MOVEMENT for Economic Change (MEC) spokesperson, Liteboho Kompi, comes from a family with strong congress roots. Politics has been part of her diet from a young age and she made it to parliament at the tender age of 30. In this wide-ranging interview with the Lesotho Times (LT)’s Special Projects Editor, Bongiwe Zihlangu, Ms Kompi discusses her journey through politics and explains how it has shaped her consciousness:
LT: Kindly provide a brief background of yourself
Kompi: I am originally from Phamong, Mohale’s Hoek. I attended Letlapeng Primary School before proceeding to Morija Girls’ High School. I subsequently enrolled with the National University of Lesotho (NUL) where I studied economics from 2002 to 2006. Thereafter, I completed a Master’s Degree in International Management in China. Upon my return, I worked at the Ministry of Labour and Employment for six months before joining the Limkokwing University of Technology in 2008 as a lecturer.
I joined the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) at a tender age because my family were staunch supporters of the congress movement. I was initially not active in politics despite being a card-carrying member of the LCD. I never saw myself as a career politician and I only became active at the height of the infighting (in the LCD) which culminated in the 2012 split and the formation of the Democratic Congress (DC).
When former LCD leader, Pakalitha Mosisili, and others left to form the DC, I chose to stay put rather than follow them through the exit door. I felt that even though Ntate Mosisili had done well as prime minister, the time had come for him to hand over to someone else. He had done his part and he should have handed over to Ntate (Mothetjoa) Metsing (who later took over as leader). Ntate Metsing was younger and had a vision. He was better placed to change the course of the party. Following the LCD split, the party’s Qaqatu constituency members asked me to contest the elections as the previous MP had defected to the DC. I lost the primaries and filed a complaint but the LCD national executive committee (NEC) ruled in favour of my rival. However, I was included in the proportional representation (PR) list. Ironically, my competitor lost the national elections while I made it to parliament via the PR system.
LT: How would you describe the experience of being suddenly thrust into the deep end despite that you were seemingly a political greenhorn?
Kompi: I went to parliament at a time when the LCD had been earnestly grooming young people for important roles in politics. I learnt a lot and matured fast. Being in parliament at 30, made me more passionate about politics. It is only when you are actively involved that you can grasp the dynamics. You become aware of the responsibility on your shoulders and begin to appreciate people’s expectations of you. I had a newfound respect for female politicians because I came to understand them better. Before I became active in politics, I did not understand their motivations. I even looked down on women who danced at rallies. I always asked myself why anyone would want to dance and I viewed those who did so as illiterate, jobless attention seekers. But believe you me, today I dance too. I look at myself after every rally, all happy, dusty and messy and I laugh at myself.
I have come to understand life in general. When you are not in politics, you live for yourself and your family. You exist in your comfort zone totally oblivious to the daily struggles of ordinary people. Being in politics has been a serious wake-up call. It was only when I started engaging with the people at the grassroots that I began to see life differently. It is only when you visit remote villages that it hits home that Lesotho needs serious fixing. There are folks out there who need government intervention.
Politics has given me a different perspective on life, particularly my own lifestyle. I’ve come to appreciate my own blessings. I’ve come to appreciate that I have been living a life that some people can only dream of. Some of us have more than we need but we still burden God with requests for more when there are people who have nothing.
My family was not rich but we were comfortable. Growing up, I was unaware that some people did not have a steady income or anything at all. Some families are so poor that they can’t afford a pack of sanitary towels. That is how harsh it is. It is only when you reach out to the grassroots that you can better appreciate people’s struggles. That sparks in you a desire to help because you come to understand people’s challenges.
LT: After initially staying put when Mr Mosisili and others left, you eventually followed Mr Selibe Mochoboroane out of the LCD when he formed the Movement for Economic Change (MEC) in 2017. How do you explain the decision to dump your childhood party?
Kompi: As I matured in politics, I began to see the need for change. At the time of the formation of the MEC, I was Deputy Minister of Small Business, Cooperatives and Marketing. Before that I had been Deputy Minister of Health. I was initially conflicted in that while I felt the urge to join the MEC, a part of me also felt obliged to remain in the LCD because it had taken me to parliament and further empowered me by ensuring I became a deputy minister.
But at the same time, I felt that the MEC had a better vision and it was alive to the poverty across Lesotho that needed to be addressed. I also believed in MEC’s policies on trade and the economy.
I decided to join the MEC at a rally in Mohale’s Hoek. That very week, the then Prime Minister Mosisili and his deputy, Ntate Metsing, fired me from cabinet. They were aggrieved that I hadn’t informed them beforehand that I planned to join MEC. I told them that I had used my discretion because I did not want them to try and stop me. I didn’t want them to dangle a carrot in front of me to dissuade me from pursuing my goal. I told them that I expected to be fired. It did not make much difference because I was already on maternity leave and I had cleared my office in advance knowing what awaited me following my departure from the LCD.
LT: You were elected MEC spokesperson. How has it been in that position thus far?
Kompi: I never envisioned myself becoming the spokesperson of a political party. I never pictured myself consistently engaging with the media and articulating the party position. But my party told me that it needed to be represented by someone as sober as I am in the hope that I would soften things up and cool tempers. They said my approach to issues was what Lesotho’s political landscape needed. Eventually they were able to convince me. I understand what my party saw in me, and I am now able to serve. I love what I do and I have learnt that I can sway opinions without throwing a tantrum or resorting to vulgarity.
LT: You were elected deputy chairperson of the National Reforms Authority (NRA) in 2019. How has that panned out?
Kompi: The appointment was a confidence booster for me. It was truly humbling experience to be chosen by my NRA colleagues to be part of the leadership to guide the country through the reforms process. Most members of the NRA were highly accomplished individuals with a lot of experience and exposure. Yet they trusted me to lead them, nevertheless. Indeed, there were challenges here and there, including an attempt to remove me via a no-confidence vote. However, those who wanted me out could not advance valid reasons and I began to wonder if they were targeting me because I am a woman.
LT: You went to court to challenge the cabinet’s decision to dissolve the NRA. What is your gripe with that decision?
Kompi: The NRA’s tenure ended on 30 April 2022 but the question is what next because the reforms are yet to be implemented? Who do we leave the reforms process with? Reforms are not the property of government. When you dissolve the NRA, who then shall be accountable for the reforms process going forward?
We need to know who will take the reforms forward because the government tends to drag its feet. We cannot rely on the government. We were saying that the government should engage with all stakeholders with a view to identifying who should be taking the work forward. We are not necessarily saying the NRA must be retained in its current form but that there must be a structure in place to oversee the implementation of reforms. It was known beforehand that the NRA’s tenure would end in April. Therefore, there should have been dialogue about the way forward instead of just dissolving the structure and leaving a vacuum.
LT: Given your experience, do you think the country’s political landscape is fair to women?
Kompi: The political sphere is very hostile towards female politicians. When you are strong and active, you are labelled a disrespectful woman who challenges men. It is no secret that whenever a woman is at the helm, people always act like they have a right to challenge her and interfere with her work. Also, women don’t support each other hence the problems we encounter.
