ABC Secretary General Samonyane Ntsekele
Billy Ntaote
THE High Court will today hear a case in which the tripartite opposition bloc is seeking to block its Members of Parliament’s (MPs) possible expulsion by National Assembly Speaker Ntlhoi Motsamai.
The applicants, All Basotho Convention (ABC) Secretary-General Samonyane Ntsekele, Basotho National Party (BNP) Secretary-General Reginald Tekateka and the Reformed Congress of Lesotho (RCL) deputy leader Dr Motloheloa Phooko seek the court’s intervention to in light of the anticipated expulsion of their MPs.
The Lesotho Times has learnt the trio filed the urgent court application following Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and his deputy, Mothetjoa Metsing’s remarks that 10 opposition MPs had lost their parliamentary seats after failing to show up for sittings of the house for a number of days exceeding one third of the total number of sittings of the house in a year.
If executed, the move to expel the MPs would see among others ABC leader and Abia constituency legislator Thomas Thabane, BNP leader and Proportional Representation MP Thesele ‘Maseribane and Keketso Rantšo, leader of the RCL and PR MP lose their seats in Parliament.
Other members of the opposition who could lose their seats in Parliament include the Qoaling constituency legislator Chalane Phori and Stadium Area constituency legislator Mokherane Tsatsanyane both from the ABC.
Mr Ntsekele said the parties’ urgent application was expected to be heard by the High Court at 9:30am today.
“We are challenging the anticipated move by the speaker of the National Assembly and the government of Lesotho to declare that exiled opposition Members of Parliament have vacated their seats in the august house.”
He said the plot to expel the opposition MPs who had failed to attend sittings of the house comes as an attempt by the seven parties’ coalition government leaders to dodge and or frustrate a looming motion of no confidence in Dr Mosisili.
“It is a matter of public knowledge that it is an attempt to frustrate a motion of no confidence against this failing prime minister,” said Mr Ntsekele
“Both the prime minister and his deputy, Ntate Metsing have on several occasions stated their intention to dismiss the exiled MPs from parliament.
“Our argument in the court papers is that in law, the Speaker does not have powers to determine whether a vacancy exists in the National Assembly.”
Ntsekele said the parties are still not clear exactly how many MPs could be affected by the alleged plot but emphasised the need to block it even before it is executed.
The applicants are represented by Attorney Tumisang Mosotho.
