NEWS
AND FEATURES ON THE SOLIDARITY 2000 CAMPAIGN IN COPENHAGEN
Lesotho
Political Instability Trumps Development
Analysis by Candi Ratabane Ramainoane
MASERU, June 2000 (IPS)- Political instability in Lesotho and the failure of the Interim Political Authority to meet the May 16 election deadline have put the development debate on the backburner.
The hope that this Basotho nation had in the Authority, and the party political leadership has been tarnished to a point where there is increasing debate on whether the country's constitution shouldn't be amended to allow civil society to participate directly in government.
The Basotho have lost faith in conventional politics and a vibrant civil society is rising to take a leading role in pushing for political stability and development in the landlocked kingdom. Since 1999, endemic political in-fighting has crippled the leadership of the main political parties, including the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD).
The law that established the Interim Authority in 1998 gave the political parties the power to appoint two members and to withdraw any of them. It gave equal representation to all parties, which has led to unnecessary confrontations between the Opposition Alliance and supporter of the ruling party.
The parties have not even decided on a system of political representation. For instance, there was a time when all parties, except the LCD were agreeable that a proportional representation electoral model, similar to the South African one would be adequate for Lesotho.
But after some time, the parties which would definitely benefit from such a system, given their size as recorded in the previous polls, sided with the LCD, for a mixed member parliamentary system - a blend of proportional and constituency-based representation.
The Basotho National Party, the main opposition, at the time, was the first to replace its two representatives. It was followed by some of the smaller parties. Another party, the Basotho Congress Party, is also in turmoil.
Even though the LCD doesn't have problems with its representation with the Authority, it does have a serious leadership crisis. Party Leader and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has, since he was elected in 1998, failed to get his own supporters into leadership positions in the party headquarters. Party insiders says he is therefore surrounded by a hostile team.
Confusion within the Authority and the main political players, has given the government an opportunity to delay the holding of elections, much to the detriment of development projects. Thabo Qhesi, an independent marketing consultant, complains that a National Economic Board which was meant to negotiate economic policy has not got off the ground.
The Board is provided for in the constitution. He argues that, unless the constitution is followed in this regard, there is no way Lesotho can have sound and sustainable, economic policies. His sentiments are echoed by the Progressive Women's Forum (PROWFO), an NGO working for women's advancement. PROWFO has raised a concern that it is improper for the Minister of Finance to present to the nation, through parliament, the Auditor General's report, for seven years running.
Their argument is that failure to abide by the supreme law in this regard opens government to charges of all forms of corruption. The advent of independent radio stations has nevertheless brought some hope that as people continue to air their views concerning the future development of their land, a miracle may happen.
Radio station MOAFRIKA-FM and the Catholic Radio have since become platforms for debating the future of Lesotho. Since its inception in January 1999, MOAFRIKA FM has been running a regular two-hour programme on the activities of the Authority. It has enabled a vibrant civil society to flourish.
The concerned citizens have therefore taken charge of the program, effectively using it to exchange views and mobilise new political thinking, or rather revive the late Moshoeshoe II's concept of a participatory democracy.
A loose organisation of concerned citizens (the People's Parliament) has been meeting in Maseru to formulate strategies for the future political development of Lesotho. Some of their programmes have been adopted by other communities.
The Lesotho Unity Forum that was convened by the business sector of the Basotho-Indian Community on May 16, acknowledged that the prevailing political situation in Lesotho is not conducive for any form of development, hence its call for "political tolerance and harmonious relationship between the business sector and political role players."
Political concerns on the future of Lesotho, have been communicated to President Joachim Chissano, in his capacity as the head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Many Basotho people feel that aid organisations could assist civil society to reduce the role and significance of political parties here by dropping the traditional notion that political parties form the cornerstone of a democratic society.
The evidence in Lesotho is that parties do not aggregate and represent social interests and provide structure for political participation. On the contrary they are seen to stand in the path of democracy and development because of their constant bickering and coup-plotting.
The failure of parties was recently demonstrated by the success of a two day strike on May 10 and 11 which was called by an 'anonymous' person, against the wish of the political parties and the government. It was a clear indication that the Basotho have lost faith in conventional politics.