DC Leader Pakalitha Mosisili
…as nation anxiously awaits new cabinet
Bongiwe Zihlangu
It is only a matter of time before Lesotho’s new prime minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, takes oath of office, succeeding All Basotho Convention (ABC) leader Thomas Thabane, who bows out midway through his five-year term.
But there are concerns already about the make-up of the premier’s cabinet and the message likely to be sent to the nation should the Democratic Congress (DC) leader get the appointments wrong.
One simply needs to listen to different radio stations to understand that Basotho across the board, including DC supporters, would rather have Dr Mosisili as the only “familiar” face in the cabinet, with the rest being new blood capable of taking this country forward.
The most popular question people have been asking is: Are we going to see the same old faces, more like the recycling of deadwood, or are we, for the first time, going to see Dr Mosisili being bold enough to appoint new faces to cabinet?
This question arises as a result of the DC top brass being largely comprised of individuals who were part of Dr Mosisili’s cabinet when he was premier between 1998 and 2012, most of whom did not perform that well.
Indeed the incoming government is made up of seven political parties, namely the DC, Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Popular Front for Democracy (PFD), Lesotho People’s Congress (LPC), Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP) and National Independent Party (NIP).
And as the whole world now knows, Dr Mosisili’s return to office is due to the February 28 snap election, which saw the ABC winning a 40 constituencies and six proportional representation (PR) seats, but failing to form government with its allies, the Basotho National Party (BNP) and Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL), which obtained seven (one constituency and six PR) and two (PR) seats, respectively.
Because the seats fell short of the minimum 61 required in the 120-seat parliament to form government, it paved the way for the DC to add its 47 seats to the LCD’s 12, PFD’s two, and one each from the LPC, BCP, MFP and NIP to form an alliance now popularly referred to by detractors as “the seven colours” or “coat of many colours”.
However, all eyes are now on Dr Mosisili, who has, however, hardly been out of the limelight since his ouster by the Dr Thabane-led coalition government in 2012. Dr Mosisili’s charisma and political charm have managed to keep the DC alive, and there is no downplaying the anxiety permeating the party as the so-called heavyweights hope to return to their cabinet posts and the prestige, and sense of power that come with being a minister.
Even worse, though constitutionally provided for, is that it is Dr Mosisili’s prerogative to appoint people of his choice to cabinet, allowing him to select the very same people, most of whom were pedestrian if not outright dismal, in the past.
It is with this in mind that Dr Mosisili is urged to have a rethink when appointing members of his cabinet and refrain from recalling the same old faces.
Dr Mosisili is the same man, who during his election campaign convinced all and sundry that he had learnt from past mistakes, and that his government would do things differently this time around.
According to Dr Mosisili, the DC was the only credible political party with the credentials to restore Lesotho’s damaged image and dignity.
Losing the premiership had robbed Dr Mosisili of something he dearly loved and this was largely because he had become proud, arrogant, complacent and forgotten why he was in that post in the first place—which was to serve the people’s interests and not his own or those of his inner circle.
Luckily, for Lesotho, Dr Mosisili realises the error of his ways because he has, on a number of occasions, publicly admitted as much though not in similar words.
It would therefore, defeat his purpose of fighting to regain power, if he was to drag all the old cargo back into cabinet with him.
One might argue that for a government to be successful, a premier needs to have experienced people by his side, instead of greenhorns who are still wet behind the ears.
Luckily, unlike the ABC that was full of those very greenhorns when the party became part of the coalition government in 2012, the DC boasts of many “seasoned and experienced individuals”, whose job since their LCD days has been to win constituencies and warm National Assembly benches. Isn’t it time they were afforded the opportunity to prove their worth?
It came as a shock to many in 2012, when LCD leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Mothetjoa Metsing, appointed the likes of Dr Timothy Thahane, Dr Motloheloa Phooko, and Khotso Matla to cabinet because the understanding was they had been in government long enough.
It is again against this background that many Basotho are hoping Dr Mosisili does not repeat the same mistake as his successful election campaign would have been in vain.
There is nothing wrong with a few old but competent faces in cabinet, but to pick individuals for the sake of friendship or loyalty would not be ideal for Lesotho.
If Dr Mosisili is to win Basotho’s hearts and retain the numbers he has lost over the years, he needs to think long and hard before making any appointments into cabinet.
The fact that the ABC won more constituencies this time than it did in 2012, thus increasing its grassroots base in terms of numbers, is a sure sign that Dr Mosisili needs to make some drastic changes if the DC is to remain relevant and grow beyond attaining the same numbers in successive elections.
It is a fact that cannot be disputed, that the future and survival of the congress movement, depends on how the DC leaders play their cards, and if they get it wrong this time around, then down the drain goes Dr Ntsu Mokhehle’s legacy.
The LCD, the other big member of the congress movement, won 138 000 votes in 2012, with the number plummeting to just 56 000 this time around.
It is therefore incumbent upon Dr Mosisili, to ensure he increases the DC numbers if he does not want to be outdone by the ABC.
As the saying goes, “Inyani likhakha, Isiswe inkunsi”. Make the people happy and you’re likely to enjoy their support for a very long time.
