2012 Lesotho general election

Last updated
2012 Lesotho general election
Flag of Lesotho.svg
  2007 26 May 2012 2015  

All 120 seats in the National Assembly
PartyLeader%Seats+/–
DC Pakalitha Mosisili 39.5848New
ABC Tom Thabane 25.1830+13
LCD Mothetjoa Metsing 21.9426−3
BNP Justin Lekhanya 4.315+2
PFD 2.023+2
NIP 1.252−19
LPC 0.9110
BDNP 0.6210
MFP 0.6010
BCP 0.4610
BBDP 0.4410
LWP 0.441−9
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Prime Minister beforePrime Minister after election
Pakalitha Mosisili
DC
Tom Thabane
ABC

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.

Contents

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]

Following a dispute over the allocation of the proportional seats in the 2007 elections, the electoral system was amended, with the National Assembly Elections Order 1992 repealed and replaced by the National Assembly Elections Act 2011. The previous system of casting separate votes for a constituency candidate and a national party list was replaced by voters casting a single vote for a party, which was counted for both the constituency candidate and the national party list. [6]

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. [7] 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. [8]

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." [9] The LCD's Metsing said that he would not take part in a national unity government. [10] In like measure ABC ruled out working with LCD. [11]

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. [9] Incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili had an approval of rating of 39% a month before the election. [7] Two days before the election, Mosisili said that DC would get a simple majority. [12]

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. [13] There were also electoral monitoring teams from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community. [14]

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. [9] 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." [15] On 27 May, the IEC suspended the electoral count because of "serious logistical problems." [16] This caused tension in Maseru and opposition parties led by ABC pressured the IEC to release the result. [17] [18]

Voter turnout was 564,451 or 50.04%. [19]

PartyVotes%Seats
FPTPPRTotal+/–
Democratic Congress 218,36639.5841748New
All Basotho Convention 138,91725.1826430+13
Lesotho Congress for Democracy 121,07621.94121426–3
Basotho National Party 23,7884.31055+2
Popular Front for Democracy 11,1662.02123+2
National Independent Party 6,8801.25022–19
Lesotho People's Congress 5,0210.910110
Basotho Democratic National Party 3,4330.620110
Marematlou Freedom Party 3,3000.600110
Basutoland Congress Party 2,5310.460110
Basotho Batho Democratic Party 2,4400.440110
Lesotho Workers' Party 2,4080.44011–9
All Democratic Corporation1,9330.35000New
Lekhotla La Mekhoa le Moetlo1,6910.31000New
Areka Covenant Front for Development1,2270.22000New
Sankatana Social Democratic Party1,0810.20000New
African Unity Movement7140.13000New
White Horse Party2520.05000New
Independents5,5021.000000
Total551,726100.0080401200
Valid votes551,72697.75
Invalid/blank votes12,7252.25
Total votes564,451100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,127,98050.04
Source: IEC [ permanent dead link ], IEC, AED

List of elected MPs

Constituency
Number
District ConstituencyMP [1] Party
37 Maseru District Abia Motsoahae Thomas Thabane ABC
33 Maseru District ThetsaneMamothibe Bernice ChauleABC
35 Maseru District LithothengMajoro Nephtali MohapiABC
34 Maseru District QoalingChalane Clatus PhoriABC
32 Maseru District Maseru##Edward Haae PhoofoloABC
55 Mafeteng District Mafeteng#Temeki Phoenix TsoloABC
24 Berea District Teya-Teyanang#Prince Maliehe MalieheABC
5 Butha-Buthe District Butha-Buthe#Motlohi MalieheABC
28 Berea District KhubetsoanaThabiso Masenkane Samuel MonyatsiABC
2 Butha-Buthe District HololoTeboho Charles LetselaDC
58 Mohales Hoek Mohale's Hoek#Retselisitsoe MasenyetsiDC
57 Mohales Hoek QhalasiPalo Alphoncis LeteeteDC
4 Butha-Buthe District QaloThabang Linus KholumoPFD
53 Mafeteng District LikhoeleKhotso LetsasiDC
14 Leribe District TsikoaneKhotso MatlaLCD
15 Leribe District MaputsoeMampho Marystella MokheleLCD
23 Berea District KhafungMotlalepula KhaahloeLCD
30 Maseru District MotimposoNovember Pitso MaisaABC
38 Maseru District Thaba-BosiuBoomo Frank SofoniaABC
49 Mafeteng District KoloPaul Teboho LehloyenyaDC
54 Mafeteng District QalabaneMotlalentoa LetsosaDC
18 Leribe District KolonyamaLebesa MaloiLCD
17 Leribe District PekaTlali KhasuABC
16 Leribe District LikhetlaneTimothy Thahane ThahaneLCD
8 Leribe District Thaba-Phats'oaMahala MolapoABC
9 Leribe District Mahobong Mothejoa Metsing LCD
11 Leribe District MatlakengMafalatsi Joyce LekhatlaLCD
22 Berea District MalimongMagents Leshoboro Joseph MohlajoaABC
25 Berea District Tsoana-MakhuloJoseph Tsoeu MoliseABC
29 Berea District MabotePaul Sekhulumi NtsoaoleABC
42 Maseru District Koro-KoroThabiso Enerst LitšibaABC
48 Mafeteng District Thaba-PhechelaMolahlehi MalefaneDC
52 Mafeteng District Thabana-MorenaSelibe MochoboroaneLCD
56 Mohales Hoek TaungPhallang Monare**DC
71 Qachas Nek Tsoelike Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili DC
12 Leribe District LeribeLeketekete Victor KetsoLCD
27 Berea District BereaMatela Solomon KhojaneABC
20 Berea District 'MakhoroanaCharles Nyebe TsibelaABC
13 Leribe District Hlotse# Makabelo Priscilla Mosothoane LCD
3 Butha-Buthe District MoteteTumaole Clement LerafaDC
50 Mafeteng District MatelileMaimane Philemon MaphatheDC
26 Berea District Thupa-KubuTsietsi Ezekiel LetholeABC
1 Butha-Buthe District MechachaneApesi RatseleLCD
10 Leribe District Pela-Ts'oeuSolomon Montsuoe LethobaLCD
59 Mohales Hoek MekalingKamoho Joseph MoroengDC
41 Maseru District MaamaMankoe James MaimeABC
36 Maseru District LithabanengMatebatso DotiABC
6 Leribe District Maliba-MatsoFrancis Mokoto HloaeleDC
7 Leribe District MphosongBataung LelekaDC
31 Maseru District Stadium Area Moshoete Mophato Monyake ABC
39 Maseru District MachacheMonyane MolelekiDC
43 Maseru District QemeKali SeitLhekoDC
44 Maseru District RotheManthabiseng Arcylia PhohleliDC
45 Maseru District Matsieng ’Matšepo Ramakoae***ABC
46 Maseru District MakhalengMootsi Samuel LehataDC
74 Thaba-Tseka District Thaba-Tseka#Maneo Mathabo Nelly MoremoholoDC
19 Berea District MosalemaneLiau Amos Ntlele****DC
21 Berea District Bela-BelaLitsoane Simon LitsoaneABC
51 Mafeteng District MaliepetsaneMichael Mpalipali MolefeABC
60 Mohales Hoek QaqatuLethusang Daniel KompiDC
64 Quthing District TeleNdiwuhleli Ndlomose*****DC
69 Qachas Nek Qacha's Nek#Pontšo Matumelo Susan SekatleDC
40 Maseru District Thaba-PutsoaTsukutlane Joel AuDC
61 Mohales Hoek MpharanePhutuhelo Daniel MaferekaDC
76 Thaba-Tseka District MashaiTšoeu Phineas MokeretlaDC
78 Mokhotlong District SenquLikeleli Tampane MonareDC
79 Mokhotlong District Mokhotlong#Tlohang SekhamaneDC
65 Quthing District MoyeniMahooana Rapitso George KhatiDC
47 Maseru District MaletsunyaneLawson Kotiti DiholoDC
67 Quthing District Mount MoorosiKose Julius MakoaDC
77 Mokhotlong District MalingoanengSerealong Kemuel QooDC
66 Quthing District SebapalaKabelo MafuraDC
68 Quthing District QhoaliMathibeli Edwin MokhothuDC
75 Thaba-Tseka District SemenaJobo Joseph SekautuDC
70 Qachas Nek LebakengHenry Semano Sekatle*DC
62 Mohales Hoek KetaneMarefuoe Alice MusoDC
63 Mohales Hoek Hloahloeng Ntlhoi Motsamai DC
72 Thaba-Tseka District MantsonyaneMasuthang Agnes TaoleDC
73 Thaba-Tseka District Thaba-MoeaMokhokolI Bethuel SeutloaliDC
80 Mokhotlong District BobatsiMakhabane Gilbert MalukeDC

* 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." [14]

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. [20]

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." [11] DC upped their attempts to build a coalition with LCD upon realising they would not get a majority after proportional seats were allocated. [21] 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." [11]

On 30 May, ABC's Thabane told the BBC that he had formed a coalition to give him a majority in parliament. [22] His coalition included the LCD, Basotho National Party, Popular Front for Democracy and the Marematlou Freedom Party. [23] 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." [22]

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. [20]

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." [13] He added that "the entire young and urban vote is in revolt against Mosisili." [14]

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." [24]

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. [10] Most DC votes were in rural areas, while politicians and observers said that an ABC-LCD coalition was likely. [11]

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