Bongiwe Zihlangu & Mohloai Mpesi
A GOVERNMENT of national unity (GNU) – comprising the main role players in parliament – the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) and the official opposition – the Democratic Congress (DC – is the only sure way to complete the much delayed national reforms process.
Socialist Revolutionaries (SR) leader, Teboho Mojapela, says neither Prime Minister Sam Matekane nor DC leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, even if the latter had succeeded in ousting the former in a no confidence motion, commands the requisite majorities to complete the national reforms process.
But if the two forge a coalition to work together, while involving other smaller parties, in a broad-based GNU, then Lesotho would stand a better chance of not only completing the reforms but addressing some of its many perennial problems.
Adv Mojapela’s sentiments have found currency with other analysts who believe a GNU fronted by the majority party in parliament, the RFP, and the main opposition, the DC, is the only way to guarantee passage of the reforms.
Between them the RFP and the DC control 83 seats (RFP 57 and DC 26), constituting more than the two thirds majority required to pass some of the key reforms. If the other 10 MPs already in Mr Matekane’s new coalition are factored in, then the GNU majority will be unassailable.
The three MPs expelled from the RFP will not become a factor in an RFP/DC led GNU. It will still surpass
the two thirds threshold, even if the three refuse to cooperate with the GNU.
“The only way out is a GNU. Matekane must form a government with Mokhothu, as their numbers alone combined can surely make that two-thirds majority…,” said Adv Mojapela.
Political commentator, Nkopane Mathibeli, agreed that a GNU was a feasible option to complete the reforms process. He however does not believe it will ever see the light of day because Lesotho’s politicians “always do things for self-gain, as individuals and their parties”.
Mr Mokhothu would thus keep trying to upstage Mr Matekane and vice versa.
Dr Tlohang Letsie of the Faculty of Social Sciences, at the National University of Lesotho (NUL), said while there was merit in a GNU being the best format to deliver the reforms, it was unlikely to happen because of the self-serving nature of politicians.
If the opposition had succeeded in toppling Mr Matekane, it would not even be talking about a GNU, he said. They would now be concentrating on sharing the spoils. They are now proposing a GNU because Mr Matekane appeared to have regained the advantage to stay in power.
RFP spokesman Mokhethi Shelile slammed Adv Mojapela for the GNU proposal.
He said completing the reforms process must be a national duty of every MP whether or not they were in government.
The current logjam in Lesotho’s politics, however, still makes the GNU – with Mr Matekane as prime minister and Mr Mokhothu as his deputy, a plausible option in completing the reforms.
There is already a precedent of the benefit of the two main parties working together in achieving a stable and coherent government. In the last coalition, the then majority party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC), forged a coalition with Mr Mokhothu’s DC, creating a comfortable majority that helped then Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro survive a no confidence motion sponsored by rebels from within his own party.
In a bid to circumvent the no-confidence motion filed against him on 13 October 2023, Mr Matekane increased his coalition from three to seven parties, necessitating an expansion of his cabinet by five more cabinet ministers, who were sworn in yesterday.
The Prime Minister had, while unveiling his new coalition, at a recent press conference, boasted that he now commanded a majority of 67. That still represents a thin majority in a 120-member parliament. But even if it holds, it will ensure that Mr Matekane’s government is only able to pass the reforms requiring simple majorities. It won’t be able to pass the key ones needing two thirds majorities. This because the Mokhothu led coalition has made it clear it won’t cooperate in the reforms process after getting threats by the heads of the three security agencies who have vowed to protect Mr Matekane from being ousted.
In fact, spokesman of the opposition bloc, BNP leader, Machesetsa Mofomobe has, with a tinge of sarcasm, quipped that they will go to parliament and “sit back for Mr Matekane and his security agencies to pass the reforms”. The security bosses are not MPs.
With cooperation between the new coalition government and the opposition unlikely and, with the GNU a remote possibility, it seems the reforms will remain in limbo to the detriment of the national interest. In fact, Mr Mokhothu has said his bloc remains confident to win the no confidence motion if the Constitutional Court gives it the greenlight in a judgment expected tomorrow. And if Mr Mokhothu were to become Prime Minister, the RFP will most likely not cooperate with him.
The opposition doesn’t believe Mr Matekane retains the support of the 67 MPs he claims in light of reports of widespread disgruntlement by rebels in his party. Mr Mokhothu has thus insisted the figure of 67 must be tested in an actual vote.
Without a GNU it seems continued political haggling is the only certainty.
Which explains why Adv Mojapela could just be right in is exhortation for Lesotho’s politicians to join hands “in the interests of the country” to pass the reforms.
Asked whether his party still supported the opposition’s no confidence motion against Mr Matekane, Adv Mojapela said his main worry was that even if Mr Mokhothu succeeded the current Prime Minister, he would still not be able to pass the reforms.
“Whether it’s Mokhothu or Matekane at the helm of government makes no difference because both men do not command enough numbers to pass reforms,” he said.
He said it would need a joint effort by the two leaders, with support from other political parties, to conclude the reforms process successfully, and “pave the way to improving the lives of Basotho’s lives……”.
“For this nation’s benefit, we should all come to the table and form a GNU. It is the only way out…,” he said.
“Even if Mr Matekane can win the vote of no confidence, he will still need us to make 80 numbers (two thirds majority) for the reforms process to pass,” Adv Mojapela said. “And if we don’t cooperate the process will be stillborn…”
RFP spokesperson, Mr Shelile, thinks otherwise.
“The opposition should not use the reforms, which is a national project, as bait to force government to give them access to state resources… It is our collective responsibility as legislators to prioritise the needs of our people and pass the reforms,” Mr Shelile said.
“Reforms are not supposed to be used as a conduit to access ministerial posts and advancing selfish personal interests. MPs were elected to parliament to prioritise the interests of the electorate.”
“The opposition’s plan to hold us to ransom with their numbers for two-thirds majority clauses will not work. I say this because most clauses require simple majority anyway, which we have….,” Mr Shelile said.
Popular Front for Democracy (PFD) Lekhetho Rakuoane, said the reforms needed communication and understanding between the government and not necessarily a two thirds majority for the sitting government.
“This is not the first government to not have a two-thirds majority. There have been governments before this one which did not have the two-thirds majority but were able to pass reforms or laws through negotiations,” Adv Rakuoane said.
Dr Letsie urged politicians to put the country first and work together to pass the reforms.
“They must strive to reach a consensus when they deal with the reforms because these reforms belong to Basotho… They can complete them if there’s a will.”
Political commentator, Mr Mathibeli, said Lesotho would continue to suffer because of self-serving politicians.
“I don’t think the government is even prioritising the reforms. The RFP invited more parties into its coalition government not because the reforms process is a priority for them but because it was convenient for them to do so,” Mr Mathibeli said.
While having a GNU with the RFP and DC as main role players was nice idea, he did not see that option as feasible at this stage because Lesotho’s politics are for self-gain.
He urged the government to just proceed with those reforms needing a simple parliamentary majority to show its wherewithal to complete the process.
