Lesotho Crisis Needs Finality
September 13, 2014 Opinion & Analysis
SADC chairman President Mugabe says the regional bloc will convene an extraordinary Summit in South Africa next week to discuss disturbances in Lesotho where there were reports of an attempted military coup towards the end of last month.
Although soldiers occupied some Government buildings and two police officers were killed in the skirmishes, forcing the Prime Minister of the kingdom — Thomas Thabane — to temporarily flee to South Africa, the army denied the reports of a coup.
President Mugabe, as the Sadc chair, had to dispatch two ministers, Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who chairs the Sadc Council of Ministers, and Defence Forces minister Sydney Sekeramayi, to South Africa to discuss the situation in Lesotho with Troika members, President Jacob Zuma and President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia.
Reports then indicated that the alleged coup was precipitated by a dispute between the Prime Minister and his coalition partner and deputy, Mothetjoa Metsing, following a unilateral June decision by Thabane to suspend parliament for nine months.
Metsing, with the backing of the military, threatened mass demonstrations to force Thabane to reverse his decision.
Once again Thabane decided to fire the commander of the army, leading to the occupation of government buildings and shooting of two policemen.
The army claimed it acted to thwart the police, who planned to arm an illegal gang to cause chaos if the planned demonstration went ahead.
After meeting the troika, both Thabane and Metsing issued a joint statement saying their misunderstanding had been resolved.
Thabane promised to lift the suspension of parliament while the army undertook to return to the barracks.
It, however, looks like there is bad blood between the political leaders and the military in the mountain kingdom. None of the promises was honoured.
The army commander, Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli, refused to step down. Reports this week indicated he had seized military weapons for as yet unclear reasons. Thabane for his part has not honoured his pledge to the Sadc Troika to recall parliament.
It is important that Sadc moves quickly to resolve the political crisis in Lesotho, arguably the country in the region which has experienced a series of direct military interference in government since its independence in 1966.
Sadc must stamp its authority by stating without ambiguity that these military actions are an aberration in the region, and that politicians must be left to resolve their differences in accordance with the country’s constitution.
On the other hand, Thabane and Metsing must behave in an honourable manner which does not tempt the military to intervene. The two men must respect the terms of their coalition deal.
Metsing and his other coalition partner in government, Sports minister Thesele Maseribane, have accused the Prime Minister of not consulting them on national issues.
This led to parliament planning a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister, who responded by suspending it.
Now it turns out, even after promising Sadc at its 34th Summit in Victoria Falls that he would move speedily to recall parliament, he has not done so.
He made a similar pledge in South Africa, apparently without meaning to fulfil it.
Thabane must be made to honour his word. On the other hand, if he finds it difficult to work with his coalition partners, Sadc must order a fresh election which, hopefully, should bring out a clear winner.
That should settle the matter, otherwise Sadc will for a long time be distracted from its developmental agenda adopted at the Victoria Falls summit.
Whatever the options are available, Sadc must however say “no” to military coups in the region.
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| Sunday Times featuring lead story on the Lesotho crisis. |
SADC chairman President Mugabe says the regional bloc will convene an extraordinary Summit in South Africa next week to discuss disturbances in Lesotho where there were reports of an attempted military coup towards the end of last month.
Although soldiers occupied some Government buildings and two police officers were killed in the skirmishes, forcing the Prime Minister of the kingdom — Thomas Thabane — to temporarily flee to South Africa, the army denied the reports of a coup.
President Mugabe, as the Sadc chair, had to dispatch two ministers, Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, who chairs the Sadc Council of Ministers, and Defence Forces minister Sydney Sekeramayi, to South Africa to discuss the situation in Lesotho with Troika members, President Jacob Zuma and President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia.
Reports then indicated that the alleged coup was precipitated by a dispute between the Prime Minister and his coalition partner and deputy, Mothetjoa Metsing, following a unilateral June decision by Thabane to suspend parliament for nine months.
Metsing, with the backing of the military, threatened mass demonstrations to force Thabane to reverse his decision.
Once again Thabane decided to fire the commander of the army, leading to the occupation of government buildings and shooting of two policemen.
The army claimed it acted to thwart the police, who planned to arm an illegal gang to cause chaos if the planned demonstration went ahead.
After meeting the troika, both Thabane and Metsing issued a joint statement saying their misunderstanding had been resolved.
Thabane promised to lift the suspension of parliament while the army undertook to return to the barracks.
It, however, looks like there is bad blood between the political leaders and the military in the mountain kingdom. None of the promises was honoured.
The army commander, Lieutenant-General Tlali Kamoli, refused to step down. Reports this week indicated he had seized military weapons for as yet unclear reasons. Thabane for his part has not honoured his pledge to the Sadc Troika to recall parliament.
It is important that Sadc moves quickly to resolve the political crisis in Lesotho, arguably the country in the region which has experienced a series of direct military interference in government since its independence in 1966.
Sadc must stamp its authority by stating without ambiguity that these military actions are an aberration in the region, and that politicians must be left to resolve their differences in accordance with the country’s constitution.
On the other hand, Thabane and Metsing must behave in an honourable manner which does not tempt the military to intervene. The two men must respect the terms of their coalition deal.
Metsing and his other coalition partner in government, Sports minister Thesele Maseribane, have accused the Prime Minister of not consulting them on national issues.
This led to parliament planning a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister, who responded by suspending it.
Now it turns out, even after promising Sadc at its 34th Summit in Victoria Falls that he would move speedily to recall parliament, he has not done so.
He made a similar pledge in South Africa, apparently without meaning to fulfil it.
Thabane must be made to honour his word. On the other hand, if he finds it difficult to work with his coalition partners, Sadc must order a fresh election which, hopefully, should bring out a clear winner.
That should settle the matter, otherwise Sadc will for a long time be distracted from its developmental agenda adopted at the Victoria Falls summit.
Whatever the options are available, Sadc must however say “no” to military coups in the region.
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