…bids to revive party to its glory days
Moroke Sekoboto
THE All Basotho Convention (ABC) has unveiled what it describes as a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at revitalising the party and positioning it for victory in the next general elections.
ABC leader, Nkaku Kabi, said the plan marks a decisive shift towards honest self-reflection and institutional reform to address the party’s past failures.
Popularly known as Kobotata, the ABC suffered a dramatic decline in the 2022 general elections, falling from the 48 constituencies it won in 2017 to none. The party only secured eight proportional representation seats. Through the new strategy, the ABC hopes to reclaim its status as one of Lesotho’s most followed political parties.
Speaking at the launch of the 2024–2029 strategic plan at Memorial Hall in Maseru over the weekend, Mr Kabi said the ABC was the first political party in Lesotho to develop a formal strategic plan.
He called on the government to take urgent action to address poverty and proposed a restructuring of the national decentralisation policy to empower local, district and community councils.
“We have to strengthen local governance, which is key to speeding up service delivery and reducing corruption. We must move from mere promises to immediate action. The ABC leadership is focused on changing lives now, not waiting for post-election promises,” Mr Kabi said.
He added that the strategy was developed through consultations with the public and is anchored on building a people-centred party united against poverty, hunger and corruption.
Mr Kabi also criticised the current administration, calling for principled leadership capable of addressing Lesotho’s economic challenges.
“We have a high unemployment rate. The government promised 70 000 youth jobs, but there is no visible impact because it relies mainly on the public service.”
He said the ABC aims to unite Basotho around a vision of preserving Lesotho, strengthening democracy and ensuring inclusive participation.
“We want to involve women and youth in all national matters, guide them in governance, attract domestic and foreign investment, and strengthen Lesotho’s standing in international forums such as SADC, the AU and the UN.”
He added that the party intends to contest both local government and national elections, with the ultimate goal of forming a government driven by national interests.
ABC secretary general, Thebe Mokoatle, outlined the strategic plan’s key priorities, including rebuilding party structures, job creation, data-driven campaigning and youth empowerment.
Mr Mokoatle said the strategy sets clear impact and outcome indicators that will be used to evaluate the party’s performance against its vision and objectives.
He also said growing party membership would also increase support from non-members, as the ABC could be voted for by both members and non-members.
“The strategy targets growing membership to 100 000, strengthening branch discipline and avoiding past factionalism and legal disputes,” he said.
He said a core pillar of the plan is the creation of specialised youth corporations to promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship, alongside the use of research and data to guide election strategies and reconnect with grassroots supporters.
“The ABC is determined to be a party that demonstrates the highest level of transparency and accountability, where members receive full reports and are free to hold leadership accountable for underperformance,” Mr Mokoatle said.
He added that conflicts were inevitable in political organisations but must be resolved swiftly to minimise damage to the party.
Mr Mokoatle said the party would establish a clean and comprehensive membership database, detailing members’ demographics, locations and occupations, while ensuring all party committees are functional and properly trained in administration.
“For the survival of the party and successful implementation of this strategy, there must be sustainable funding sources. We must formulate policies that address the country’s pressing challenges and develop a strong manifesto that resonates with voters,” he said.
He also said ABC has intentions to increase its National Assembly election vote tally to more than 140 000 under the new strategy.
