FINAL RESULTS OF THE APRIL 30 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

UNCLAS MASERU 000244

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM LT
SUBJECT: FINAL RESULTS OF THE APRIL 30 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

REF: A) MASERU 240 B) MASERU 228 C) MASERU 220


1. The final results of the local government elections held on
April 30 have been released by the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC). The voter turnout was only 30%; participation
by young voters seems to have been very limited. The ruling
Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) is reported to have won the
majority of seats in most of the 129 community councils
(including the uncontested councils),with the Basotho National
Party (BNP) the largest opposition party, the Lesotho People's
Congress (LPC) and independent candidates winning most of the
other seats. (Per ref C, a group of eleven opposition
parties refused to endorse the elections, but did not direct
their members to abstain from participating as voter and/or
candidates.) Other parties had very modest showings. Vote
totals by party, however, are not available, and may not be for
a considerable time (see para 3 below).


2. The voter turnout at national level and at district level
was as follows:

NATION-WIDE VOTER TURNOUT = 30.28 %

DISTRICT REGISTERED VOTERS VOTES
TURNOUT


1. BEREA 86218 26656
30.92 %

2. BUTHA-BUTHE 46847 15231
32.51 %

3. LERIBE 122727 39186
31.93 %

4. MAFETENG 82856 27535
33.23 %

5. MASERU 213871 37587
17.57 %

6. MOHALE'S HOEK 73142 26728
36.54 %

7. MOKHOTLONG 39943 16596
41.55 %

8. QACHA'S NEK 20433 8542
42 %

9. QUTHING 45890 18713
40.78 %
10.THABA-TSEKA 51852 20549
39.63 %

TOTAL: 783,779
237,323


3. COMMENT:

The results reflect a slightly higher voter participation in the
more rural districts (nos. 7 through 10 above) than in urban
ones. The general lack of interest in the elections was
especially pronounced among younger voters. An IEC spokesman
claimed this week that the organization lacks the resources to
provide a percentage breakdown of votes by party. This seems to
contradict an earlier statement by the IEC Chairman touting the
commission's state-of-the-art equipment and adequate manpower to
hold the elections. Not providing this information may
needlessly raise suspicions about the integrity of the election
process. However, Commonwealth observers gave the IEC good
marks for its handling of the elections. The group of eleven
major opposition parties which had requested postponement of
elections is expected to issue a statement within the next day
or so regarding the election results. The parties are meeting
May 11 to analyze the results and agree on their next course of
action. END COMMENT.


PERRY