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Lesotho Congress for Democracy SG has resigned

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The Secretary General of Lesotho Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing’s Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) has resigned and formed a new party, Movement for Economic Change. This move means the coalition government has lost at least one more seat in Parliament.

However Selibe Mochoboroane says he will not resign as Minister of Small Business but if he is fired, he will move to the cross benches in Parliament.

Months of speculation that Mochoboroane is leaving LCD have finally materialised. “There are people who were uncomfortable with the reception that I received from the masses,” says Mochoboroane.

He says LCD elders tried in vain to mediate. In a space of a month three new parties have broken away from three major parties. The conundrum in this one is that Mochochoroane is a cabinet minister, so if he is removed the question is does he stay in the coalition or does he leave.

I am still the minister and still willing to serve his majesty’s government

The Coalition Agreement sets out a ratio of Cabinet posts based on the number of seats each party has in Parliament. The next few days will determine whether LCD wants Mochoboroane out of that coalition.

“I am still the minister and still willing to serve his majesty’s government, it is just that I have separated with LCD and I have put the new party that I am leading but if the prime minister and his deputy so wish I quit this position that I am holding now I’ll move in Parliament. I will have to write to the speaker of Parliament and indicate that I am moving to the cross bench,” says Mochoboroane.

However if he stays on as Minister, it means the coalition government now has 8 parties and the agreement will be have to be re-drawn.

If he goes, it means the coalition government has one seat less in the national assembly, after the Prime Minister’s party also split.
MEC says it will not support the looming vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, but it may withhold its vote for the budget, which if the opposition gets its way, may collapse the government. Click below for more on the story:

– By Nthakoana Ngatane

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