MASERU — Foreign Affairs Minister Mohlabi Tsekoa yesterday appealed to warring ruling party factions to regard Lebaka Bulane’s death as “oil that should soothe our wounds”.
Tsekoa was speaking at the memorial service for the late Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) youth league secretary general who died three weeks ago in a road accident.
The service was held at ‘Manthabiseng Conventions Centre.
The minister’s comments came a few days after the LCD was plunged into its biggest crisis following an acrimonious fallout that saw three ministers being axed on Tuesday.
The party’s special conference that was due last weekend was also cancelled after party delegates almost exchanged blows over the selection of delegates.
But Tsekoa said Bulane’s death should serve to unite the party.
“May his (Bulane’s) death bring about peace, trust, togetherness, and forgiveness amongst us,” Tsekoa said.
“May his blood mean it is enough and may we learn to do away with the hostility.”
Tsekoa said the LCD was still expecting a lot from Bulane adding that he left at a time when he was needed most.
Tsekoa further urged the party to strive to unify itself.
“There is absolutely no possibility of this party suffering more fractures,” Tsekoa said.
Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili said the late Bulane, was a “messiah” who would revive the congress movement “even beyond the grave” Bulane died three weeks ago in a road accident at the age of 33.
“With these words I wish to express my sincere condolences to Lebaka’s mother, ‘M’e ‘Malebaka and all who held him dear,” Mosisili said.
Members of the LCD executive committee, Bulane’s colleagues in the youth league committee and colleagues from the opposition youth leagues all gathered at the convention centre to remember him.
Bulane was died after he was hit by a government vehicle at ‘Moteng pass in Butha-Buthe.
He was coming from a workshop convened by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to prepare for this year’s election.
All Basotho Convention (ABC) youth leader Libe Moremoholo also attended the memorial service.
Speaker after speaker reminisced about how they worked with the firebrand youth leader.
LCD youth league president Mosala Mojakisane said although Bulane was not included in the IEC list of participants, he had insisted that he wanted to attend the workshop which ultimately claimed his life.
“He pleaded with me repeatedly to include him on the list. Now more than ever I am convinced that a person feels it when their time has come,” Mojakisane said.
Mojakisane also described Bulane as “our pillar of strength”.
“Let us all cooperate, as that was Bulane’s dream, to see the prosperity of Lesotho and Basotho,” he said.
