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)

-- 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