The one-year old Basotho Action Party will be contesting its first ever general election. It is campaigning on a ticket of rule of law and clean governance.
It held its last pre-election rally at Lepereng in Maseru. Thousands of Basotho from all the 10 districts gathered to mark the climax of the long journey towards election day and to listen to their leader beseech them to go and vote.
Around 11:00am followers had already gathered at the venue of the rally. Then multitudes of other followers clad in party regalia flocked to the venue from different places. Some walked to the venue as they were from villages close to Lepereng while others were transported by different modes of transport such as buses and taxis.
Setting up the stage and putting up the sound system was also the order of the day. Hookers and street vendors had already set up their small tents, umbrellas and tables to display what they were selling. Many of them were selling food, drinks and alcohol.
At around midday, the boom and thud from those gargantuan speakers started banging as the disc-jockey (DJ) played BAP songs composed by Basotho men and women. The people did not disappoint as they started dancing and coming closer to the stage.
Those who were seated in the tents also came out and joined. Women who were regarded as BAP women, dressed up in Seshoeshoe attire also started dancing and moving to the open space in the centre.
It was then that the event started. Different BAP artists and the youth stepped on the stage one after the other to perform their songs while different speeches were made in between the performances.
The party’s youth leader and women’s league leader delivered their speeches and were followed by the party leader Professor Nqosa Mahao who was at the helm of proceedings.
Mahao urged members of the party to vote ‘wisely’.
“Over the years Lesotho has been unlucky to be led by people who did not love the country, who did not have compassion for Basotho. As if that is not enough, we see businessmen leaving the business world and joining the political fray; we are talking about people whose forte is running push-push schemes (pyramid schemes).
“Basotho are shocked and uncomfortable wherever they are as they do not know whether the economy of the country is going to be developed or these people are only in politics to grow maximize their own profits through their pyramid schemes which, incidentally, happen to be illegal in Lesotho.
“When we disperse from here, let’s go out into the villages and make sure that people vote for the Basotho Action Party. As for you, candidates, let’s all work together in our respective committees and make sure that after the 7th of October we come out victorious,” he shouted.
