LESOTHO UPDATE: POLITICAL CLIMATE MARRED BY INTRA-PARTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000306 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/S MATTHEW SHIELDS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO UPDATE: POLITICAL CLIMATE MARRED BY INTRA-PARTY FEUDS AND "INTRANSIGENT" LEADERS REF: A) MASERU 303 B) MASERU 000199 C) MASERU 000088 MASERU 00000306 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary: Since May 2008, rumors have emerged about internal disputes and power struggles within the governing Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and within the two major opposition parties, the All Basotho Convention (ABC) and the Basotho National Party (BNP). According to local analysts, discontent within the three afore-mentioned parties has continued unabated and opposing factions have emerged as a result. Meanwhile, both the talks regarding the dispute of allocation of seats in the National Assembly mediated by the former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire; and the talks between the Maseru Bus and Taxi Associations and the Government of Lesotho (GOL),brokered by Bishop Paul Khoarai, are on the brink of collapse. End summary. ¶2. On September 25, 2008, the Lesotho Monitor published rumors of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle, reflecting reported tensions within the governing LCD party. Previous expectations that a major Cabinet shake-up would take place did not materialize. However, highly-placed sources within the LCD informed the Embassy that changes could still take place within a ninety-day period. The party is reported to be polarized, with one faction - which includes the youth - reported to be pro-Monyane Moleleki who is currently Minister of Natural Resources. Local observers claim that the pro-Moleleki faction has the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. The other faction still supports Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. The pro-Mosisili faction is reported to have the support of most of the Members of Cabinet and the powerful Secretary-General of the party, Mpho Malie. ¶3. The Moleleki faction allegedly would like a clear succession plan and wants to see the Prime Minister, who is on his third term, leave office even though the Constitution allows him to seek more terms. According to Embassy sources, Moleleki's camp argues that a leader who stays in power for too long becomes susceptible to despotic tendencies and ends up eliminating the competition, thus stifling the development of potential future party leaders. At a recent LCD policy conference, held from September 26-28 2008, Prime Minister Mosisili pointedly warned that party members who undermine both party protocols and the authority of the National Executive Committee (NEC) by campaigning in the constituencies using official transport without authorization; and by contradicting and challenging decisions, directives, and administration of the NEC, would be removed from office with immediate effect. The audience reacted by shouting Moleleki's name. On October 5 2008, the LCD NEC subsequently fired the entire Youth League leadership, which was accused of being aligned with Moleleki's faction. New members are likely to be elected as soon as all the constituencies have been consulted. The LCD is expected to hold its general conference in January 2009. ¶4. The main opposition party, the ABC, has also not been immune to internal power struggles. There are some members who have become disgruntled about the Interim Executive Committee's lack of commitment to hold an annual general conference which will pave the way for Executive Committee elections. (Note: The Interim Executive Committee was appointed - not elected - in November 2006 just three months prior to the February 2007 snap elections. This has created concern among some party members who desire elections to be held. End note). ¶5. In May 2008, the ABC Women's League and the Youth League, including some constituencies, filed a lawsuit against the Interim Executive Committee's decision to distribute a 'draft constitution' to some constituencies without their knowledge. On October 01 2008, the ABC leadership responded by instructing Youth League Leader Qamaka Nts'ene, Women's League Leader, Mookho Mathibeli, and other members, to appear before the party's disciplinary committee on charges of bringing the party into disrepute. All the members who were summoned to appear before the disciplinary committee defied the instruction, citing personal safety. They also stated that they did not know the party member who signed the letters. Furthermore, the letters instructed them to report to an unfamiliar venue. The defiant members have since been suspended by party leader Tom Thabane for "unbecoming behavior". The ABC is scheduled to hold its party conference in December 2008 and it is widely expected to be a tense atmosphere. ¶6. The BNP's internal power struggles began in 2006 and led to a splinter group forming a new party, the Basotho Democratic National Party (BDNP),which contested the 2007 snap election but did not draw any significant support. Disgruntled party members continue to openly encourage the BNP leader, Major General Metsing Lekhanya, to resign. (Note: General Lekhanya is a former head of the military junta which overthrew the BNP government in 1986. The former BNP government had ruled the MASERU 00000306 002.2 OF 002 country for twenty years under the leadership of the late Prime Minister Dr. Leabua Jonathan. Lekhanya has been the leader of the party since 1999 following the demise Rets'elisitsoe Sekhonyana. End note). ¶7. Lekhanya has been accused of alienating potential successors within the party by surrounding himself with "yes men" (mostly former members of the security forces) who have no potential for leadership. The Youth League President, Moeketsi Haanyane, fell out of favor with the BNP leader after supporting the move for a leadership change. The BNP is scheduled to hold its conference in March 2009. Many observers will be watching closely to see if General Lekhanya actually decides to retire from politics at that time. ¶8. Amidst all these developments, the crucial political dialogue mediated by the former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire, and the talks between GOL and the Maseru Taxi and Bus Associations under the mediation of Bishop Paul Khoarai of Leribe, have both come to a deadlock. According to local media and analysts, the situation in the country has been exacerbated by "arrogant and intransigent" politicians who have failed to embrace dialogue as a way of advancing peaceful and lasting solutions. ¶9. In the Masire negotiations between the GOL and opposition parties, progress has ceased. The GOL is opposed to the invitation of electoral experts, which the opposition parties had suggested to facilitate a final determination as to whether the allocation of proportional seats in Parliament was done in accordance with the "Mixed Member Proportional" electoral model mandated by Lesotho law. The government's stance has led to a stalemate, as neither side can agree on the wording of the proposed memorandum of understanding (reftel A). The transport operators' dialogue with GOL (reftel B),has also come to a standstill, as neither party wants to let go of their vested interests. Some members of the Maseru Taxi and Bus Associations have openly warned that there would violence if the GOL does not take their concerns seriously. ¶10. Comment: Intra-party power struggles continue to plague the three major political parties. Within the parties themselves democratic norms and values are lacking. The leaders of the ABC, BNP and the governing LCD parties sometimes utilize questionable practices such as appointing rather than electing party leadership; writing clauses into party constitutions which allow the leader to be considered "leader for life"; and refusing to create a method for transparent succession - including the election of party officials - despite repeated requests from party members. Some local analysts argue that these attitudes will spill over into Parliament and the Executive branch, and adversely affect the nation at large. Both Lekhanya and Mosisili have been accused by their party executives of trying to stay in power indefinitely and failing to come up with a clear plan for leadership succession. Embassy media sources believe that both leaders want to hand-pick their successors before considering retirement, and neither seem in a hurry to do so. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the three parties' annual conferences, scheduled to take place in December 2008, January 2009 and March 2009, respectively. ¶11. The political dialogue mediated by Masire under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and talks between the GOL and transport operators, have come to a standstill reportedly due to unwillingness to compromise and arrogance on the part of the parties involved. This has illustrated a lack of political maturity, intolerance, and a lack of commitment to a resolution. Failure to continue the dialogue has diminished the possibility of a win-win situation. It is unclear at this point what the next course of action will be regarding the stalled talks. ANDERSON