‘Mantšali Phakoana
Prime minister and leader of Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane has dismissed manoeuvres by the opposition to unseat him, describing such plans as the work of day dreamers.
Matekane told a coalition government press conference this week that the opposition was desperate and seeks to confuse the nation so that Basotho lose confidence in him.
A buoyant Matekane said his administration remains stable, with a secure 71 seats in the national assembly.
His remarks follow statements by opposition parties in parliament to pass a vote of no confidence in his ruling coalition government.
The press conference was organised by parties in government; RFP, Movement for Economic Change (MEC) led by Selibe Mochoboroane and Alliance of Democrats (AD), led by Ntoi Rapapa.
Representative from parties supporting the government – United for Change (UFC) led by ‘Malichaba Lekhoaba, Lesotho People’s Congress (LPC), Paul Masiu, HOPE led by ‘Machabana Lemphane Letsie, and the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) led by Mothetjoa Metsing – also attended the press briefing.
Matekane said the ruling coalition partners were aware of opposition’s tactics to unseat the government. But according to him, it was just a dream meant to confuse the nation and to ensure they (nation) lose confidence in the government.
“These people do not have numbers, and now they are threatening MPs who support this government, forcing them to sign a vote of no confidence motion against the current government in return for ministerial positions should their plan succeed,” he said.
He noted that a vote of no confidence motion is democratic when practised in parliament, but to force and threaten MPs lives is illegal.
The RFP leader warned that forcing MPs to sign a vote of no confidence motion would be regarded as treason.
Matekane further assured the nation that his government was working hard to solve the country’s problems and improve public service delivery.
He outlined that before the October 2022 general elections, he had hoped to rule the country as one party, but things could not turn that way.
However, he said RFP was blessed to have MEC and AD as their coalition partners, adding that they also appreciate support from other parties. This support has given us political experience, he added.
“You all see that the political journey is not easy, it needs people with experience,” Matekane noted.
He said there were no problems during the formation of RFP but they only emerged when he was appointing ministers. Some members were angered after failing to get appointments to senior government positions.
He said some opposition MPs fighting to unseat him were facing criminal charges hence their desire to see him gone.
Matekane emphasised that it would only be fair for the law to take its course where corruption or any form of crime occurred.
Speaking at the same occasion, Mochoboroane said recent events that took place in the national assembly were not symbolising the prime minister’s lack of political experience but acts of opposition members who are hungry for power.
According to Mochoboroane, coalition governments face challenges because of politicians who are hungry for power.
“Everyone wants to be close to the cake. Politicians come with their expectations and demands; similarly, opposition leaders are also hungry for power. We all fight for power. It is not about the Prime Minister’s zero experience in politics,” he said.
Meanwhile, AD leader, Rapapa recommitted his party’s confidence in Matekane, noting that plans to overthrow him would remain futile.
“He cannot be overthrown because we are with him. We are driving this vehicle together, and we will have to protect it.
“This government is going nowhere. we will be here beyond 2027 (when the country holds the next general elections). It is no secret that the opposition is threatened by the progress we are making in service delivery,” Rapapa said.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) this week issued a statement of concern on what they called a conspiracy by some MPs to overthrow the government, leading to instability in the country.
The police said it had come to their attention that some legislators were threatened by their colleagues to sign a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
According to the police, intimidating and coercing other MPs was illegal and could lead to a bloodbath.
LMPS interim spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Kabelo Halahala told theReporter that some MPs, whose names he could not reveal, had reported to the police that their lives were threatened by their colleagues who allegedly forced them to support a vote of no confidence against Matekane.
Strangely enough, he said no cases opened with the police.
Asked what business the police had in constitutional and parliamentary matters, Halahala warned that it was within the police’s jurisdiction to act when a person’s life is threatened, adding the police statement was not to intimidate MPs but to urge them to act within the laws.
“I will not tell you their names but they brought it to our attention that there were some MPs threatening them and their families.
“They reported that they were forced to overthrow the government. Conspiracy to overthrow the government is a crime in this country, hence we are warning those trying or thinking of doing so,” Halahala said.
When responding to allegations of police officers body-searching MPs in and outside of the parliament, Senior Superintendent Halahala said that was a normal practice for everyone entering parliament premises, and it is meant to ensure citizens’ safety.
In reaction to the police statement, opposition parties convened a media briefing. They accused state security agencies of misuse of powers.
They also accused the Matekane-led government of politicising such organs to intimidate MPs practising their democratic rights.
The press conference was attended by leader of the Democratic Congress, Mathibeli Mokhothu, All Basotho Convention secretary-general Lebohlang Hlaele, leader of Basotho National Party, Machesetsa Mofomobe, Socialist Revolutionaries leader Teboho Mojapela, Basotho Action Party leader, Nqosa Mahao, Basotho Patriotic Party leader Tefo Mapesela, Popular Front for Democracy leader Lekhetho Rakuoane, Mpulule Political Summit leader Remaketse Sehlabaka and Basotho Covenant Movement leader, Tšepo Lipholo.
The leader of the opposition in parliament, Mokhothu, said the government had dismally failed the nation including its own RFP members who had voted for it.
Mokhothu noted that it was crucial for police to understand the meaning of treason because what the MPs were practising currently was not treason but plans to unseat the prime minister in the national assembly.
Mokhothu also stated that it was surprising that the government had been asking other opposition parties to support them during the vote of no confidence motion, but when the opposition does the same, they are threatened by security agencies.
“Lesotho is not an animal farm where other animals are more equal than others. Mobilising to remove the government through democratic processes in parliament is not a seditious conspiracy.
“This country is a constitutional multi-party democracy. The prime minister is elected in the national assembly by parliamentarians, and the same parliamentarians have the power to remove such a prime minister if need be.
“We should not allow anyone to threaten us as parliamentarians when we want to remove the prime minister. That is our way of practising multi-party democracy,” Mokhothu added.
The opposition parties insist they were waiting for parliament to open following the winter recess, for them to pass a motion of no confidence against the premier.
