Billy Ntaote
The High Court on Monday postponed to August 5, a case in which three Members of Parliament (MPs) are seeking to stop a proposed no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his government for alleged incompetence.
The MPs — Chalane Phori, Matšeliso Tuoane and Tšepo Monethi of the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP) respectively — are questioning the legitimacy of the proposed motion spearheaded by the Basotho Batho Democratic Party leader Jeremane Ramathebane and supported by the main opposition Democratic Congress (DC) and other MPs.
DC leader Pakalitha Mosisili and Makhaleng Constituency legislator Mootsi Lehata are also cited in the case as respondents.
The matter is before Justice Semapo Peete and was supposed to have been heard on Monday this week.
However, the Lesotho Times learned the litigants asked the High Court to postpone the case to August as they were not available on Monday.
Mr Phori and his co-applicants are challenging the legality of Mr Ramathebane’s motion initiated in March this year, and want it barred from being discussed in parliament.
In their court papers, the three said Mr Ramathebane’s move was not backed by tangible evidence that the government had failed to perform its duties, but only seeks to destabilise the coalition administration.
The BNP, LCD and Thabane’s ABC formed a coalition government after the May 2012 general election resulted in a hung parliament.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sephiri Motanyane and Attorney General, Tšokolo Makhethe, are also cited in the matter as respondents.
Mr Phori and his co-accused are represented by Advocate Khotso Nthontho, while the respondents have not yet secured legal representation following the withdrawal of Advocate Salemane Phafane in May.
