Lesotho to hold general elections
Lesotho will hold general elections today.
Former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane was removed from office earlier this year. Instead of Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro who was selected to replace Thabane, the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, selected former health minister Nkaku Kabi to run for the office. ABC faces opposition from prominent businessman Sam Matekane and his newly-formed Revolution for Prosperity party which is gaining popular support through social media, posing a threat to long established parties.
At the forefront of concerns in the upcoming elections is the future of a series of reforms that were meant to address political instability in the country. The reforms were meant to be implemented before elections, with key provisions regarding the role of the Prime Minister, the appointment of senior officials, and other electoral laws. Disagreements between the Senate and Parliament inhibited progress on the bill which led to it being declared null and void ahead of today’s elections.
With bubbling tensions between over 50 parties in contest for power, any result of the elections will be contested, potentially resulting in protests and clashes with the police. Concerns have been raised over citizen’s faith in the electoral process and if there will be a strong voter turnout, further calling into question the legitimacy of these election results.
