VZCZCXRO7247
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO
DE RUEHMR #0222/01 1281534
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081534Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2033
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0012
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2305

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MASERU 000222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RANGOON FOR PATRICK MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM LT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE LEADER OF THE BASOTHOLAND 
AFRICAN CONGRESS 
 
 
MASERU 00000222  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The Ambassador met with the leader of the 
Basotholand African Congress (BAC), Dr. Khauhelo Ralitapole, on 
Thursday 20 April, 2006. Dr. Ralitapole is also Chairperson of 
the Parliamentary HIV/AIDS, a member of the Pan-African 
Parliament and Chairperson of the Health Committee of the 
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary 
Forum. She is also a former minister of health in the 
Basotholand Congress Party (BCP) government before it split and 
the current ruling party emerged.  Ralitapole was accompanied by 
her deputy,  Mr. Paanya Phoofolo, a former Government Secretary 
and  Lesotho Ambassador to the United Nations and China.Their 
discussion focused on preparations for the 2007 national 
elections, controversy surrounding the Independent Electoral 
Commission (IEC) and issues regarding the fight against the 
scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Dr. Ralitapole was critical of 
the GOL's policies and actions and warned of significant 
unhappiness within the opposition parties.  The Ambassador 
stressed the need for peaceful, fair elections and the 
importance of all stakeholders being able to voice their views, 
as well as to participate in the electoral process.  She noted 
the international community's eagerness to assist with election 
preparations to ensure a free and fair process. End Summary 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Lesotho's 2007 national elections 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶2. The Ambassador noted that since Lesotho will be taking over 
the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community 
(SADC) from Botswana in August 2006, many people in the region 
are going to be looking at the country's  2007 national 
elections with keen interest.  She pointed out that as Lesotho's 
prominence in the region increases, the stability of the country 
becomes more important.  She stated that the donor community 
will be willing to assist with electoral support to ensure clean 
and acceptable elections. The Ambassador stressed that several 
SADC member states such as Botswama, Mozambique, Namibia and 
Tanzania have held peaceful elections recently and therefore, it 
is the interest of the international community and for the 
citizens of Lesotho to follow suit. 
 
¶3.  Ralitapole stated that her party was looking forward to the 
2007 elections but due to lack of information from the 
government, they are in the dark.  Dr. Ralitapole said there is 
a need for the date of the election to be known as early as 
possible. She added that this would be important for opposition 
parties to ensure that the government does not catch them off- 
guard by announcing the date for snap national elections at the 
eleventh hour. (Note: There have been announcements of a May 
2007 election date.) 
 
¶4.  She also indicated that rumors which surfaced last year 
after local government elections, suggesting that there will be 
simultaneous national and local elections in 2007, have created 
a lot of anxiety within the opposition parties. The BAC leader 
added that the government has failed to clarify this matter. Dr. 
Ralitapole stressed that her party would strongly advise against 
holding the two elections at the same time because this would 
confuse the electorate who still lack sensitization on local 
government elections.  Raditapole suggested that it is essential 
to clarfy the functions and powers which have been 
decentralized.  She pointed out that there is also a need to 
clarify the role of councilors, chiefs and district 
administrators.  She observed that failure to do this has 
already created conflict among the councillors and chiefs. 
Responding to the Ambassador's inquiry of whether any of the 
SADC countries have held simultaneous local and national 
elections, Dr. Ralitapole indicated that none of the SADC member 
states have done that and suggested that this would be 
unprecedented in the region and therefore, not advisable. 
 
¶5.  Dr. Ralitapole asserted that the ruling party in Lesotho has 
chosen to ignore the desires of the people in various policy 
measures. She pointed out that there is a growing trend by the 
incumbent government to operate in a shrewd manner under the 
guise of stability. She added that there is a propensity by " 
autocratic democrats " who play on the people's ignorance and 
who are not in tune with the mood of the people. She emphasized 
that this creates voter apathy. 
 
¶6.  The Ambassador encouraged the BAC leader and her colleagues 
to suggest the types of fora, which can facilitate communication 
among various stakeholders . Dr. Ralitapole stated that 
opposition parties have requested to have regular dialogue with 
the Prime Minister but this has not happened. She also indicated 
that the state media are used to cover issues concerning the 
ruling party only.  She added that the Parliamentary Reforms 
Committee has suggested that the state media should cover live 
debates in parliament and also that the House introduce a weekly 
" Prime Minister's Question  Time"  similar to what occurs in 
 
MASERU 00000222  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
the British parliament. 
 
¶7.  Dr. Ralitapole mentioned that election campaign periods 
result in misgivings because of alleged incumbent government's 
misuse of government vehicles and victimization of private 
businessmen who openly support opposition parties. She stressed 
that this creates an unequal platform for competition. The 
Ambassador indicated that the international community is willing 
to provide electoral support and to encourage the government to 
have dialogue with the opposition parties; it is up to all 
parties to openly express their opinions on electoral 
procedures, she added. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Controversy surrounding the IEC 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶8.  Dr. Ralitapole claimed that the Prime Minster's decision to 
extend the contract of the Chairman of the IEC Leshele Thoahlane 
was unconstitutional. She added that the opposition parties and 
private law firms have questioned the Attorney General's 
interpretation of the law regarding the contract extension. She 
expressed concern that some opposition parties are already 
threatening to boycott next year's elections as a result of the 
PM's decision.  Phoofolo stressed that the PM's decision to take 
the matter involving the extension of the contract of the IEC 
Chairman to the Council of State was done deliberately to ensure 
that the PM had the upper hand against the wishes of opposition 
parties. He indicated that as members of the Council,  the Chief 
Justice and another senior judge would not rule against a 
decision made by the council if opposition parties took the 
matter to the courts of law  i.e., not challenge their own 
existing decision. This, according to Phoofolo, would not 
satisfy the due process of law. He added that appointment of IEC 
Chairman and Commissioners should be done in consultation with 
opposition parties, not as courtesy as the PM suggested. 
 
¶9.  Dr. Ralitapole noted another issue involving the IEC -- the 
fraud charge faced by two officers of the IEC, Khothatso 
Ralitsie, Director of Elections and Kotsoane Motsie, Operations 
Inspector. (Note:The two officers were accused of collaborating 
with two directors of  M and K Security  Company that guards IEC 
facilities. They are accused of making false payments to " 
phantom guards " and also exaggerating the number of  guards. 
The four were released on payment of $ 650.00 bail per person . 
End note.) Ralitapole stressed that the two officers should have 
been suspended while investigations continued. She pointed out 
that the fact that they have such sensitive jobs and continue to 
be on the job, tarnishes the image of the IEC. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Combating the HIV/AIDS Pandemic 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶10.  Dr. Ralitapole indicated that the role of parliament has 
been left out in important government declarations made on HIV/ 
AIDS issues.  She said the SADC Parliamentary Forum had proposed 
a meeting to harmonize the involvement of parliamentarians in 
these issues across the region.  She added that there is a need 
to focus on universal access issues such as prevention, 
treatment and support.  The BAC leader also stated that the 
structures of the National AIDS Commission (NAC) need to be 
strengthened in order to become fully functional. 
 
¶11. Dr. Ralitapole cited staffing of clinics and laboratory 
facilities as critical problems.  The Ambassador noted that the 
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is expecting a proposal 
from GOL on the renovation of clinics across the country and 
building of access roads to those clinics.  She pointed out that 
the MCC would also focus on business development and clean 
water supply. The Ambassador concurred that human resource issue 
is a major issue across the board. She also advised Ralitapole 
that CDC would soon provide lab equipment for the clinics. 
Ralitapole indicated that provision of lab equipment would help 
immensely. She pointed out that there is a need to improve 
facilities in key areas where the anti-retroviral rollout 
program has started. The Ambassador concluded by suggesting that 
there is a need for a unified approach by various organizations 
to coordinate and liaise with NAC. 
 
 
¶12. Comment: The issue brought up by opposition parties 
regarding the ruling party's misuse of government vehicles and 
state media is nothing new. It is unlikely, however,  that the 
government will stop using the vehicles during the campaign 
period because of "tradition" and no attempt by law enforcement 
to apply the regulations.  The extension of the IEC Chairman's 
contract and the IEC's decision to allow Ralitsie and Motsie to 
 
MASERU 00000222  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
continue be on active duty may tarnish the image and integrity 
of the IEC. This may also contribute to apathy as some 
opposition parties have already expressed their lack of 
confidence in the IEC and threatened to boycott the 2007 
elections. It is too early to gauge what the reaction of 
opposition parties will be once the date of elections is 
announced. 
PERRY