Lesotho: Military rule (1986-1993) (continued)

The new military government was internationally isolated and under intense pressure to return to constitutional rule, while corruption and incompetence was endemic at all levels of government (Institute of Security Studies 2003). The army was deeply divided on how to maintain its interests while continuing the move towards democracy so that Ramaema had to walk a tight rope to avoid being overthrown himself; the draft constitution reflected the difficulties of his situation for it failed to clearly define the future relationship between the military and the elected civil government and included provisions aimed at protecting soldiers from prosecution from acts of brutality and corruption during their term of office (Institute of Security Studies 2003). Nevertheless towards the end of 1991 parties were permitted to engage in political activities and elections under Commonwealth supervision were scheduled for early 1992 but had to be postponed to November 1992 allow for proper delimitation, preparation of voters' registers and adequate logistical arrangements (Institute of Security Studies 2003). In July 1991 the National Constitutional Assembly unveiled the new Constitution which, though closely modeled on that of 1966, implemented a Council of State to advise the King on matters such as states of emergency, to prevent the recurrence of the coup that Jonathan had staged in 1970 (Lodge et al 2002, 93-94). The final constitution failed to secure the subordination of the military to the National Assembly, creating instead a supervisory Defence Commission dominated by the military with a high degree of autonomy (Institute of Security Studies 2003).

Moshoeshoe II returned later that month as a private citizen to a hero's welcome, which enabled him to continue his verbal attacks on the government (Institute of Security Studies 2003; Encyclopedia of the Nations 2005). Because of technical difficulties in delimiting constituencies the election were postponed once more to March 1993, fuelling public suspicion of the military's intentions (Institute of Security Studies 2003; Lodge et al 2002, 94). Nevertheless political campaigning began in earnest. The BCP, dominated by the Intelligentsia and professionals, campaigned as the party of the commoners against aristocratic privilege and in favour of the King's exclusion from active politics, dwelling continually on their exclusion from power after their victory in 1970 (Institute of Security Studies 2003). Close cooperation between BCP leader and Ntsu Mokhehle and deputy leader Molapo Qhobela, enabled the party to maintain unity and vigorously expand its structures throughout the country (Institute of Security Studies 2003). The BNP on the other hand was riven by discord between those led by Evaristus Sekhonyana who has collaborated with the military rulers and those led by Chief Peete Nkoebe Peete who had opposed the military, resulting in a bruising public contest for leadership of the party which was eventually won by Sekhonyana and led to the founding of the National Progressive Part by Peete (Institute of Security Studies 2003). This, combined with the albatrosses of the 1970 coup and responsibility for the misdoings of the subsequent governments around their neck, discredited the party in the eyes of much of the electorate (Institute of Security Studies 2003).

Not surprisingly, under the circumstances, the outcome of the National Assembly election in late March 1993 was a landslide for the BCP (see Legislative election results 1993) which secured three-quarters of the vote and all of the seats in the National Assembly. Despite concerns that the military might execute another coup, and protests from the BNP which had won no seats though it had secured over a fifth of the vote, on 1 April Letsie III was sworn in as head of state and Mokhehle as Prime Minister; the King had attempted to abdicate in favour of his father in the middle of the election campaign almost precipitating another constitutional crisis, but was persuaded to leave the matter to the incoming government (Institute of Security Studies 2003; Lodge et al 2002, 94). The claims of vote rigging by the BNP were dismissed by international observers who, while admitting that the process had not been flawless, found no evidence of systematic fraud and ruled that the irregularities were insufficient to influence the final outcome (Institute of Security Studies 2003; Saunders 2002, 524). The BCP's offer of two seats in the Senate was rejected by the BNP, but opposition members were included in the cabinet (Encyclopedia of the Nations 2005; Saunders 2002, 524).

References

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE NATIONS 2005, "Lesotho History", Thomson Gale, [www] http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Lesotho-HISTORY.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

INSTITUTE OF SECURITY STUDIES 2003, "Lesotho: History and Politics", [www] http://www.iss.co.za/af/profiles/Lesotho/Politics.html [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).

LODGE, T, KADIMA, D & POTTIE, D (eds) 2002 Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa, EISA.

SAUNDERS 2002, "Lesotho: Recent History" IN Murison, K (ed) Africa South of the Sahara 2002, Europa Publications.