Lesotho: Other parties
Updated March 2007
Unregistered parties
Parties are ordered by date of founding and alphabetically. Some of these parties may be defunct.
| Party | Leader | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL) | Jacob Mokhafisi Kena | 1962 |
| United Democratic Party (UDP) | Charles Mofeli Ben L Shea |
1967 |
| Lesotho Labour Party (LLP) | Matlaselo Mpela Patrick Salie |
1991 |
| Sefate Democratic Union (SDU) | Bofihla Nkuebe | 1994 |
| National Progressive Party (NPP) | Chief Peete Nkoebe Peete | 1995 |
| Christian Democratic Party (CDP) Sometimes: Christian Democracy Party |
Enerst Ramokoena | c1998 |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) | Selometsi Nthlakana Masitise Seleso |
1998 |
| National Democratic Party | JS Bereng | April 2000 |
| Basotholand African National Congress (BANC) | Matlejane Molapo Qhobela | January 2007 |
Defunct parties
| Party | Remarks |
|---|---|
| Marema-Tlou Party | Leader: Chief SS Matete Founded in 1957, merged with the Freedom Party to form the MFP in 1962. In 1965 the MFP split, with the smaller faction reverting to the name Marema-Tlou Party, but it disintegrated after fairing badly in the elections of that year |
| Basotholand Freedom Party | Leader: BM Khaketla Merged with the Marema-Tlou Party to form the MFP in 1962 |
| Basotho Democratic Alliance (BDA) | Leader: SC Nkojane Merged with LCD |
Sources
GOVERNMENT OF LESOTHO UNDATED "Political Parties" IN Politics, [www] http://www.lesotho.gov.ls/lspolitics.htm (page off-line 23 Oct 2007).
INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION 2006 "Contacts of Registered Parties", Facsimile May 24.
KABEMBA, C (ed) 2004 From Military Rule to Multiparty Democracy: Political Reforms and Challenges in Lesotho [PDF document], EISA No 2, 21.
LEFTIST PARTIES OF THE WORLD 2005 "Lesotho", [www] http://www.broadleft.org/ls.htm [opens new window] (accessed 23 Oct 2007).
LETUKA, P, MAPETLA, M & MATASHANE-MARITE, K 2004 "Gender and Elections in Lesotho: Perspectives on the 2002 elections" [PDF document], EISA Research Report No 4.
LODGE, T, KADIMA, D & POTTIE, D (eds) 2002 Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa, EISA.
MATLOSA, K & SELLO, C 2005, Political Parties and Democratisation in Lesotho [PDF document], EISA Research Report No 23.
MURISON, K (ed) 2001, Africa South of the Sahara 2002, Europa Publications, 536.