2012 Lesotho general election

General elections were held in Lesotho on 26 May 2012. The incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's newly formed Democratic Congress won a majority of single-member seats. He also won his seat by the second-largest margin of victory.[1] However, they only had a plurality in the overall tally and coalition talks are taking place.

2012 Lesotho general election

26 May 2012
120 seats of the National Assembly of Lesotho
Leader Pakalitha Mosisili Tom Thabane Mothetjoa Metsing Party DC ABC LCD Leader's seat Qacha's Nek District-Tsoelike Maseru District-Abia Leribe District-Mahobong Last election New 17 62 Seats won 48 30 26 Seat change 48 13 36[nb 1]
Prime Minister before election Pakalitha Mosisili DC Elected Prime Minister Tom Thabane ABC

Background

As a result of the impact of the Arab Spring in 2011, protests occurred against the government in regard to unemployment, poverty and low salaries. The protests eventually had the support of taxi drivers, unions, students and opposition political parties. They also demanded to meet Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who had at times refused to do so.[2][3][4][5]

Parties and campaign

Before the election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy suffered a split because of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's refusal to cede power.[6] He then founded a new party called the Ntsu Democratic Congress, in reference to the founder of the LCD Ntsu Mokhehle. The LCD's secretary-general Mothetjoa Metsing then moved to lead the LCD.[7]

Tom Thabane leads another faction that broke away in 2006, the All Basotho Convention, which is expected to benefit from the infighting of the other two parties. Voters' primary demands were reportedly job creation and an improvement in "basic services."[8] The LCD's Metsing said that he would not take part in a national unity government.[9] In like measure ABC ruled out working with LCD.[10]

Opinion polls

Most polls predicted a plurality for the Democratic Congress. One tribal chief, Mohato Bereng, said that he would vote for change in supporting the Lesotho Congress for Democracy.[8] Incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili had an approval of rating of 39% a month before the election.[6] Two days before the election, Mosisili said that DC would get a simple majority.[11]

Conduct

Former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, who headed the Commonwealth of Nations' electoral observer team, said that despite a history of coup d'etats he was assured by the army and police that there would be no interference.[12] There were also electoral monitoring teams from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.[13]

Results

Voting centres were opened from 7:00 at 17:00. Vote counting started at the vote centres in Maseru before they closed. The official results were expected the day after the vote due to the remoteness of some communities.[8] Maliako Ralejoe of the Independent Electoral Commission said at the end of the day that: "Currently most of the urban areas have been counted, which is a good indicator. We have had challenges with the rural areas as some areas are still counting, but Maseru is complete. We estimate that [on 29 May] we will be able to announce the final verdict."[14] On 27 May, the IEC suspended the electoral count because of "serious logistical problems."[15] This caused tension in Maseru and opposition parties led by ABC pressured the IEC to release the result.[16][17]

Voter turnout was 564,451 or 50.04%.[18]

Party	Votes	%	Seats
			Constituency	PR	Total	+/–
Democratic Congress	218,366	39.58	41	7	48	New
All Basotho Convention	138,917	25.18	26	4	30	+13
Lesotho Congress for Democracy	121,076	21.94	12	14	26	–36
Basotho National Party	23,788	4.31	0	5	5	+2
Popular Front for Democracy	11,166	2.02	1	2	3	+2
National Independent Party	6,880	1.25	0	2	2	–19
Lesotho Peoples' Congress	5,021	0.91	0	1	1	0
Basotho Democratic National Party	3,433	0.62	0	1	1	0
Marematlou Freedom Party	3,300	0.60	0	1	1	0
Basotho Congress Party	2,531	0.46	0	1	1	0
Basotho Batho Democratic Party	2,440	0.44	0	1	1	0
Lesotho Workers' Party	2,408	0.44	0	1	1	–9
All Democratic Corporation	1,933	0.35	0	0	0	0
Lekhotla La Mekhoa le Moetlo	1,691	0.31	0	0	0	0
Areka Covenant Front for Development	1,227	0.22	0	0	0	0
Sankatana Social Democratic Party	1,081	0.20	0	0	0	0
African Unity Movement	714	0.13	0	0	0	0
White Horse Party	252	0.05	0	0	0	0
Independents	5,502	1.00	0	0	0	0
Invalid/blank votes	12,725	–	–	–	–	–
Total	564,451	100	80	40	120	0
Registered voters/turnout	1,127,980	50.04	–	–	–	–
Source: IEC, IEC, AED

List of elected MPs

Constituency Number	District	Constituency	MP[1]	Party
37	Maseru District	Abia	Motsoahae Thomas Thabane	ABC
33	Maseru District	Thetsane	Mamothibe Bernice Chaule	ABC
35	Maseru District	Lithotheng	Majoro Nephtali Mohapi	ABC
34	Maseru District	Qoaling	Chalane Clatus Phori	ABC
32	Maseru District	Maseru##	Edward Haae Phoofolo	ABC
55	Mafeteng District	Mafeteng#	Temeki Phoenix Tsolo	ABC
24	Berea District	Teya-Teyanang#	Prince Maliehe Maliehe	ABC
5	Butha-Buthe District	Butha-Buthe#	Motlohi Maliehe	ABC
28	Berea District	Khubetsoana	Thabiso Masenkane Samuel Monyatsi	ABC
2	Butha-Buthe District	Hololo	Teboho Charles Letsela	DC
58	Mohales Hoek	Mohale's Hoek#	Retselisitsoe Masenyetsi	DC
57	Mohales Hoek	Qhalasi	Palo Alphoncis Leteete	DC
4	Butha-Buthe District	Qalo	Thabang Linus Kholumo	PFD
53	Mafeteng District	Likhoele	Khotso Letsasi	DC
14	Leribe District	Tsikoane	Khotso Matla	LCD
15	Leribe District	Maputsoe	Mampho Marystella Mokhele	LCD
23	Berea District	Khafung	Motlalepula Khaahloe	LCD
30	Maseru District	Motimposo	November Pitso Maisa	ABC
38	Maseru District	Thaba-Bosiu	Boomo Frank Sofonia	ABC
49	Mafeteng District	Kolo	Paul Teboho Lehloyenya	DC
54	Mafeteng District	Qalabane	Motlalentoa Letsosa	DC
18	Leribe District	Kolonyama	Lebesa Maloi	LCD
17	Leribe District	Peka	Tlali Khasu	ABC
16	Leribe District	Likhetlane	Timothy Thahane Thahane	LCD
8	Leribe District	Thaba-Phats'oa	Mahala Molapo	ABC
9	Leribe District	Mahobong	Mothejoa Metsing	LCD
11	Leribe District	Matlakeng	Mafalatsi Joyce Lekhatla	LCD
22	Berea District	Malimong	Magents Leshoboro Joseph Mohlajoa	ABC
25	Berea District	Tsoana-Makhulo	Joseph Tsoeu Molise	ABC
29	Berea District	Mabote	Paul Sekhulumi Ntsoaole	ABC
42	Maseru District	Koro-Koro	Thabiso Enerst Litšiba	ABC
48	Mafeteng District	Thaba-Phechela	Molahlehi Malefane	DC
52	Mafeteng District	Thabana-Morena	Selibe Mochoboroane	LCD
56	Mohales Hoek	Taung	Phallang Monare**	DC
71	Qachas Nek	Tsoelike	Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili	DC
12	Leribe District	Leribe	Leketekete Victor Ketso	LCD
27	Berea District	Berea	Matela Solomon Khojane	ABC
20	Berea District	'Makhoroana	Charles Nyebe Tsibela	ABC
13	Leribe District	Hlotse#	Makabelo Priscilla Mosothoane	LCD
3	Butha-Buthe District	Motete	Tumaole Clement Lerafa	DC
50	Mafeteng District	Matelile	Maimane Philemon Maphathe	DC
26	Berea District	Thupa-Kubu	Tsietsi Ezekiel Lethole	ABC
1	Butha-Buthe District	Mechachane	Apesi Ratsele	LCD
10	Leribe District	Pela-Ts'oeu	Solomon Montsuoe Lethoba	LCD
59	Mohales Hoek	Mekaling	Kamoho Joseph Moroeng	DC
41	Maseru District	Maama	Mankoe James Maime	ABC
36	Maseru District	Lithabaneng	Matebatso Doti	ABC
6	Leribe District	Maliba-Matso	Francis Mokoto Hloaele	DC
7	Leribe District	Mphosong	Bataung Leleka	DC
31	Maseru District	Stadium Area	Moshoete Mophato Monyake	ABC
39	Maseru District	Machache	Monyane Moleleki	DC
43	Maseru District	Qeme	Kali SeitLheko	DC
44	Maseru District	Rothe	Manthabiseng Arcylia Phohleli	DC
45	Maseru District	Matsieng	’Matšepo Ramakoae***	ABC
46	Maseru District	Makhaleng	Mootsi Samuel Lehata	DC
74	Thaba-Tseka District	Thaba-Tseka#	Maneo Mathabo Nelly Moremoholo	DC
19	Berea District	Mosalemane	Liau Amos Ntlele****	DC
21	Berea District	Bela-Bela	Litsoane Simon Litsoane	ABC
51	Mafeteng District	Maliepetsane	Michael Mpalipali Molefe	ABC
60	Mohales Hoek	Qaqatu	Lethusang Daniel Kompi	DC
64	Quthing District	Tele	Ndiwuhleli Ndlomose*****	DC
69	Qachas Nek	Qacha's Nek#	Pontšo Matumelo Susan Sekatle	DC
40	Maseru District	Thaba-Putsoa	Tsukutlane Joel Au	DC
61	Mohales Hoek	Mpharane	Phutuhelo Daniel Mafereka	DC
76	Thaba-Tseka District	Mashai	Tšoeu Phineas Mokeretla	DC
78	Mokhotlong District	Senqu	Likeleli Tampane Monare	DC
79	Mokhotlong District	Mokhotlong#	Tlohang Sekhamane	DC
65	Quthing District	Moyeni	Mahooana Rapitso George Khati	DC
47	Maseru District	Maletsunyane	Lawson Kotiti Diholo	DC
67	Quthing District	Mount Moorosi	Kose Julius Makoa	DC
77	Mokhotlong District	Malingoaneng	Serealong Kemuel Qoo	DC
66	Quthing District	Sebapala	Kabelo Mafura	DC
68	Quthing District	Qhoali	Mathibeli Edwin Mokhothu	DC
75	Thaba-Tseka District	Semena	Jobo Joseph Sekautu	DC
70	Qachas Nek	Lebakeng	Henry Semano Sekatle*	DC
62	Mohales Hoek	Ketane	Marefuoe Alice Muso	DC
63	Mohales Hoek	Hloahloeng	Ntlhoi Motsamai	DC
72	Thaba-Tseka District	Mantsonyane	Masuthang Agnes Taole	DC
73	Thaba-Tseka District	Thaba-Moea	MokhokolI Bethuel Seutloali	DC
80	Mokhotlong District	Bobatsi	Makhabane Gilbert Maluke	DC

* Largest margin of victory by just over 92.9% of votes.
**Won by 33 votes over ABC's Ramoshebi Maboee Moletsane (39 ballots were "rejected").
***Won by 39 votes over DC's Mokhele Stephen Moletsane (19 ballots were "rejected").
****Won by 94 voted over ABC's Tsoinyana Samuel Rapapa (161 ballots were "rejected")
*****Smallest margin of victory by 14 votes over LCD's Doreen Chaoana-Mapetsa (47 ballots were "rejected")
#District capital
##District and national capital

Reactions

Ramahoana Matlosa, who lost his bid to become an MP from Maseru District, sad that the DC failed to attract the youth vote. "Of course we knew the ABC would be strong in urban areas. But if you add our numbers to the LCDs, we would have beaten them. It's just that the ABC had an advantage because their number stayed the same and we split." The AU and SADC monitoring teams said of the election that "we are delighted that the voting and counting took place in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility."[13]

Electoral observers said the election was largely free and fair. The Commonwealth of Nations' Bakili Muluzi said that "we chose democracy in Africa. And we should allow democracy to prevail.[19]

Government formation

An unnamed senior party member of DC said that they had begun coalition talks with ABC, but would also look to open talks with LCD if those failed. He also said that the party could try to lure in individual MPs from the other parties if all options failed, while adding that "we are confident that we will lead the new government. We are also not political buffoons not to know that we have to start serious engagements with any coalition partners immediately."[10] DC upped their attempts to build a coalition with LCD upon realising they would not get a majority after proportional seats were allocated.[20] Confidantes to ABC's Thabane said that he was confident of winning the seats necessary to head a coalition government with the other parties, who could possibly get a share of the proportionally allocated seats. An unnamed party member said that "we are in serious discussions with the LCD but most will depend on the final tally of the seats. The LCD is our first preference for any coalition as we have all been in the opposition," but that this was subject to the proportional seats being allocated "properly."[10]

On 30 May, ABC's Thabane told the BBC that he had formed a coalition to give him a majority in parliament.[21] His coalition included the LCD, Basotho National Party, Popular Front for Democracy and the Marematlou Freedom Party.[22] He also said that the government's priorities would be "poverty, lack of jobs, lack of school opportunities, absence of schools at the right places, lack of proper infrastructure, particularly health services. We have gone way below what we were a few years ago, and that's inexplicable. We put power in the hands of the wrong people and we are taking it away from them."[21]

Mosisili resigned on 31 May and would be the Leader of the Opposition. Following this Lincoln Ralechate Mokose, the secretary general of DC, said the party would seek coalition partners and that "we will either succeed or fail. [If the party fails] our stand is to concede and work in parliament as opposition." ABC's secretary-general, Thabiso Litšiba, said it could be a week before the new parliament meets and officially chooses the new Prime Minister.[19]

Analysis

Prior to the vote, Hoolo 'Nyane, the director of the Transformation Resource Centre, said that the lack of a governing coalition "would be a very disturbing scenario. [A repeat of the 1998 stand-off and violence which led to the death of 58 locals and eight South African soldiers, as well as large damages in Maseru were] not completely unlikely."[12] He added that "the entire young and urban vote is in revolt against Mosisili."[13]

The coordinator of development for Peace Education, which monitored the election, Sofonea Shale, said that "maybe the politics of arrogance have come to an end, and we'd be turning a new page based on politics of negotiation. A coalition government is highly likely, which is why I'm saying it's time for a new era. A coalition needs parties to negotiate."[23]

On 29 May, the Lesotho Times reported that the LCD were likely to be "heavily compensated" by the proportionally allotted seats due to finishing second in many constituencies.[9] Most DC votes were in rural areas, while politicians and observers said that an ABC-LCD coalition was likely.[10]

Notes

1. The change figure does not account for the defected MPs who left with Mosisili to join the Democratic Congress, but instead is represents the change from the seats won by the LCD as a party in the previous election.

References

1. "IEC Live Results 2012". Iec.org.ls. Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
2. "Coletu protests reduced student intake at NUL". Lestimes.com. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
3. "Taxi operators to join protest". Lestimes.com. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
4. "Lesotho CSOs, political parties to hold mass protest Monday". Afriqueavenir.org. 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
5. "Lesotho's Mother of All Protests". Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa. 2011-11-23. Archived from the original on 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
6. "Lesotho votes in tight three-way race". Daily Times. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
7. "Lesotho: Jumping Before He's Pushed". allAfrica.com. 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
8. "Polls close in Lesotho's general election". Al Jazeera English. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
9. 29 May 2012. "Lesotho: Election Results Force Leaders to Moot Coalition". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
10. Basildon Peta (2010-05-05). "DC extend lead in Lesotho poll". IOL.co.za. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
11. "Mosisili says DC set to surpass simple majority : Lesotho Times". Lestimes.com. 2012-05-24. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
12. "Lesotho holds tense election". Reuters. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
13. Mcgroarty, Patrick. "Lesotho Vote Likely to Yield Coalition - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
14. "Lesotho opposition takes early election lead". Al Jazeera English. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
15. "Results announcement suspended : Lesotho Times". Lestimes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
16. "Emotions run high on streets of Maseru : Lesotho Times". Lestimes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
17. "Parties pressure IEC to release results : Lesotho Times". Lestimes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
18. "Voter Turnout by District". Iec.org.ls. Archived from the original on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
19. https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jcstP_pElJrdPh6209-w1UOGgx8w?docId=f5636dfc774d4fd39ad72e6531fba1ab
20. "DC moves to court LCD : Lesotho Times". Lestimes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
21. "BBC News - Lesotho election: Tom Thabane's ABC 'to form coalition'". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
22. "Capital News » Lesotho opposition agrees to form coalition to oust PM". Capitalfm.co.ke. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
23. "Lesotho election neck-and-neck, say observers ahead of result". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 2012-05-29.

External links

• Statement of the Independent Electoral Commission on the announcement of the result - by the Chairperson Molula-Setulo.
• Party list candidates for all parties