not behave like their ousted predecessors.
What this meant is that Mosisili wanted a youth league committe that was a reflection of himself.
The new committee in turn felt forever grateful to the party leadership for catapulting them into positions of power and authority.
This has seriously compromised the new committee’s independence.
As a result what we now have is a youth league that impotent. It is need of political Viagra.