LESOTHO: NEW MEMBERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S CABINET

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MASERU 000124 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: NEW MEMBERS OF HIS MAJESTY'S CABINET REF: MASERU 113 AND PREVIOUS MASERU 00000124 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. SUMMARY: On Friday, March 2, Lesotho's Chief Justice, in the presence of King Letsie III and Prime Minister and Mrs. Mosisili, swore in the nation's new cabinet in a lengthy ceremony at the Royal Palace. The Cabinet is composed of members of the nation's two houses of Parliament. While the cabinet has been reshuffled, only four ministers are new to government and four have been left out. The familiar face of the new cabinet -- comprised entirely of governing LCD party members, including several who lost their re-election bids on February 17 -- has led to public criticism of the freshly appointed government. END SUMMARY. -------------- Who Stays On? -------------- ¶2. Ministers who have retained their portfolios: -- Minister of Defense: Pakalitha Mosisili, MP (also the Prime Minister) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs: Archibald Lesao Lehohla, MP and Public Safety -- Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture: Lebohang Ntsinyi, MP -- Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs: Dr. Ponts'o Sekatle, MP -- Minister of Finance and Development Planning: Dr. Timothy Thahane, Senator -- Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports, and Recreation: Mathabiso Lepono, MP -- Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation: Ralechate 'Mokose, MP -------------- Who Changed Jobs? -------------- ¶3. Ministers with changed portfolios: -- Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa, MP (former Minister of Education and Training and of Foreign Affairs until late 2004) -- Minister of Natural Resources: Monyane Moleleki, MP (former Foreign Minister and previous Minister of Natural Resources) -- Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Law and Constitutional Affairs: Mpeo Mahase-Moiloa, MP (former Minister of Labor) -- Minister of Communications, Science, and Technology: Mothojoa Metsing, MP (former Assistant Minister of Justice) -- Minister of Employment and Labor: Moses Refiloe Masemene, Senator (former Minister of Justice) �00A;-- Minister of Education and Training: Dr. Mamphono Khaketla, MP (former Minister of Natural Resources) -- Minister of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing: Popane Lebesa, MP (former Minister of Public Works) -- Minister in the Prime Minister's Office: Dr. Motloheloa Phooko, Senator (former Minister of Health and Social Welfare) -------------- MASERU 00000124 002.2 OF 003 Who Is New? -------------- ¶4. Newly appointed Ministers: -- Minister of Public Service: Semano Sekatle, MP (former Principal Secretary for Public Service) -- Minister of Health and Social Welfare: Dr. Mphu Ramatlapeng, Senator (former Clinton Foundation Director) -- Minister of Public Works and Transport: Ts'ele Chakela, Senator (Civil Engineer) -- Minister of Agriculture and Food Security: Lesole Mokoma, MP -------------- Who Are The Assistants? -------------- ¶5. Assistant Ministers: -- Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Security: Ramootsi Lehata, MP (former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office -- Assistant Minister of Education and Training: 'Malijane Maqelepo, MP (retained her portfolio) -- Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry: Khotso Matla, MP (retained his portfolio) -- Assistant Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety: Lineo Molise, MP (former Legal Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) -- Assistant Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation: Lekhetho Phakisi, Senator (Youth League Leader of the governing LCD) -- Assistant Minister of Labor and Employment: 'Matanki Mokhabi, MP -------------- Who Is Out? -------------- ¶6. Former Ministers who have not been included in the new cabinet: -- Dr. Daniel Rakoro Phororo: Former Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (lost in the National Assembly Elections) -- Molise Paul Ts'eole: Former Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (lost in the National Assembly Elections) -- Hlonepho Nts'ekhe: Former Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation (still a Member of Parliament) -- Mpho Malie: Former Minister of Trade and Industry (voluntarily retiring from government service) -------------- New Cabinet, Familiar Faces -------------- MASERU 00000124 003.2 OF 003 ¶7. COMMENT: Lesotho's new cabinet includes a higher percentage of women and technocrats than before -- a positive development. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Service now join the Ministry of Finance in being headed by individuals with greater professional than political credentials. However, a major shift in Lesotho's political landscape seemed in the offing due to: 1) the LCD's loss of urban support; 2) the emergence of a strong new opposition part (the All Basotho Convention) with a campaign based on populist issues (i.e., provision of government services, public corruption); and 3) the LCD's loss of 18 constituency seats compared to the 2002 election, lowering its majority to a slender two seats (plus the 21 seats of the tenuously aligned and fractious NIP party). However, the new cabinet does not reflect this shift. ¶8. In Maseru, public and media reaction to the new cabinet has been critical of the close family relationships of some cabinet members. One focus of this criticism has been the Prime Minister's reappointment of Minister Phooko, his cousin, after Phooko lost his constituency during the National Assembly election. Also, one husband and wife pair, the Sekatles, have been appointed Minister of Public Service and Minister of Local Government. Additionally, the new Minister of Health, Dr. Ramatlapeng, is sister-in-law to Minister of Natural Resources Monyane Moleleki. In a country of just under two million citizens, close relationships are common, especially among the political class. Thus, while there are changes within the LCD cabinet, they do not presage major shift in the way political business will be conducted in Lesotho. END COMMENT. PERRY