SADC to give impetus to Lesotho peace process: facilitator

Troika of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet later this week to give impetus to efforts to create peace and stability in Lesotho, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

The Troika meeting, involving presidents of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, will be preceded by the deployment of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission on 18 February 2015 in Maseru, capital of Lesotho as part of preparations for the forthcoming elections scheduled for 28 February, said Ramaphosa, who also acts as SADC facilitator.

Ramaphosa was speaking after paying a working visit to Maseru on Saturday where he met with various role players including King Letsie III and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to address the security challenges and reported violation of the Maseru Facilitation and Security Accords mediated by Ramaphosa to pave way for the elections.

During his visit to Lesotho, Ramaphosa expressed satisfaction with the levels of preparations for the forthcoming elections as organised by Lesotho's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), his spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.

As part of efforts to create a climate conducive for the holding of elections, 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, according to Mamoepa.

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, Mamoepa said in a statement.

Ramaphosa's visit followed discussions in Pretoria on 9 February hosted by South African President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security, with a delegation of the Lesotho government's coalition partners led by Thabane.

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 Ramaphosa.

The agreement 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. Endi