Billy Ntaote
Prime Minister Thomas Thabane received a rousing welcome at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) on Tuesday this week.
Dr Thabane’s visit came at the invitation of the NUL community to present his party’s policies ahead of next month’s snap election.
NUL has invited the country’s four biggest parties, namely the Democratic Congress (DC), Dr Thabane’s All Basotho Convention (ABC), Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), and Basotho National Party (BNP) to “engage the university community on their policies” before the 28 February parliamentary poll.
Netherlands Hall, venue of the presentation, was jam-packed as Dr Thabane outlined the ABC’s vision for the poll and the university, while also admitting NUL should not have continued to “suffer” financially under his coalition government.
The latter part was in response to a question from the floor on why the university funding from government had not changed much—from M104million in 2002/2003 to M105 million in 2013/2014.
“That should not have been the case and there is no explanation for that to have happened. Honestly, I don’t know the reasons why but I admit it was wrong and I will find out why and rectify the situation. I admit that NUL has been neglected and we should rectify that as government should we, the ABC, be voted to power once again,” said Dr Thabane as the audience thundered in applause.
The premier also reiterated his previous statement that he would not seek office again, should he be given an opportunity to rule for the next five years. Dr Thabane became prime minister in June 2012 after the ABC, LCD and BNP formed a coalition government. The alliance came after the 26 May 2012 general election had resulted in a hung parliament, but after the collapse of the coalition last year due to a power-struggle between Dr Thabane and Deputy Prime Minister and LCD leader Mothetjoa Metsing, the country goes to elections two years earlier than expected.
“If we become government for the next five years, I will not be running for office again as I would have done my part in returning Lesotho to political and economic stability,” he said.
Dr Thabane was also asked how an ABC-led government would develop science and technology in Lesotho.
“I was fired as Communications, Science and Technology minister when I was making progress, together with other Southern African Development Community ministers, in advancing science and technology in the region.
“My then boss (then Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili) was advised to remove me from office because I was becoming too popular with our people. I then decided to leave the LCD (Lesotho Congress for Democracy) in protest, and form the ABC in 2006.”
However, Dr Thabane told the NUL community he would address the need to advance science and technology within two months of winning next month’s elections.
Dr Thabane also told the audience that NUL should be returned to its former glory days and guaranteed that he would do so should he win the upcoming elections. However, he could not explain why the government had not prioritised NUL during his tenure as premier, or why he should be trusted to do so should he win the upcoming poll.
“I appeal to you, the NUL community, to give the ABC a chance to govern Lesotho and I will use my five years in office to turn around the fortunes of not just this university, but the country as a whole.
“The government should work together with the university in evaluating its capacity, and what happens to the graduates. There is need for government to provide capital for the graduates to establish companies and ensure their skills don’t go to waste,” said Thabane.
Meanwhile, Dr Thabane’s reception contrasted sharply with the heckling DC Deputy Leader Monyane Moleleki was subjected to by the NUL students last week.
