…as parties seek fresh mandate for crunch talks
Bongiwe Zihlangu
THE All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP) today enter Day Two of make-or-break talks aimed at resolving differences which have soured relations between the three governing parties.
Addressing a press conference last night on the outcome of the first leg of the talks, BNP leader, Thesele ‘Maseribane, said the three principals — Prime Minister and ABC leader Thomas Thabane, Deputy Prime Minister and LCD leader Mothetjoa Metsing and himself — had resolved to consult with their respective parties and “seek a new mandate and rebuild trust” before meeting this afternoon to continue with the discussions.
“When we signed the agreement to form a coalition government (after the May 2012 general election had resulted in a hung parliament), our decision was based on the trust we had cultivated and the understanding that running a government meant we had to have confidence in each other,” said Chief ‘Maseribane, who is also the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation.
“It is a serious issue when the pillars of government are shaken, hence our decision to start afresh by re-establishing the mandates that we received from our respective political parties when we formed government.
“The same mandates will help us determine if that trust can be rebuilt between the three of us, and that we can usher this country into the 2017 elections as a united force.”
Chief ‘Maseribane — who was accompanied by BNP deputy leader Joang Molapo and party chairperson Nthabiseng Makoae, ABC chairman Motlohi Maliehe and secretary-general Samonyane Ntsekele, as well as Acting Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka, at the press briefing — added it was only through renewed trust that “we can get into discussing the core issues of government”.
The BNP leader further said the fact that the ABC and LCD have accused each other of courting the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC) with a view to forming a coalition government, meant “trust has to be sought from the three of us, not just one party”.
“If we are to discuss issues in earnest, we first have to ensure that there is trust between us all, especially in light of what we’ve heard, and the fact that the LCD and ABC accuse each other of courting the DC,” he said.
Chief ‘Maseribane also spoke about the agreement the LCD has reportedly signed with the DC with a view to form a coalition government.
The Lesotho Times’ sister publication, the Sunday Express, revealed the contents of the agreement in its 15 June 2014 issue.
According to the deal signed on June 11 by DC leader, former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and Mr Metsing, the two parties are planning to form a coalition government alongside the Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP), Basotho Congress Party (BCP) and Lesotho People’s Congress (LPC).
Dr Mosisili, according to the agreement, would be the prime minister while Metsing his deputy, with the LCD maintaining the ministries the party currently controls while the remainder go to the DC.
The DC would then allocate some ministerial/deputy ministerial posts to the BBDP, BCP and LPC, the deal further states.
This exposé, which came two days after Dr Mosisili and Mr Metsing had announced their parties would work together, followed hard on the heels of an LCD press conference held at a local lodge during which the party accused Dr Thabane of making unilateral decisions regarding key governance issues in violation of the Coalition Agreement.
Chief ‘Maseribane noted the DC-LCD agreement as reported in the Sunday Express, which he said appeared genuine as it had neither been denied nor disowned, had also brought confusion among the government partners.
“This issue of a signed deal did not sit well with us, but in the absence of a formal letter to the coalition government leaders announcing the LCD’s departure, we can’t say our coalition agreement has been betrayed,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“This brings me back to the fact that we have to open up to one another and clarify our stance for the sake of preserving the peace and stability of this country, and everything else.”
The BNP leader also said Mr Metsing had gone on record “on several occasions” to say he was no longer part of the coalition government, including at a meeting with Namibian President Hefikepunye Pohamba, who visited Lesotho last week to evaluate the political situation in the country.
Mr Pohamba came in his capacity as chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation.
“Mr Metsing told President Pohamba that he was on the other side and not ours. It’s not a secret because by now, every Mosotho knows about it.”
However, Chief ‘Maseribane said the most confusing aspect about Mr Metsing’s behaviour was that a few days later, he told LCD supporters at a rally in Leribe that he was still part of government.
“It’s now somewhat confusing because one moment he says he’s not with us, and the next, he says he’s on our side,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
On the question of the nine-month prorogation of parliament which came into effect on June 10, Chief ‘Maseribane said he could not discuss the issue, adding however, that government was aware that “the world is asking questions”.
“We’re aware that the world is watching us, wanting to understand what is going on and what we have to say,” he said.
“But we can’t talk about it until we have each declared our stance and who we are after events of the past two weeks and statements made in the media.”
So tense is the situation among the coalition partners, Chief ‘Maseribane added, that the government had to suspend its routine cabinet meeting on Tuesday this week to avoid it being used as a “battleground”.
“We did not want to taint the image of His Majesty’s cabinet by providing an opportunity for people to use the meeting as a ground to fight and pronounce their sides,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“We will call another cabinet meeting as soon as we are done establishing where we all stand.”
Meanwhile, highly placed sources have told the Lesotho Times that items on the agenda of today’s meeting include a demand by Dr Thabane and Chief ‘Maseribane, that Mr Metsing undertakes to terminate his agreement with the DC, if the talks are to continue.
“This is because the leaders feel it would not serve any purpose, talking to someone who has already signed an agreement with another party,” the source said.
“The stance of both Dr Thabane and Chief ‘Maseribane is if Mr Metsing refuses to cancel the LCD/DC agreement, they are ready to work with other LCD MPs and ministers who support the coalition government, and leave him out in the cold.
“The belief among the ABC and BNP is also that Mr Metsing will not get a fresh mandate from his party , which is now deeply divided over the decision to enter into an agreement with the DC.
This development is going to leave him isolated, while the government works with LCD ministers that are opposed to the move to join forces with the DC.”
On the issue of parliament, another source said both Dr Thabane and Chief ‘Maseribane would maintain a firm stance that the prorogation stands until it ends next year.
“Their stance is that prorogation will continue and whoever has no confidence in government, will have to wait for when parliament reopens in February 2015, to pass the vote-of-no-confidence,” the source said.
