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LT 022020 Compressed.Pdf 2 News Lesotho Times April 2 - 8 2020 ABC, DC agree to form new coalition ’Marafaele Mohloboli HE All Basotho Convention (ABC)’s na- tional executive committee and the Dem- Tocratic Congress (DC) are on the verge of concluding a new coalition deal. Authoritative sources say under the new proposed coalition, Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro will become Prime Minister with DC leader Mathibeli Mokhothu as his deputy. At least 35 members of parliament (MPs) from the ABC’s total tally of 52 have already signed a pledge supporting the new proposed coalition, authoritative sources said. The 35 to- gether with the 26 from the DC guarantee the 61-majority required to form government. It is likely other ABC MPs will come on board, giving the proposed coalition an un- assailable advantage. The Basotho National Party (BNP), the Front for Popular Democracy (FPD), and other smaller parties will be roped in to stabilise the proposed coalition. News of the ABC/DC deal comes in the wake of intricate political horse-trading which has seen Prime Minister Thomas Thabane fall out with one of his main allies, the BNP, and try to form a new coalition with Mothetjoa Metsing’s Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and Se- libe Mochoboroane’s Movement for Economic MOEKETSI Majoro. MATHIBELI Mokhothu. Change (MEC). The planned ABC/DC coalition will effective- ly jeopardise the premier’s plans. “Ntate Moleleki and his AD party will not be partnership remains between the two (ABC rapprochements between the two factions ear- Even though he is ABC leader, Dr Thabane part of the new coalition along with the LCD and DC) but either party is free to bring its lier this year and after Dr Thabane announced has no control over his party’s NEC which and MEC who have been in parallel talks with friends on board. Either party which brings on he would step down in July or earlier if his is largely loyal to a faction led by his deputy Ntate Thabane to establish a coalition. Their board its friends will be expected to allocate successor is chosen. But the premier has since Nqosa Mahao. The NEC last week took its own coalition will not succeed because it lacks the them some government portfolios from their made remarks that suggest he will not relin- leader to court over his decision to prorogue numbers. Most ABC legislators are in favour of share,” Mr Letsosa said. quish power. parliament. the proposed deal with the DC.” ABC cabinet minister Tefo Mapesela con- His war of attrition with his NEC resumed The NEC had originally thrown its weight Another source said the ABC/DC pact was firmed in an audio recording leaked recently last week after he was taken to court over the behind party chairman Samuel Rapapa to now a done deal. that the ABC was on the verge of agreeing to prorogation. The ABC NEC sees the proroga- succeed Dr Thabane as prime minister. It is “We have the num- a new coalition deal tion as an attempt by the PM to buy time to nevertheless comfortable with Dr Majoro and bers because 35 ABC with the DC. forge a new coalition to ensure his survival in recently endorsed his election by the party’s legislators have signed He said the AD power. MPs to take over as premier from Dr Thabane. commitment forms would be left out in The NEC has since rubbished his new coa- DC deputy leader Motlalentoa Letsosa con- stating their support the cold because its lition plans with the LCD and MEC, saying the firmed his party was in talks with the ABC to and commitment to leader, Mr Moleleki, premier cannot singularly commit the party to forge a new coalition. Although the main play- the new coalition…,” We are having talks was “untrustworthy”. any such deal. It remains to be seen if the pre- ers were the ABC and the DC, he said the BNP said the source, adding BNP spokesperson mier will still persist with that dalliance. and other smaller parties would be engaged to that “rabid Thabane (with the ABC NEC) ‘Masetota Leshota LCD spokesperson Apesi Ratšele said his ensure broad support for the proposed coali- loyalists” like current said they were yet party was aware of the ABC-DC coalition talks tion. cabinet ministers to be formally ap- and suggested it was looking elsewhere for its ABC officials were a bit coy when ap- Samonyane Ntsekele which are now at an proached about join- own coalition initiatives. proached for comment, with party secretary and Chalane Phori will ing the proposed co- “I am not going to deny that there are ABC- general Lebohang Hlaele preferring to only be booted out of gov- advanced stage. Were alition. Last week the DC talks… Now that our own ally (the DC) has say “in Lesotho, nothing is impossible…” ernment. BNP joined the ABC’s turned against us, it means we also have to But authoritative sources said the ABC/ ABC spokesperson it not for this national NEC in a Constitution- find somewhere to turn to. DC pact was now almost a done deal. Deputy Montoeli Masoetsa al Court application “We have heard that they are also planning Prime Minister (DPM) Monyane Moleleki’s Al- said it was premature to have Dr Thabane to have BNP on board despite their different liance for Democrats (AD), the second biggest to talk about the pro- lockdown things would declared unfit to con- ideologies which do not mix like water and oil. member of the current governing coalition, posed coalition. “ tinue in office. We know that the BNP hates us and they could will be excluded from the deal altogether with Mr Hlaele, the sec- have been finalised. An This after Dr Tha- never work with us. So, we have made peace Mr Metsing’s LCD and Mr Mochoboroane’s retary-general, said; bane unilaterally pro- with it all and accepted things for what they MEC. “There is no smoke announcement of the rogued parliament are,” Mr Ratšele said. The DC and AD don’t see eye to eye because without fire. We will from 20 March to June “The DC and LCD were in the coalition that the former accuse the DPM of betrayal after he have to wait and see 2020 without King lost the June 3 2017 elections. quit that party to join forces with Dr Thabane what happens as days new coalition would Letsie III’s approv- MEC spokesperson Napo Moshoeshoe said causing its fall from power in June 2017. go by.” al. The BNP and ABC his party was not in the clear regarding latest The DC has repeatedly said it was ready to DC deputy leader have probably been want the prorogation developments since the lockdown was an- work with the ABC in a new coalition as long Motlalentoa Letsosa declared unconstitu- nounced. as it excluded Dr Thabane, who is in court over was more direct and made by now…,” tional. The case will “We shall accept whatever comes our way in allegations of murdering his ex-wife Lipolelo. forthcoming. be heard tomorrow. the name of saving our nation,” he said, add- “The ABC-DC talks have reached an ad- “We are having talks (See story on page 4). ing his party would be willing to join any coa- vanced stage and a deal is imminent,” said one (with the ABC NEC) The ABC has been lition in which it was recognised for its worth top source. which are now at an in turmoil since Dr and not treated as a charity case. “An agreement could have been signed by advanced stage. Were it not for this national Thabane and his supporters rejected Profes- AD spokesperson Thuso Litjobo said they now had it not been for the national lockdown. lockdown, things would have been finalised. sor Nqosa Mahao’s election as the party’s dep- had only heard rumours of the proposed co- “Ntate Majoro will come in as prime minis- An announcement of the new coalition would uty leader at its February 2019 elective confer- alition. The AD was willing to be part of any ter with Ntate Mokhothu as his deputy. At least have probably been made by now…,” he said. ence. coalition “meant to bring peace and stability in 35 of the ABC’s 52 legislators have endorsed He said they were also talking to the BNP The anti-Thabane ABC faction had teamed the country”. the deal. Them and the DC’s 26 are enough to though the main partnership would be be- up with the DC to file a no confidence motion Both the AD and MEC are nevertheless ex- form government though other smaller par- tween the ABC and DC. against Dr Thabane last June. The motion ap- cluded from the envisaged ABC/DC coalition ties will be brought in to guarantee stability. “Whatever agreement we reach, the main peared to have been rendered moot by public matrix. LESOTHO ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY The Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA) is the organisation established in terms of the Lesotho Electricity Authority Act No.12 of 2002, as amended, to regulate electricity sector and urban water and sewerage services sub-sector. Functions of the Authority: * Monitor provision of the Quality of Service and Supply Standards (QoSSS) in the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI), Urban Water and Sewerage Services (UWSS) industry * Issue licenses in the regulated business of generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and water and sewerage services * Resolve customer complaints failed to have been resolved by the regulated utilities(LEC & WASCO) * Determine Electricity, Urban Water and Sewerage services tariffs Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority, Private Bag A315 7th Floor Moposo House, Maseru or call (+266) 22312479.
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