MASERU – Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili last weekend lashed out at former national executive members of his party’s youth league saying they had succumbed to pride.
He also accused the youths of gross insubordination.
Mosisili made the remarks as he officially opened the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) youth league special conference at ’Manthabiseng Convention Centre last Saturday.
“They were insubordinate and openly said they were entitled to hold the positions because they had been voted into office. We were left shell-shocked by their behaviour,” Mosisili said.
He said the behaviour of the previous youth committee had left them exasperated.
The LCD youth league national executive committee was dissolved last October for alleged insubordination.
A new youth league committee was elected last weekend and will remain in office until September next year.
Mosisili pleaded with LCD supporters to forgive members of the dissolved committee and afford them a chance to learn and grow within the party.
“The fact that the committee was done away with, was discipline enough. They are our children and therefore deserve to be given a chance to reinvent themselves,” said Mosisili.
He blamed the downfall of that committee on pride.
“Pride goes before a fall. It is always wise to learn from experienced people instead of approaching life and situations with a bad attitude,” said Mosisili.
Mosisili appealed to the newly elected committee to seriously consider the advice he was giving them.
“I hope my words have not fallen on deaf ears,” said Mosisili.
The LCD had earlier indicated that it was expecting 80 constituencies at the conference as well as the two South African provinces of Gauteng and the Free State.
However, the Free State province failed to attend while Gauteng refrained from voting.
Lebakeng constituency also pulled out of the voting process.
Political observers at the conference said this suggested serious problems within the party unlike the public show of unity.
Keketso Rantsó, an ex-officio member of the LCD youth committee, however refused to comment on the issues surrounding the conference.
“Anything that you report concerning the conference and this committee at this point in time will be pure speculation,” said Rantsó.
The new committee is made up of 13 members.
Mosala Mojakisane was elected youth league president replacing Rethabile Marumo.
Ntsekiseng Mona was elected deputy president with Rorisang Mokuena being elected chairperson.
Mona and Mokuena are the only two former executive committee members who made it into the new committee.
