Lesotho‘s newly-inaugurated Prime Minister Tom Thabane says his government will prioritise rescuing the Mountain Kingdom from spiraling into lawlessness. His inauguration ceremony in Maseru on Friday started with a moment of silence in memory of his second wife, Lipolelo Thabane who was gunned down on Wednesday.
After taking an oath of allegiance to His Majesty King Letsie III, Thabane thanked SADC and the facilitator for Lesotho South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, other international organisations and the Christian Council of Lesotho for ensuring a peaceful transition.
He applauded outgoing Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili for handing over power peacefully for the second time – the first being in 2012.
Thabane outlined his priorities.
“To rescue Lesotho from the current downward spiral into lawlessness, conflict, political instability, stagnation, and degradation of democracy; to work for lasting peace and stability of the nation; and to lead the nation on the path of reconciliation and unity.”
SADC leaders have congratulated Lesotho on a peaceful hand-over of power at the inauguration of Thabane. In attendance were the Prime Minister of Swaziland, Sibusiso Dlamini representing SADC Chairperson His Majesty King Mswati III, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia, SADC Facilitator, South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Tax.
“We note that indeed there is a need for economic reforms that must be implemented, not only in Lesotho but by the whole SADC region in order to improve the lives of our people. With gratitude we note the role played by SADC facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Christian Council of Lesotho, your majesty we congratulate his Excellency and on behalf of SADC, we wish you success in your tenure,” says Swaziland Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini.
The Zambian president said democracy should be made less expensive.
“Democracy is a very expensive game, but I will leave it up to you the people of Lesotho to decide how best to make democracy a bit cheaper so that you can focus resources to develop this country.”
– By SABC Radio Desk
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