A tiny mountain Kingdom of Lesotho is a marvel to watch from a distance. The sight of Maluti mountains veneered in a thick layer of snow in Butha-Buthe has ingratiated Lesotho to many as Switzerland of Africa. The pinnacle of Lesotho Highlands water project Katse dam (Metsi a lihlaba) offers a glee of panoramic view to spectators. At Ha Sekekete, it's the melodious sound of accordions by Famo musicians that keeps revelers dancing all night long.The sight of green fields along Letseng la Terae offers a glimmer of hope for better things to come. However, my graphic description of Lesotho wouldn't be complete unless I mention fair-skinned Basotho women flamboyantly dressed in Seshoeshoe and Molia Nye'oe.
On a flip side of the coin, Lesotho's political history is nothing to write home about. As back as 1970, a military coup in favour of Prime Minister Chief Leabua Jonathan impeded Ntsu Mokhehle's Basotho Congress Party (BCP) rise to power after winning election. In 1974 Mokhehle staged a counter-coup which Leabua foiled. The long serving Prime Minister ultimately succumbed to a military coup masterminded by General Metsing Lekhanya in 1986. Lekhanya went further to depose King Moshoeshoe II in 1990 forcing him into exile. The hunter became the hunted when Lekhanya was ousted from office in 1991 with Colonel Ramaema becoming head of military junta.
Fort Hare graduate Ntsu Mokhehle secured victory in 1993 democratic election and became Prime Minister with BCP (Mahatammoho) as the ruling party. In August 1994 King Letsie III made egregious indiscretion by acceding to demands mainly from BNP and a group of Royalists to dissolve constitutional government. International pressure mounted and elected government was subsequently reinstated.
After May election in 1998, acrid plumes of smoke darkened Maseru's skyline as the city erupted into chaos following allegations of vote rigging. SADC sanctioned Langa commission to investigate vote rigging allegations but, no empirical evidence was found to corroborate the allegations. Lesotho's political landscape was re-engineered in 2012 when a first coalition government was inaugurated with Tom Thabane's All Basotho Convention (ABC) leading the pack.
Former Lesotho Defence Force commander Brigadier Maaparankoe Mahao was assassinated in 2014 and the country plunged into further political turmoil. Prime Minister Tom Thabane prorogued the 120-member parliament with the King's blessing amid fears of a military coup. Thabane and prominent political leaders Thesele Maseribane and Keketso Rantso fled to South Africa fearing for their lives. Lesotho politicians are better described by a popular Basotho saying "Kobo tsa Maseru lia tshoana, mmala o mong" loosely translated (Maseru blankets bear the same colour and all look the same).
SADC dispatched South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to calm troubled waters in Lesotho. Ramaphosa only managed to facilitated a "negotiated coup" that saw Lesotho hold election de novo, two years into Thabane's administration. Snap election didn't produce an outright majority winner; as a result, Lesotho reverted into another coalition government of seven parties led by Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili.
SADC Troika instituted a commission headed by Judge Mphaphi Phumaphi to investigate a sequence of events that led to Mahao's assassination. While the Maseru administration is yet to implement constitutional and security reforms as recommended by SADC, Mosisili wanted the commission's terms of reference modified and objected to the publishing of its findings. This prompted SADC to impose an ultimatum on the Mountain Kingdom. Mosisili is also reluctant to relieve Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli of his duties as recommended by SADC and US government. This is the same Kamoli who was dismissed for insubordination during Thabane's administration.
Lesotho is a ticking time-bomb on our door step. our troublesome neighbours from across the Caledon must realise that SADC cannot baby-sit them in perpetuity. An average Mosotho is most likely to witness a military coup than get a job. A nation once reputable for peace and congeniality is permanently on coup-alert. Conspiracy, shenanigans and coups d' ètat are the order of the day.It's about time political principals shoved their insatiable hunger for power aside and focus on the plight of 2.1 million Basotho population 23% of whom are living with HIV/Aids. Truth be told, I don't see this intransigent "7-pack" coalition government serving its full term. The more things change in Lesotho, the more they stay the same. Ka melamu e seng ka majoe, bana ba Thesele; maaparakobo a matle.
