Billy Ntaote
South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in the country yesterday for tomorrow’s reopening of parliament following its nine-month suspension on 10 June this year by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
Mr Ramaphosa was appointed Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitator in Lesotho’s current political crisis, and this is his fourth visit to the troubled kingdom since assuming the role last month.
Lesotho’s political leaders signed the Ramaphosa-brokered Maseru Facilitation Declaration on 2 October 2014, which would see parliament opening on 17 October and dissolved early December, with elections taking place in February 2015.
The country had to seek SADC intervention following the collapse of the coalition government comprising Dr Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC), the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Basotho National Party (BNP).
Among the reasons for the fallout among the coalition partners, who formed government after the 26 May 2012 general election had resulted in a hung parliament, was Dr Thabane’s decision to suspend parliament without first consulting his government partners, namely LCD leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing and Senior Minister and BNP leader Thesele ‘Maseribane.
Meanwhile, according to National Assembly Speaker, Sephiri Motanyane, the main event of the first day of parliament would be a speech from King Letsie III.
Mr Motanyane yesterday told the Lesotho Times : “When parliament reconvenes on Friday, 17 October 2014, the main event of the day would be the Speech From The Throne to be delivered by His Majesty King Letsie III.
“It would be a joint-sitting of both the Upper and Lower house, with both the Senators and MPs gathered together to listen to the mandate of the parliament after the prorogation.”
Mr Ramaphosa, the Lesotho Times has also established, would return home soon after tomorrow’s parliamentary session.
“The reconvening of Lesotho’s parliament on 17 October 2014 by King Letsie III, comes against the background of the recently signed Maseru Facilitation Declaration. The Declaration, signed on 2 October 2014, was facilitated by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and signed by all Lesotho’s political parties.
“In terms of the Declaration, His Majesty King Letsie III is to reconvene Parliament to discuss the budget and all other related matters regarding the holding of elections,” reads a statement by Mr Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Ronnie Mamoepa.
“During his visit, Mr Ramaphosa will continue to be supported in his regional facilitation efforts by a team of SADC experts and members of the Secretariat from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe led by SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Dr Themba Mhlongo.”
Asked if there would be other foreign dignitaries at Friday’s reopening, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohlabi Tsekoa yesterday told the Lesotho Times he only knew of Mr Ramaphosa.
“At the moment, I don’t know of any other dignitaries who would be coming to witness the reconvening of parliament apart from Mr Ramaphosa,” Mr Tsekoa said.
