LEADER of True Reconciliation Unity (TRU) Mr Tlali Khasu
’Marafaele Mohloboli
TRUE Reconciliation Unity (TRU) leader, Tlali Khasu has called for reconciliation among political parties, saying the resultant peace and stability was a pre-requisite for socio-economic development.
Mr Khasu said this at a rally which was attended by approximately 100 supporters in Motimposo early this week.
Mr Khasu said that without reconciliation, “this country will forever be stagnant,” adding, “Reconciliation doesn’t just come on its own but we have to toil for it”.
“It starts with us as leaders of political parties.”
The TRU was formed early this year after Mr Khasu, the former deputy leader of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) fell out with ABC leader, Thomas Thabane.
Mr Khasu left the ABC after being suspended for allegedly castigating Dr Thabane during a radio programme.
And although his message centred on reconciliation, Mr Khasu had no kind words for his former party, saying dictatorship and corruption were endemic to the extent that its leadership only went to parliament “to fill up their bellies with money”.
“The only thing that made me leave ABC was that I didn’t have the M2000 that we were told to contribute for the up-keep and welfare of ABC leaders.
“If you didn’t have that money you had to wash the leader’s lingerie and I refused hence I left,” Mr Khasu said, adding, “it’s high time you voted for change and not for people who give you free t-shirts during campaigns”.
He said in addition, Dr Thabane had demonstrated dictatorial tendencies by demanding that former legislators be retained as party candidates without going through primary elections.
He said the TRU would do things differently from other parties and the leader would only serve a maximum nine years in charge made up of consecutive three year terms.
“After nine years our leader shall go home and we shall have him as an advisory member.
“We want our youth to be taught about politics and the constitution at a very tender age.”
Mr Khasu said a TRU government would be very democratic, inclusive and consulting with a wide spectrum of society including the youth.
“The first thing that we are going to go when we get to parliament is to ensure that people respect the separation of powers, unlike in the past when people thought they had powers to meddle with security issues like the administration of the armed forces.”
He took a swipe at other political parties for making false promises to the electorate just to gain votes.
“If they come to you and ask you to vote for them because they will create jobs for you, just know that they will be lying,” he said, adding that instead of focusing on development, politicians were more interested in power and bragging about who spoke English best.
He said it was high time that sheep farmers derived maximum benefits through beneficiation instead of exporting unprocessed wool.
He said this could be done by setting up industries to extract valuable oils from the sheep.
Meanwhile, ABC spokesperson, Tefo Mapesela refuted Mr Khasu’s allegations that ABC legislators were forced to contribute M2 000 for the up-keep of Dr Thabane who only returned this year from South Africa where he had been in exile since 2015.
“He (Mr Khasu) left ABC because of his unruly behavior,” Mr Mapesela said in an interview with this publication.
