18 Mar 2015

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, on March 17, attended the swearing in of Lesotho’s prime minister, Dr Pakalitha Mosisili in a coalition-led government.

Dr Mosisili took oath of office at Setsoto Stadium at a ceremony attended by Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state and government.

In his address, Dr Mosisili pledged to push for a transparent and secure nation, fight hunger, promote agriculture, hydropower, give equal opportunities to citizenry, promote small and medium enterprises and create employment opportunities.

He also committed himself to confronting challenges in his country such economic challenges, infrastructure development, maternal and child mortality, combating HIV/AIDS pandemic, environmental development and effective and efficient dispensation of justice for his people.

He said he was committed to ensuring success of the coalition government. The coalition government consists of seven political parties; Democratic Congress (DC) of Dr Mosisili, Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), National Independent Party (NIP), Basotholand Congress Party (BCP), Lesotho People’s Congress (LPC), Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP) and Popular Front for Democracy (PFD) with a majority of 65 out of 120 seats.

“This time around, the coalition experience will work in Lesotho to unite our nation,” Dr Mosisili said. Lesotho’s parliament is governed by a 33-member Senate and a 120-member National Assembly of which the majority ruler should get 61 seats.

For his part, outgoing prime minister, Dr Thomas Thabane said an unconstitutional change of government should be a thing of the past and said he looked forward to being the leader of the opposition.

Dr Misisili’s swearing came after February 28 elections following the collapse of yet another coalition government led by the All Basotho Congress (ABC). From the 24 political parties that contested for the 120 seats in Parliament, none of them were able to secure the required 61 seats majority. ENDS