SADC orders full inquiry into political unrest in Lesotho

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will send a team of experts to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Lesotho's former army commander Maaparankoe Mahao, the regional body said on Friday night.

Addressing the media at the end of the SADC Extra Ordinary Double Troika Summit held in Pretoria to discuss the political unrest in Lesotho, South African President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as Chairman of the SADC Troika on Defense, Politics and Security Cooperation, said the regional body was deeply concerned by the political situation in Lesotho.

"We felt that we should gather to discuss the political and security challenges in the Kingdom of Lesotho," Zuma said.

The regional body expressed concern on the death of Mahao who was killed last week after being sacked by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

Zuma said, "Following the request from the Prime Minister ( Mosisili) to send a team of expert to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Brigadier Mahao, this summit will have to urgently assembly the team to begin their task.

"We express our concern about the death of Brigadier Mahao, an incident that has plunged the country into a serious security crisis."

The summit also decided to send an independent pathologist to conduct an examination on Mahao's body within the next 72 hours.

Zuma said the latest events in the tiny Southern African country only serve to derail the process towards normalization of the political and security situation in that country.

Lesotho was forced into an early election in late February following an attempted coup in August last year. Mosisili emerged as the winner in the elections. He fired Mahao after taking office and re-appointed Tlali Kamoli as army chief.

Kamoli had been fired by former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and was behind the attempted coup that forced the country into early elections.

Soon after Kamoli's re-appointment, several soldiers, including body guards of Thabane, were arrested and tortured on allegations that they were conniving with Mahao and former police commissioner Khothatso Tsooana to overthrow the government.

Soon afterwards, Thabane and Basotho National Party leader Thesele Maseribane fled the country, claiming they were tipped about plots to kill them.

This and the death of Mahao forced SADC to meet in Pretoria in a bid to bring the situation to normalcy.

Other recommendations made by the summit include establishing an oversight committee to monitor events in Lesotho and quickly intervene where necessary as well as setting up a commission of inquiry to investigate all events and circumstances that have led to the current political and security unrest.

The summit also urged the Lesotho government and all political stakeholders to urgently undertake constitutional and security reforms.

Concerns were also raised about members of the opposition that have fled Lesotho due to political victimization.

The summit urged the Lesotho government to create a conducive environment for the return of the opposition leaders to the country, the SADC said in a communique.

Speaking to the media after the summit, Mosisili, Lesotho's prime minister, said he was happy that the summit provided the way forward for his country.

"They have assured us of support as we embark on the reform program.

"The summit has indeed addressed the issues with a lot of understanding and they have been very gracious and magnanimous in the structures they have set up to give confidence and security to the people of Lesotho," Mosisili said.

Issues that will be investigated by the commission of inquiry include the circumstances around the death of Mahao, the appointment of Kamoli and sacking of Mohao before his death.

The commission is expected to report its finding to the SADC within 60 days. Endite