—as he begins five-year tenure at the helm of electoral management body
THE newly appointed chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Dr John Maphephe, says Lesotho should aim to produce and export highly skilled election experts to other countries.
Dr Maphephe, who was recently appointed to the IEC alongside Pontšo Mamatlere Matete and Dr Chelete Monyane, said strengthening institutional capacity and human capital would be central to the commission’s growth.
In his five-year term, he hopes to build a professional, credible and respected electoral management body that can contribute expertise beyond Lesotho’s borders.
Dr Maphephe recently sat down with the Lesotho Times (LT)’s senior reporter Mohloai Mpesi for an exclusive interview to outline his vision for the IEC.
Excerpts:
LT: What does your appointment to the helm of this important institution mean to you personally and professionally, and what guiding principles will shape your leadership?
Maphephe: First and foremost, I thank God. I regard this appointment as both a calling and a huge responsibility. I am a Reverend by background, and I see this opportunity as service to the nation.
I also thank the Basotho people for the confidence they have placed in me through their representatives across political parties and appointing authorities. It is an honour that I accept with a clear conscience, fully aware of the responsibility that comes with leading the IEC.
I have worked in elections in both difficult and stable environments, in developed and underdeveloped contexts. That experience should enable me to make a meaningful contribution.
Importantly, I am not working alone. I believe in building consensus and promoting a participatory leadership style. Every employee of the Commission—from senior management to the cleaning staff—must feel included in decision-making processes.
Our decisions will be guided strictly by the law and supported by evidence. As an institution that champions democratic principles, the IEC must serve as a cornerstone and guardian of constitutional democracy. We must practise these values internally before we can inspire others to do the same.
LT: You bring extensive experience in the electoral field. What targets do you hope to achieve by the end of your five-year term?
Maphephe: My first priority is to ensure a solid and credible voter register. Lesotho has undergone significant changes over the years, and while my predecessors did commendable work, the voter register should no longer be a recurring issue in the next five to ten years.
We must reach a point where the voter register is stable and reliable, as is the case in many countries where I have worked. A clean voter register underpins all electoral processes and information systems. It builds trust, credibility, and confidence among Basotho.
The second priority is institutional capacity building. Election management is increasingly becoming a professional career. We want to build an institution capable of producing and exporting election experts from Lesotho.
SADC is respected globally for credible elections, and Lesotho is not far from meeting those standards. To achieve this, we must have a well-capacitated, professional election management body.
From my experience, when staff are well trained, respected, and professionally supported, they work effectively—even in the absence of their leaders. A motivated and valued workforce is key to institutional success.
The third goal is to improve voter turnout. Ultimately, we want elections that are clean, free, fair, lawful, and accepted by all stakeholders.
LT: Voter turnout has been declining. How do you plan to address this?
Maphephe: As the IEC, it is our responsibility to ensure technical readiness so that voters do not encounter problems on polling day. Errors at polling stations discourage participation.
Voter education is equally important. Citizens must understand not only how to vote, but why voting matters in addressing long-term socio-economic challenges. This responsibility should be shared among the IEC, media, civil society, NGOs, and political parties.
We must also modernise our systems to target young and first-time voters. In advanced democracies, voter registration is automated. When a person turns 18, they receive an SMS, email, or notification inviting them to register. That is the direction we should be moving toward.
Communication must meet people where they are. Some listen to radio, others read newspapers, while many—especially young people—use digital platforms. We must also consider Basotho in the diaspora, particularly in South Africa, who currently have limited opportunities to participate.
LT: What makes elections clean, fair, and successful?
Maphephe: Clean elections begin with strict adherence to the law and the Constitution. Participation is equally critical. When all stakeholders, including marginalised groups, are involved in preparations, elections gain legitimacy.
Transparency and impartiality are essential. All stakeholders must receive equal information and treatment. When these principles are upheld, the likelihood of legal disputes is significantly reduced.
LT: Some voters were unable to vote in the 2022 elections because their names did not appear on the voters’ roll. How will this be addressed, particularly ahead of local government by-elections?
Maphephe: I can assure you that we will not conduct any election, whether local or national, with similar mistakes.
Our focus is on cleaning the voter register and strengthening the legal framework. We need a clear Electoral Register Bill aligned with the National ID system. However, we acknowledge that access to National IDs remains a challenge.
Until that challenge is resolved, we may need to consider alternative forms of identification to ensure inclusivity. I have not yet fully reviewed the technical challenges of 2022, but issues such as voter relocation during registration may have contributed.
No election is flawless, but we are prepared. Elections are our daily work, and we are ready to manage challenges as they arise.
LT: There have been allegations of irregular procurement practices at the IEC. How do you intend to address those?
Maphephe: Every institution must have safeguards. The IEC operates within government procurement regulations, but we must strengthen internal governance.
Well-trained and capacitated staff reduce the risk of irregularities. We will introduce stronger internal controls, performance reviews, and systems that prevent individuals from handling sensitive processes alone.
These reforms will apply across finance, procurement, IT, and HR. We will also draw on private-sector expertise and work closely with law enforcement agencies. Given the high-risk nature of election administration, corruption prevention must be a priority.
This includes transparent procurement systems, strict enforcement of codes of conduct, whistleblowing mechanisms, and continuous ethics training. Collaboration with anti-corruption agencies is essential to maintain public trust.
LT: Will Adv Maqutu be prosecuted over alleged unlawful procurement and nepotism allegations that you have levelled against him?
Maphephe: Adv Maqutu served the IEC for four years, and we acknowledge his contribution. However, the Commission does not target individuals. We operate strictly within the law.
Where there are allegations, due process must be followed. It is the institution, not individuals, that takes action based on evidence and legal frameworks. Our focus is neutrality, fairness and lawful governance.
LT: There is a dispute over the ownership of the IEC building in Maseru West. What is your position on that one?
Maphephe: Our priority remains election preparedness. With elections approaching, the Commission must focus its limited resources on delivering credible and inclusive elections.
The IEC currently has functional office space, and property matters should not distract us from our constitutional mandate. The facts surrounding the dispute are still unclear, and we are awaiting full clarification regarding decisions made under the previous administration.
We recognise government as a key stakeholder, but engagement must not compromise the IEC’s constitutional independence. Dialogue must be guided by transparency and consultation.
Key issues include accessibility to the public, clarification of ownership, protection of institutional independence, and transparency around any security concerns.
If mishandled, the dispute risks legal confrontation, perceptions of political interference, loss of public confidence, and reputational damage. Ultimately, the Commission must avoid any outcome that undermines trust in electoral governance and democratic stability.
