LESOTHO: ELEVEN APPOINTED TO SENATE

UNCLAS MASERU 000113

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: ELEVEN APPOINTED TO SENATE

REF: A) MASERU 0093 AND PREVIOUS


1. The Office of the Prime Minister announced on February 28
that His Majesty King Letsie III, in accordance with Section 55
of the Constitution of Lesotho, appointed eleven new members of
the Senate, the upper house of Parliament. (NOTE: The
Constitution stipulates that the Council of State should advise
the King in the selection of Lesotho's eleven appointed
senators. The total number of Senators is 33, including 22
principal chiefs and eleven royal appointees. END NOTE.) The
Senate was sworn-in on March 1, and immediately elected Chief
Letapata Makhaola as Senate President and Hlomohang Morokole as
Vice President during its subsequent first session. Chief
Letapata Makhaola was former Vice President of the Senate and
Hlomohang Morokole was Senate Clerk from 1995 until 2002.



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Who's On The List?

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2. The newly appointed Senators are:



-- Dr. Motloheloa Phooko (Former Minister of Health and Medical
Doctor)

-- Dr. Timothy Thahane (Former Minister of Finance and
Development Planning)

-- Mr. Refiloe Masemene (Former Minister of Justice, Law and
Constitutional Affairs)

-- Dr. Mphu Ramatlapeng (Medical Practitioner and Director of
the Clinton Foundation)

-- Professor Zacharia Mats'ela (Author and retired university
Professor)

-- Mr.Ts'ele Chakela (Civil Engineer)

-- Mr. Lekhetho Phakisi (League Leader of the governing LCD
party)

-- Mrs. 'Maphoka Motoboli (Retired Teacher)

-- Lt. General Makhula Mosakeng (Former Commander of the Lesotho
Defense Force)

-- Chief 'Mualle Moshoeshoe (Ward Chief of Likueneng)

-- Chief Qajela Lebona (Ward Chief of Thaba-Ts'oeu)



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Ministerial Material?

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3. COMMENT: Rumors circulating in Maseru suggest that the top
five names on the above list may be offered cabinet positions or
slots within the office of the Prime Minister when new ministers
are sworn in at the Royal Palace on March 2. Only members of
Parliament, from either house, may occupy cabinet-level
positions. Among those on the list are two high ranking LCD
members who lost their bids to retain their lower house
constituencies during the February 17 National Assembly election
or in the party primaries (Phooko, Thahane). Their appointment
as Senators may cause consternation among opposition parties who
view the ballot box as the principal determinant of cabinet
appointments. The official swearing-in of the new cabinet is
expected late March 2. END COMMENT.

PERRY