The Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit Lesotho on Tuesday ahead of the Mountain Kingdom’s June elections.
Ramaphosa and the SADC Oversight Committee were mandated by the Double Troika to convene a multi-stakeholder national dialogue before elections, because in under a month Lesotho is going to elections.
Ramaphosa and the SADC Oversight Committee have been mandated to oversee interventions for a conducive environment.
Ramaphosa first came to Lesotho in 2014. Every visit by him to the capital Maseru sparks fierce debate for two reasons; whether his facilitation has been effective and if he should continue.
Twenty five days before the election civil society is sceptical about the time left to make a meaningful difference.
Executive Director of Lesotho council of NGOs Seabata Motsamai says the short time Ramaphosa is spending in the country is really not enough for attaining sustainable peace in Lesotho.
This is Lesotho’s third elections in five years and fellow SADC members are concerned.
Ramaphosa is expected to meet his majesty King Letsie III, Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, government, the opposition, civil society and churches.
– By Nthakoana Ngatane
