Staff Reporters
A FRESH war has broken out in the Sam Matekane-led Revolution for Prosperity (RFP).
This time, some party supporters are unhappy with secretary general, Nthati Moorosi, for allegedly “sneaking” Lejone Mpotjoane onto the elite list of 11 party officials who will represent the RFP in the October elections without having to undergo the rigours of primary polls.
Besides Mr Mpotjoane, who will represent the party in the Hololo constituency, other members of the elite squad are Ms Moorosi herself (Thetsane constituency); deputy leader Nthomeng Majara (Maseru Central); Executive Transport proprietor, Lebona Lephema (Teyateyaneng); former Central Bank of Lesotho Governor, Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane (Qalabane); spokesperson Mokhethi Shelile (Lithabaneng); businessman Cloete Mdlokovana (Mohale’s Hoek); deputy spokesperson Thabo Maretlane (Thaba-Phatšoa); Thabo Mofosi (Moyeni) and Ntšeuoa Sekete (Lebakeng constituency).
They will join Mr Matekane (Mantsónyane) as the only candidates who will represent the party without having to undergo primaries. While the others earned this ‘privilege’ by virtue of being co-founders of the party alongside Mr Matekane, Ms Moorosi’s detractors are accusing her of using her influence to sneak in Mr Mpotjoane. They allege that Mr Mpotjoane is not a founder member. They say he was an active member of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) at the time of the RFP’s formation on 22 March this year. He only joined the RFP afterwards and owes his place on the elite list to his closeness to Ms Moorosi, her critics allege.
The allegations against Ms Moorosi are contained in an audio clip which was leaked to the Lesotho Times this week. In that audio, some RFP members accuse Ms Moorosi of ignoring widespread complaints about Mr Mpotjoane’s inclusion among the elite candidates.
Both Mr Mpotjoane and Ms Moorosi were not reachable on their mobile phones for comment.
Nevertheless, a group of party supporters aligned to Ms Moorosi briefly staged a demonstration at the party’s Mpilo Boutique headquarters this week. They were protesting against what they said was the bad treatment she had been subjected to by her detractors in the party.
The Lesotho Times crew was on hand to witness the protest.
Some of the protestors accused Mr Lephema- one of the elite 11- of spearheading a campaign to get rid of Ms Moorosi with the aim of having one of his blue-eyed boys taking over as secretary general.
They said the aim of their protest was to “get Ntate Matekane to come and explain to us what position Ntate Lephema holds in the RFP and why he hates Mme Moorosi”.
Other protestors were unhappy with the presence of the Lesotho Times news crew. They said theirs was “party business which does not need the media to be present”.
The protest comes barely a month after another demonstration by party supporters against what they said was Mr Matekane’s dictatorial decision to impose the 11 candidates including himself without consultations or subjecting them to primary elections.
The party has been conducting primaries in the remaining 69 constituencies. The top four candidates will be interviewed by Mr Matekane who will then select the final candidate to represent the party in each of the constituencies.
In a statement this week, the party said the candidates will be announced tomorrow at the party headquarters. The decision for Mr Matekane to appoint candidates has not gone down well with other party members who feel it might cost the party votes. For instance they fear that if Mr Matekane replaces a candidate who won the primaries with the one who came last, for whatever reason, will result in the alienation of the winning candidate’s supporters causing them not to vote.
