Bongiwe Zihlangu
THE standoff between the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) which led to opposition political parties seeking international intervention, needs a local remedy, says Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation Minister, Thesele ‘Maseribane.
A Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Troika, led by Namibian Foreign Affairs Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was in the country last week to engage various stakeholders in an effort to find a lasting solution to the potentially explosive impasse.
Tension between the two security agencies has been rising since last month when the LDF snubbed an LMPS request for the release of eight soldiers needed to help with investigations into the simultaneous bombings of three Maseru homes on January 27 this year.
The attacks were on the homes of LMPS Commissioner Khothatso Tšooana in Tšieng Ha-Abia, and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s partner, Liabiloe Ramoholi, as well as her neighbour, ‘Mamoletsane Moletsane, in Moshoeshoe II.
As part of investigations into the bombings, Commissioner Tšooana on April 14 wrote to LDF Commander, Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, requesting the release of the eight soldiers the police needed for questioning.
However, the LDF has refused to release the said soldiers, leaving the police frustrated but helpless to do anything about it, hence the SADC intervention.
But according to Chief ‘Maseribane — a key member of the Security Committee also comprising Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing as its chairperson, Law, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Minister Haae Phoofolo, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Pitso Maisa and Dr Thabane — instead of the SADC letter in which he said the opposition complained about a number of issues, “an internal remedy” should have been sought.
“I am of the view that instead of going outside to seek intervention from SADC, an internal remedy should have been sought first and this matter dealt with locally,” Chief ‘Maseribane on Tuesday told the Lesotho Times.
“The Security Committee is hard at work trying to find a local solution to this tension which does not necessarily translate into a crisis.
“If there is any crisis at all, I will always maintain we can resolve issues internally.”
According to Chief ‘Maseribane, in the letter the opposition parties complained about government’s alleged interference with the administration of the security agencies and judiciary, failure to end the turf war between the LDF and LMPS, as well as the manner in which parliament is operating.
The All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP) formed a coalition government in June 2012 after the previous month’s general election had produced a hung parliament, thus effectively ending Pakalitha Mosisili’s 15-year reign as prime minister.
However, Chief ‘Maseribane accused the opposition of misreading the situation.
“These people are in too much of a hurry; they are interfering in issues we’re still working on, and which they are not part of,” ‘Maseribane said.
“I and Mr Metsing, are hard at work trying to bring the warring sides, the LDF and LMPS, together so they can talk and resolve their issues.”
The minister, who is leader of the BNP, also highlighted the Security Committee had already convened a meeting where Lieutenant General Kamoli and Commissioner Tšooana were “brought together to iron out their issues”.
“On top of that, we have already had a private meeting with one of these security heads, although I cannot say who and we are going to meet the other very soon,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
The Sports minister was also quick to add that as leader of the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC), Dr Mosisili and his party should have “tried to push for an internal solution to the problem”.
According to the minister, Dr Mosisili should have first approached government, if he was convinced there was a problem, to discuss his concerns.
“As the leader of the main opposition, Mr Mosisili should have approached government and maybe even engaged church-leaders and civic groups if he had grievances,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“Seeking the involvement of SADC should have been the last option in the event local remedies failed.”
Chief ‘Maseribane also touched on the no-confidence motion the DC, supported by certain other political parties in parliament, had proposed to move against Dr Thabane and government, in March this year.
The petitioners, who accused the government of alleged incompetence, had also proposed Dr Mosisili as their preferred choice of prime minister.
However, National Assembly Speaker, Sephiri Motanyane and his deputy, Lekhetho Rakuoane, fiercely opposed the motion and denied its tabling before parliament.
This move led to the opposition becoming frustrated, arguing parliamentary laws were being flouted in favour of government, resulting in their reaching out to SADC.
However, Chief ‘Maseribane questioned the integrity and basis of the motion.
“What reasons were they putting on the table to support their motion? Maybe we need legislation like other countries where such a motion should be accompanied by valid reasons,” the minister said.
“Again, this motion has not even been tabled in parliament, but they are already calling SADC, complaining about the manner in which we run parliament.
“I am still adamant that their decision to call SADC was premature.”
Asked what the outcome of the visit was, Chief ‘Maseribane said: “I won’t be able to say anything substantial until the troika has issued a report on its findings. We expect the report to be issued soon.”
Approached for comment regarding Chief ‘Maseribane’s stance that the opposition should have sought an internal remedy to whatever grievances they might have had, DC MP and Secretary to the Grand Coalition of Political Parties in Parliament, Popane Lebesa, yesterday said: “The opposition parties were within their rights to reach out to SADC because there’s no prescription to the strategy to use to address issues.
“Security issues are not restricted to government only and security forces don’t belong to government but to this country and its people. Again, security forces are not for the protection of government only but to protect Lesotho, its people and borders.”
Mr Lebesa added he could not say for certain the SADC troika came because of their letter “because apart from that letter there, were also other issues that SADC needed to address in Lesotho”.
Mr Lebesa further said when it became apparent there was tension between the LDF and LMPS, instead of addressing the matter, government “remained silent and dismissed public concerns as mere speculation”.
“We all know that government never, at any given time, came out to address the issue and assure the public that all was well; they remained tight-lipped.
“When the prime minister finally came out, it was to deny that there was any tension between the security agencies.”
Mr Lebesa also denied the opposition never attempted to find a local solution to the problem before approaching SADC.
“We approached the Christian Council of Lesotho to share our concerns regarding the manner in which issues were being handled by the coalition government.”
According to Mr Lebesa, it was misleading for government to claim there was no crisis in Lesotho, when people were being threatened with arrest for “simply pushing for a motion of no confidence” in the coalition government.
“People were being threatened with arrest on political grounds and as such, the Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP) leader Jeremane Ramathebane was arrested,” Lebesa said.
“Our youth leaders, including Ramohooana Matlosa, were also arrested. There is indeed a crisis if people are being arrested on political grounds.”
