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Lesotho: Unemployment, the economy among voter\u2019s concerns ahead Friday\u2019s elections<\/strong><\/p>\n The southern African country of 2.1 million people has more than 60 registered political parties but the election is expected to be a three-way contest.<\/p>\n Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Mathibeli Mokhothu of the Democratic Congress party is in a close race against his current coalition partner Nkaku Kabi of the All Basotho Convention and businessman-turned-politician Sam Matekane of the Revolution for Prosperity.<\/p>\n Lesotho\u2019s King Letsie III presides over a constitutional monarchy but has virtually no political power. Whichever party wins enough representatives in Lesotho\u2019s 120-seat National Assembly to form a government will select the new prime minister. With so many parties contesting the election, a coalition is very likely, say experts. \u2013 The Maravi Post<\/p>\n \u2013 <\/p>\n ASPIRING legislator, Zhen Yu Shao, says he has every right to contest the upcoming elections because he is a lawful citizen of Lesotho. Such is his patriotism that he claims to have once represented #Lesotho<\/a> as a diplomat in his native #China<\/a>. https:\/\/t.co\/lJnt5bJVf5<\/p>\n \u2014 Lesotho Times (@Lestimes) October 1, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2013 <\/p>\n Lesotho votes in election with political crisis still unresolved<\/strong><\/p>\n Lesotho citizens were due to vote in an election on Friday, after years of political instability that the southern African mountain kingdom\u2019s lawmakers have yet to resolve.<\/p>\n The election will go ahead despite a deadlock in parliament on a whole gamut of major constitutional reforms that were meant to be enacted ahead of the vote so as to bring order to Lesotho\u2019s fractious politics.<\/p>\n The All Basotho Convention (ABC) has run the country, with a population of 2.14 million, since 2017, but divisions within the party have given it two prime ministers over five years.<\/p>\n Defections have meanwhile left the party vulnerable to opposition rivals Democratic Congress (DC) or the new Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), led by businessman Sam Matekane.<\/p>\n \u201cThese elections will be highly contested and by the look of things the DC and RFP will be neck-and-neck,\u201d said Lesotho political analyst Lefu Thaela. He added that DC are likely to get the most votes but if they don\u2019t win an outright majority, the outgoing ABC will find themselves kingmakers. \u2013 Reuters.<\/p>\n \u2013 <\/p>\n Political instability will not stop this year\u2019s elections in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The country has, however, seen a decline in the number of voters over the last few elections. Dr Tlohang Letsie unpacks this.<\/p>\n Watch: https:\/\/t.co\/ONCX3NTscs#Newzroom405<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/51PSSjPMId<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 7, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Voters in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho will cast their ballots in parliamentary elections on Friday, but hopes are low that the outcome will end the country’s long-running political gridlock.#LesothoDecides22<\/a> @LivePretoria<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gjTzLrTfMJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 PretoriaLIVE (@LivePretoria) October 7, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2013 <\/p>\n SADC urges restraint as Lesotho heads for elections<\/strong><\/p>\n The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for all Lesotho stakeholders to exercise restraint as the kingdom heads for eagerly awaited parliamentary elections set for Friday.<\/p>\n Speaking during the launch of a 63-member SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) in Maseru on Monday, Namibia\u2019s Defence Minister Frans Kapofi said all registered Basotho voters should be allowed to \u201cexercise their civic and political rights.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe encourage all stakeholders to ensure that these elections are conducted in a peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible manner,\u201d said Kapofi who is leading the SADC observer team.<\/p>\n He said the regional bloc looked forward to an electoral process that adheres to standard democratic values and principles.<\/p>\n The SEOM, which has been in Lesotho since September 25, has been deployed to the 10 districts of Lesotho.<\/p>\n Members of the mission are drawn from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. \u2013 APA<\/p>\n \u2013 <\/p>\n Sitting at the desk of a grand office in Lesotho’s capital, Sam Matekane doesn’t attempt to hide his ambition.<\/p>\n The millionaire political novice says he aims to secure an “outright win” in the country’s parliamentary elections https:\/\/t.co\/jF6jpxk3Qv pic.twitter.com\/FY2QHuouRi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 AFP Agency (@AFP) October 6, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n
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