Bongiwe Zihlangu
SPORTS Minister Thesele ‘Maseribane says Democratic Congress (DC) leader Pakalitha Mosisili should retire from active politics to become “a true statesman”.
The Basotho National Party (BNP) leader told the Lesotho Times this week that although Dr Mosisili, who was Lesotho’s Prime Minister for almost fifteen years seems to be preparing for another term in office post the February 2015 general election, he should, instead, “assume the role of the only living statesman in Lesotho”.
“Citizens of this country should know that they need a statesman, especially now as we go for the February 2015 elections,” Chief ‘Maseribane (54) said.
“We need somebody that we, as Basotho, can be proud of as a nation, a former politician to look up to.”
According to Chief ‘Maseribane, it is a requirement that Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states provide statesmen who can mediate and intervene “when and where need arises”.
“Whenever SADC asks us to provide mediators, or people who are senior in status to perform other duties in member-countries, such as former prime ministers and ex-presidents, we have none to provide,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“This is because our only living statesman will not be bothered, and sadly, people we could assign, such as the Mokhehles, Leabuas and Sekhonyanas of Lesotho, are no more.”
He added: “Then we have the likes of Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP) leader Vincent Malebo, who as it turns out, still takes part in active politics at his age.”
Chief ‘Maseribane further noted that Dr Mosisili’s resolve not to leave active politics effectively means there is “a huge gap to fill”.
“But sadly, when we raise the issue, Mosisili thinks we’re being political. But that’s not the case, we’re simply saying Lesotho should come before our own interests,” he said.
Chief ‘Maseribane’s BNP is a junior partner in Prime Minister Thomas Thabane’s coalition government, also comprising the premier’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing’s Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), formed after the 26 May 2012 election had produced a hung parliament.
The BNP leader further complained that if Dr Mosisili, who was premier from 1998–2012, had not refused to leave active politics and become a statesman, the political turmoil currently rocking Lesotho “could have been averted”.
“Mosisili should have been one of the people intervening in our political problems, but no, he chose to remain in politics,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
The sports minister revealed following the 2012 elections and after realising Dr Mosisili intended to remain a Member of Parliament (MP), the coalition government sought advice from the now suspended Attorney General (AG) Tšokolo Makhethe, on how to treat the retired premier’s case as he still seemed to be active in politics.
“The AG said there was nothing he could do; Ntate Makhethe told us that Mosisili was at liberty to decide which benefits he wanted. He told us that Mosisili had a choice,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“But we told the AG that we needed a statesman, but all he could tell us was that the man had a choice. Under the circumstances, what do you do? You prorogue parliament, you take him out of office because he’s not being of any help. He’s not advancing the government’s cause or that of the country.”
Asked if his insistence that Dr Mosisili should retire from active politics was behind the coalition government’s determination to ensure Lesotho went for a snap election instead of allowing MPs to propose a no-confidence vote against Dr Thabane, Chief ‘Maseribane said it was “ludicrous to even think that Mosisili could assume office again”.
“It is total madness to even think we could allow that to happen. There’s no room in today’s society for this business of people seeking more than two terms in office.
“The world of today is not like that of yesterday, where people used telegrams and typewriters to relay messages. Today, we’re at a point where technology dictates how fast the world moves.”
The BNP leader further criticised Dr Mosisili (69) for “thinking he has special genes and the energy to govern Lesotho again” saying “maybe he’s a different species”.
“Is Mosisili seriously saying he has the energy to stay another five-year term in office? The man must be different from the rest of the human species. How do you then seek a 100th term in office?” Chief ‘Maseribane asked, as if directing the question to Dr Mosisili.
“We need to conduct an experiment on you to establish what kind of a species you are, and establish the possibility of cloning children with your genes.”
To drive his point home, the BNP leader maintained that he was willing to teach Basotho about the concept of succession “by stepping down myself”.
“I believe it’s time now in the BNP, for young people to take over and display their full potential. I am actually preparing for my exit,” Chief ‘Maseribane said.
“I’m no longer as young as I used to be and we have people like my deputy, Joang Molapo (49) who can take over and we’re also recruiting leaders from within the BNP.”
Chief ‘Maseribane said lately, he had noticed that his hair was turning grey, adding “now I have to shave more often”.
“The time is fast approaching, it’s inevitable that at some point, I should exit the BNP leadership post. I need to teach Basotho a thing or two about succession.
“I don’t want to come and sleep in meetings because of advanced age. I will step aside in the not so distant future, and just play my befitting role as a mentor, share my experiences from 1998 with young and upcoming leaders.
“At my age, how do I even hope to take more than two terms? No! It was a crazy idea on Mosisili’s part to think he could just take over as prime minister. Those MPs who wanted to pass such a motion, must have been drinking sorghum drink mixed with dagga.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, DC secretary general, Ralechate ‘Mokose, told the Lesotho Times that issues pertaining to succession in the party were “strictly the business of the DC”.
“It is the business of the DC who the leader of the party is and how long he stays,” Mr ‘Mokose said.
“When the time comes, members of the DC will decide who becomes their new leader and Ntate Thesele has no say in how this party is run.”
Mr ‘Mokose further said he respected Chief ‘Maseribane for expressing his opinion.
“He is exercising his democratic right. Unfortunately, he is not in the DC leadership and therefore has no say on how we do things,” ‘Mokose said.
“He says he’s ready to step down from the BNP leadership post and make room for the young; well and good. But he cannot decide how we deal with succession in the DC.”
