Lesotho: Challenges of a developing democracy (continued)
Conflict resolution skills proved critical, and many external interventions revolved around imparting such skills and promoting trust-building devices for Lesotho's political leadership. Local civil society leaders played a facilitating role to promote dialogue between political leaders on an ongoing basis. Organisations, such as the Lesotho Network for Conflict Management, were mandated to offer training and mediating capacity for the purpose of addressing intra-party conflicts, and there was agreement to establish a National Peace Accord and a code of conduct for political parties and the security forces during elections.
These interventions were complemented by sustained interventions on the part of SADC. With regard to the contentious issues of voter registration and the electoral model, representatives of the Commonwealth and SADC implemented a number of strategies in an attempt to bring the protagonists to a mutually satisfactory compromise. A SADC Extended Troika Mission (consisting of Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) to Lesotho took place from 12-13 August 2000. The Commonwealth Special Envoy Professor Adefuye also lobbied for resolution to various disputes between the IPA and the Lesotho government. In late November SADC actively lobbied the Senate to agree to the seat allocation of 80/40 described above.
The voter registration process commenced on 13 August and ended on 30 September 2001. At its conclusion the IEC confirmed that about 828 000 voters were registered, excluding those that would reach 18 years of age by election day, who were estimated to number around 15 000 additional voters. About 72% of the potential electorate had therefore registered by 30 September. At the end of the voter registration process, the IPA, the Commonwealth and other foreign diplomats indicated their satisfaction with it, and an election date was scheduled for 25 May 2002.
The May 2002 election
Three-and-a-half years of patient, painstaking and sometimes tedious, consensus-building efforts had clearly paid off when the Basotho population went to the polls on 25-26 May 2002, producing an outcome which clearly demonstrated a commitment by all stakeholders to the principles of democracy, good governance and the spirit of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
The 25-26 May 2002 election was one of the most credible, transparent, 'substantially free and fair', peaceful and orderly elections in recent African history. It was quite evident that the Basotho people had learned some tough lessons from the 1998 crisis. The IEC had gone beyond its mandate in navigating complex politics, and organised and conducted the polls with a sense of urgency.
The people came out in droves, in spite of the fact that conditions were tough, the weather bitterly cold, and the whole process extremely slow and laborious. The spirit of tolerance and dialogue, of respecting the mutually agreed upon rules of the game, clearly helped to ensure a democratic environment.
The training given to political officers was evident in the efficient, professional and transparent manner in which they executed their responsibilities. However, it is unclear that sufficient skills were transferred to local Basotho.
The future of Lesotho's fragile democracy
Having learned the hard way, and having defied the odds with a remarkable election, the foreign community should understand that this is no time to 'close shop'. Lesotho's democracy remains fraught with danger, facing many pitfalls. The Basotho now need to be rewarded for their hard work. External actors should go beyond electoral democracy and move towards constant and sustained engagement. Institutions should be strengthened, civil society capacitated, and power-sharing arrangements supported. Formal, electoral democracy now needs to be anchored by substantive development democracy.
One means of guaranteeing such sustained international backing would be to invite Lesotho to join NEPAD, and to offer Lesotho as a NEPAD model, to reward good conduct with the consolidation of democracy through development efforts.
Support should be given to South Africa's plan to lift Lesotho out of its least developed country status. The calling of an international donors' conference, that would make renewed pledges of aid to bolster the country's development, should be considered.