Pretoria - The SADC Troika of Heads of State and Government will meet later this week to give impetus to efforts to create peace and stability in Lesotho, says Facilitator, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Troika meeting - involving presidents of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana - will be preceded by the deployment of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission, on Tuesday, in Maseru, as part of preparations for the forthcoming elections of 28 February.
This was announced by Deputy President Ramaphosa on the conclusion of his working visit to Maseru on Saturday.
While in Lesotho, Deputy President Ramaphosa met with various role players, including King Letsie III, and Prime Minister Tom Thabane.
He expressed his satisfaction with the levels of preparations for the forthcoming elections as organised by Lesotho’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
This view was also expressed by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council which had recently visited the country to assess the readiness for the holding of elections.
“As part of efforts to create a climate conducive for the holding of elections, the Facilitator, Deputy President Ramaphosa held meetings with officers of Lesotho’s Defence Force and Lesotho’s Mounted Police Service, following which he announced an agreement that members of the Lesotho’s Defence Force will remain in barracks during the elections and only assist upon request from Lesotho’s IEC,” Deputy President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Sunday.
Deputy President Ramaphosa further indicated that issues around security challenges and the request for SADC to provide material support for the brought forward elections will continue to receive the attention of the SADC Facilitation Mission.
Besides the coalition partners Deputy President Ramaphosa also met with leaders of the Christian Council of Lesotho, which announced their intention to host a National Day of Prayer service to be held in Maseru on 21 February 2015.
The Deputy President had visited the Kingdom following discussions held in Pretoria last Monday, which were hosted by President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security, together with a delegation of the Lesotho government’s coalition partners.
In that meeting, President Jacob Zuma had requested the facilitator to return to the country as soon as possible to address the security challenges, reported violation of the Maseru Facilitation and Security Accords including the request for SADC to provide material support for the successful holding of elections as requested by the Lesotho delegation.
Tension has been mounting in Lesotho these days after King Letsie III appointed Kananelo Mosito as President of the Court of Appeal.
Despite opposition from several political parties, Thabane went ahead with Mosito's swearing-in ceremony in late January, an event boycotted by Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing, who is Thabane's political foe.
Opponents say the appointment was a violation of the electoral agreement mediated by Deputy President Ramaphosa which obliges political parties to defer senior appointments until after the poll.
Early this month, 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. Mediated by the SADC, all conflicting parties have agreed to hold early elections. - SAnews.gov.za
