Lesotho: The restoration of electoral democracy since 1991

Extracted from: "Lesotho" IN Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa (2002), edited by Tom Lodge, Denis Kadima and David Pottie, EISA, 93-94.

The new military government, headed by a police colonel (later Maj-Gen) and a member of the previous government, Phitsoane Ramaemema, lifted the restrictions on political parties. In July 1991 the constituent assembly completed its work. The new constitution was closely modelled on the 1966 (suspended) constitution. However, mindful of Prime Minister Jonathan's skilful declaration of a state of emergency to thwart the 1970 election outcome, the makers of the new constitution devised a council of state, in addition to the national assembly and the senate. This was intended to advise the king on matters of national importance, such as the declaration of an emergency. Both the king and the Council of State whould have to authorise this.

Moshoeshoe II returned from exile in July 1992. Meanwhile, the holding of elections were being delayed by the military government, owing to slow progress with the compilation of the voters' roll. Although Letsie offered to stand down in favour of his father, Moshoeshoe and Ramaema agreed that the matter of the former king's future role be left for the incoming government to resolve. The first general election in 23 years took place on 27 March 1993 and Ntsu Mokhehle, now 75 years old, led the BCP to power (see Legislative election results 1993). This outcome shook the BNP and its many supporters in the civil service and the armed forces who had expected a BNP victory. As a result of the resentful extra-parliamentary opposition and the inexperience and incompetence of the new government, the kingdom entered a period of political turbulence.

Clumsy attempts by the BCP government to integrate the army and the former LLA, combined with grievances in the army over salaries, led to mutiny among a section of the army early in 1994. The government was also accused of using members of [the PAC of South Africa's former military wing] APLA to bolster security. The dispute was temporarily resolved by mediation on the part of the governments of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, in conjunction with the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity and the Commonwealth. However, during renewed unrest a few months later the deputy prime minister was shot dead by rebel soldiers. Other ministers were also killed.

In August 1994 King Letsie announced over the radio that he had dissolved parliament, dismissed the Mokhehle government and appointed a provisional government which included the BNP leader, Evaristus Sekhonyana. This unconstitutional move was widely condemned by the international community and Lesotho was threatened with economic sanctions. The country was disrupted by BCP demonstrations and a general strike. Post apartheid South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, supported by the UN, the OAU and the Commonwealth, once again stepped in and mediated a settlement at meetings in Pretoria, in terms of which the Mokhehle government was returned to office and parliament reinstituted. In addition, it was agreed that South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe would continue to monitor the peace in Lesotho. Another meeting of representatives of the concerned governments (contact group) was held in Maseru in April 1996.

During the Pretoria negotiations (August-September 1994) Prime Minister Mokhehle, who had been procrastinating on the matter of Moshoeshoe's position, was compelled to address the issue. King Letsie and Mokhehle signed an agreement, guaranteed by the mediating powers, to restore Moshoeshoe as monarch. Letsie abdicated on 25 January 1995, whereupon his father returned to the throne of Lesotho. On 15 January 1996 Moshoeshoe died in a motor car accident and was once again succeeded by Letsie, who was formally inaugurated in October 1997.