Billy Ntaote
The National Assembly yesterday dismissed a motion which sought to regulate the prime minister’s powers to prorogue parliament.
National Independent Party (NIP) legislator, Kimetso Mathaba, moved the motion on Tuesday this week, and was supported by Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP) leader and MP, Moeketse Malebo.
However, the motion sparked heated debate among the MPs, with Qoaling legislator, Chalane Phori of the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC), bringing the session to a premature end after removing the symbolic mace from the House in protest.
After the same motion was being debated again yesterday, National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Lekhetho Rakuoane, announced that the Leader of the House, Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, had proposed the debate should be discontinued.
Mr Metsing then explained to the MPs: “Over the past 21 years, there have only been seven constitutional amendments and it would be remise, on the part of parliament, to allow a single constitutional amendment to be introduced, which is why I am proposing the debate to be discontinued.”
The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader also noted some of the MPs’ concerns that the motion violated the Maseru Facilitation Declaration the country’s political party leaders signed on 2 October 2014.
Under the agreement, parliament was to reopen on 17 October following its nine-month suspension on 10 June 2014 by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to avoid a no-confidence vote, dissolved early December and early elections held in February 2015, instead of the original date of 2017.
This roadmap followed the collapse of the coalition government comprising the LCD, Dr Thabane’s ABC, and Basotho National Party (BNP) led by Thesele ‘Maseribane, which came to power after the 26 May 2012 general election had failed to produce a single party with an outright majority of parliamentary seats. Dr Thabane’s decision to suspend the parliament was one of the major reasons why the coalition government collapsed, prompting the Southern African Development Community to intervene and the signing of the Maseru Facilitation Declaration .
Mr Metsing told the MPs yesterday: “Concerns raised by some members here were that the Maseru Facilitation Declaration limited us to function in a certain way, while others felt the agreement could not supersede a sovereign parliament’s powers and the motion should be discussed. As the chairman of the Business Committee, I should mention we recognised all the concerns raised about the motion.
“It’s always said that constitutional amendments should not be made too frequently, hence we should have a number of amendments being made, not a single section of the constitution alone as proposed now.
“In that regard, I beg leave to be allowed to propose the adjournment of the House according to Standing Order No 41.”
Meanwhile, when tabling the motion, Mr Mathaba warned if parliament does not amend the constitution and ensure the prime minister cannot unilaterally prorogue parliament, Lesotho would soon find itself in yet another political crisis.
“We will find ourselves going for another election if the prorogation is left to the prime minister alone. That is why we need to rectify this issue now,” Mr Mathaba said.
On his part, Mr Malebo said he supported the motion because it was “a very important one”.
“I don’t think there is anyone who can boldly say that they were consulted by the prime minster when he advised the King to impose parliament’s suspension. And as we speak, I feel that the prime minister has been forced to sign the Maseru Facilitation Declaration that resulted in the lifting of the prorogation. I know the law does not require him to explain himself, and he has not come to parliament to clarify why he suspended it. This is not a school, it is a parliament that has clear functions in a democratic dispensation,” said Mr Malebo, adding the premier should still explain why he decided to suspend parliament.
Mr Malebo said he feared Dr Thabane would impose yet another parliament prorogation ahead of the February 2015 election in an attempt to sabotage the poll.
“I fear that he will prorogue parliament once again. During this painful time, I have asked the business community about the prorogation and I found out that it has negatively affected the climate of doing business in Lesotho to the extent that certain businesses closed shop due to losses, while potential investors ended changing their minds about investing in Lesotho,” Mr Malebo said.
