Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has emphasised the need for SADC appointed mediator and Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to return to the mountain kingdom as soon as possible to address issues raised by the delegation of the Lesotho government.
On Monday, President Zuma in his capacity as the Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation met with the coalition government of Lesotho led by Prime Minister Tom Thabane, in Pretoria.
The meeting, according to the Presidency, was a briefing by the Lesotho coalition government about their current concerns regarding the security situation and violations of provisions of the Maseru Facilitation Accord, as well as the Maseru Security Accord.
The coalition government also made requests for SADC to provide more support for the holding of elections in Lesotho - hence the request for Deputy President Ramaphosa to return to Lesotho.
For his part, President Zuma emphasised the need for all parties to act in a manner that help create a climate conducive for the holding of elections.
“In this context the coalition partners committed themselves to continue to act within the letter and spirit of decisions of the SADC Troika Heads and State and Government as part of efforts to help create peace and stability in Lesotho,” Presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting also expressed its confidence in the on-going facilitation work of the SADC Observer Mission to Lesotho under the leadership of Deputy President Ramaphosa.
The meeting expressed its confidence that the climate for the holding of elections on 28 February remain on course.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy President Ramaphosa, Lesotho's coalition partners Deputy Prime Minister Mothejoa Metsing and Minister Thesele Maseribane as well as South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and State Security Minister David Mahlobo.
Electioneering is underway in neighbouring Lesotho, but tensions remain high, especially after King Letsie III appointed Kananelo Mosito as President of the Court of Appeal, despite opposition from several political parties.
Opponents believe that the appointment was a violation of the electoral agreement which obliges political parties to defer senior appointments until after the poll.
Last weekend, a security guard of Thabane was killed and two soldiers were wounded in a shooting that further worsened the security situation.
Lesotho has been in political turmoil since June last year when Thabane suspended Parliament to avoid a vote of no confidence that was being pushed by his coalition government partners.
In late August last year, a coup to oust Thabane was thwarted.
President Zuma said on Sunday that Lesotho is a very complex country, small as it is. But the regional body SADC has committed to ensuring that the environment to hold elections is free and fair. - SAnews.gov.za
