Concerns about the role of the army in Lesotho’s elections on Saturday continue to linger, despite earlier assurances from Southern African Development Community (SADC) that the army would be confined to the barracks.
The SADC Observer Mission said government has assured it that army helicopters and pilots would only be used to transport voting materials to remote areas but stakeholders have told observers that this was not confirmed.
SADC Executive Secretary, Stergomena Lawrence Tax says international observers discussed the concerns and the army says it will act within the law.
“Yes concerns will always be there in elections. We are engaged and we will continue working with government and the security establishment. We had a meeting with the other observers. We are just out of a meeting and that has been aired by stakeholders but the army has assured all the observers that they are going to be professional and serve according to the provisions of the law.”
The Lesotho capital Maseru is quiet on the public holiday preceding polling day. More than 1.2 million Basotho are expected to cast their ballots in nearly 3000 voting stations around the land locked mountain kingdom.
Lesotho is going to elections barely after two years following a motion of no confidence passed by the national assembly against Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.
This will be the third elections in five years. On the streets voters are also concerned but the electoral commission says it is all systems go and it is hoping for a better turnout.
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– By Sophie Mokoena
