—as conflicting statements issued on mediator
Mohloai Mpesi & Bongiwe Zihlangu
THE country’s protracted national reforms process is now mired in new confusion.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nthomeng Majara, who had been spearheading the reforms process from the government’s side, this week told the Lesotho Times that the government had identified a mediator to try and help break its impasse with the opposition over the reforms.
But Minister of Law and Justice, Richard Ramoeletsi, immediately rebuffed Justice Majara’s claim. He said he was not aware of any mediator having been identified.
The opposition too said it was in the dark about any mediation efforts.
Justice Majara, who doubles as Leader of the House, told the Lesotho Times, this week that a mediator had been identified to help end the long-standing government opposition squabbles which had stalled the reforms process.
Justice Majara spoke to the Lesotho Times on the sidelines of a sod-turning event, for the construction of a road, at Ha-Nqheku in Nazareth, rural Maseru.
But Mr Ramoeletsi, whose ministry is the custodian of the reforms, and a member of the recently appointed cabinet sub-committee on the reforms, said he was not aware of the mediator alluded to by Justice Majara.
Justice Majara had also occupied the law and justice portfolio until it was given to Mr Ramoeletsi’s when cabinet was expanded late last year.
Democratic Congress boss and Official Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mathibeli Mokhothu, said he too was not aware any mediator as government had not informed them of such.
Mr Mokhothu reiterated the opposition would not participate in the reforms process until its list of grievances had been addressed.
Lesotho’s reform process has stalled because of persistent government, opposition squabbles. Further complicating the process is a 17 November 2023 Court of Appeal verdict that the process should essentially be started afresh.
Prime Minister Sam Matekane has made endeavours to forge ahead with the reforms. On 21st of December 2023, he invited opposition leaders to a breakfast meeting to discuss a way forward for the reforms.
The opposition, however, snubbed the meeting.
Some of the opposition’s demands include the firing of heads of security agencies over their support for Mr Matekane.
Justice Majara would tell the Lesotho Times after the December breakfast meeting that the government was going to look for mediators to help both sides find each other.
The Lesotho Times took advantage of Justice Majara’s presence at the sod turning ceremony to ask for progress in appointing the mediator (s). She said the government had found one, and “we are awaiting a date to begin the mediation process”.
“Yes of course we have a mediator, we must agree on the date and time of when they start with their mediatory job…,” she said.
“The mediator is ready so …we are able to proceed with the work,” she added while declining to identify the mediator.
But Minister Ramoeletsi sounded clueless telling this publication yesterday that they were in the process of taking the Omnibus Bill to parliament to reintroduce it afresh. He did not recall the government engaging a mediator.
“We are in the process of taking the Bill to parliament. I don’t remember talk at any given time, of government engaging a mediator,” Mr Ramoeletsi said.
Mr Mokhothu said they had not been informed of any plans to engage a mediator.
But if one were to be engaged, he said “it is important that both sides are engaged in finding a mediator so that we know their credibility and integrity, and whether they are neutral.”
He accused the government of several instances of “disrespecting” the rule of law, making it difficult for the opposition to cooperate in the reforms process.
The Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL), which has mediated in political impasses of years past, said it had not been approached by the government.
The conflicting statements suggest the reforms process will remain in limbo for the foreseeable future.
