VZCZCXRO7875
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0306/01 2910832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170832Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3875
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4295

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000306 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/S 
MATTHEW SHIELDS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO UPDATE: POLITICAL CLIMATE MARRED BY INTRA-PARTY 
FEUDS AND "INTRANSIGENT" LEADERS 
 
REF: A) MASERU 303  B) MASERU 000199 C) MASERU 000088 
 
MASERU 00000306  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.      Summary: Since May 2008, rumors have emerged about 
internal disputes and power struggles within the governing 
Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) and within the two major 
opposition parties, the All Basotho Convention (ABC) and the 
Basotho National Party (BNP). According to local analysts, 
discontent within the three afore-mentioned parties has 
continued unabated and opposing factions have emerged as a 
result.  Meanwhile, both the talks regarding the dispute of 
allocation of seats in the National Assembly mediated by the 
former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire; and the talks 
between the Maseru Bus and Taxi Associations and the Government 
of Lesotho (GOL), brokered by Bishop Paul Khoarai, are on the 
brink of collapse.  End summary. 
 
¶2.      On September 25, 2008, the Lesotho Monitor published 
rumors of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle, reflecting reported 
tensions within the governing LCD party. Previous expectations 
that a major Cabinet shake-up would take place did not 
materialize. However, highly-placed sources within the LCD 
informed the Embassy that changes could still take place within 
a ninety-day period. The party is reported to be polarized, with 
one faction - which includes the youth - reported to be 
pro-Monyane Moleleki who is currently Minister of Natural 
Resources.  Local observers claim that the pro-Moleleki faction 
has the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. The 
other faction still supports Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. 
The pro-Mosisili faction is reported to have the support of most 
of the Members of Cabinet and the powerful Secretary-General of 
the party, Mpho Malie. 
 
¶3.      The Moleleki faction allegedly would like a clear 
succession plan and wants to see the Prime Minister, who is on 
his third term, leave office even though the Constitution allows 
him to seek more terms.  According to Embassy sources, 
Moleleki's camp argues that a leader who stays in power for too 
long becomes susceptible to despotic tendencies and ends up 
eliminating the competition, thus stifling the development of 
potential future party leaders.  At a recent LCD policy 
conference, held from September 26-28 2008, Prime Minister 
Mosisili pointedly warned that party members who undermine both 
party protocols and the authority of the National Executive 
Committee (NEC) by campaigning in the constituencies using 
official transport without authorization; and by contradicting 
and challenging decisions, directives, and administration of the 
NEC, would be removed from office with immediate effect.  The 
audience reacted by shouting Moleleki's name.  On October 5 
2008, the LCD NEC subsequently fired the entire Youth League 
leadership, which was accused of being aligned with Moleleki's 
faction.  New members are likely to be elected as soon as all 
the constituencies have been consulted. The LCD is expected to 
hold its general conference in January 2009. 
 
¶4.      The main opposition party, the ABC, has also not been 
immune to internal power struggles.  There are some members who 
have become disgruntled about the Interim Executive Committee's 
lack of commitment to hold an annual general conference which 
will pave the way for Executive Committee elections.  (Note: The 
Interim Executive Committee was appointed - not elected - in 
November 2006 just three months prior to the February 2007 snap 
elections. This has created concern among some party members who 
desire elections to be held.  End note). 
 
¶5.      In May 2008, the ABC Women's League and the Youth League, 
including some constituencies, filed a lawsuit against the 
Interim Executive Committee's decision to distribute a 'draft 
constitution' to some constituencies without their knowledge. 
On October 01 2008, the ABC leadership responded by instructing 
Youth League Leader Qamaka Nts'ene, Women's League Leader, 
Mookho Mathibeli, and other members, to appear before the 
party's disciplinary committee on charges of bringing the party 
into disrepute.  All the members who were summoned to appear 
before the disciplinary committee defied the instruction, citing 
personal safety.  They also stated that they did not know the 
party member who signed the letters.  Furthermore, the letters 
instructed them to report to an unfamiliar venue.  The defiant 
members have since been suspended by party leader Tom Thabane 
for "unbecoming behavior".  The ABC is scheduled to hold its 
party conference in December 2008 and it is widely expected to 
be a tense atmosphere. 
 
¶6.      The BNP's internal power struggles began in 2006 and led 
to a splinter group forming a new party, the Basotho Democratic 
National Party (BDNP), which contested the 2007 snap election 
but did not draw any significant support. Disgruntled party 
members continue to openly encourage the BNP leader, Major 
General Metsing Lekhanya, to resign.  (Note: General Lekhanya is 
a former head of the military junta which overthrew the BNP 
government in 1986.  The former BNP government had ruled the 
 
MASERU 00000306  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
country for twenty years under the leadership of the late Prime 
Minister Dr. Leabua Jonathan. Lekhanya has been the leader of 
the party since 1999 following the demise Rets'elisitsoe 
Sekhonyana. End note). 
 
¶7.      Lekhanya has been accused of alienating potential 
successors within the party by surrounding himself with "yes 
men" (mostly former members of the security forces) who have no 
potential for leadership.  The Youth League President, Moeketsi 
Haanyane, fell out of favor with the BNP leader after supporting 
the move for a leadership change.  The BNP is scheduled to hold 
its conference in March 2009.  Many observers will be watching 
closely to see if General Lekhanya actually decides to retire 
from politics at that time. 
 
¶8.      Amidst all these developments, the crucial political 
dialogue mediated by the former President of Botswana, Sir 
Ketumile Masire, and the talks between GOL and the Maseru Taxi 
and Bus Associations under the mediation of Bishop Paul Khoarai 
of Leribe, have both come to a deadlock.  According to local 
media and analysts, the situation in the country has been 
exacerbated by "arrogant and intransigent" politicians who have 
failed to embrace dialogue as a way of advancing peaceful and 
lasting solutions. 
 
¶9.       In the Masire negotiations between the GOL and opposition 
parties, progress has ceased.  The GOL is opposed to the 
invitation of electoral experts, which the opposition parties 
had suggested to facilitate a final determination as to whether 
the allocation of proportional seats in Parliament was done in 
accordance with the "Mixed Member Proportional" electoral model 
mandated by Lesotho law.  The government's stance has led to a 
stalemate, as neither side can agree on the wording of the 
proposed memorandum of understanding (reftel A). The transport 
operators' dialogue with GOL (reftel B), has also come to a 
standstill, as neither party wants to let go of their vested 
interests. Some members of the Maseru Taxi and Bus Associations 
have openly warned that there would violence if the GOL does not 
take their concerns seriously. 
 
¶10.     Comment: Intra-party power struggles continue to plague 
the three major political parties.  Within the parties 
themselves democratic norms and values are lacking. The leaders 
of the ABC, BNP and the governing LCD parties sometimes utilize 
questionable practices such as appointing rather than electing 
party leadership; writing clauses into party constitutions which 
allow the leader to be considered "leader for life"; and 
refusing to create a method for transparent succession - 
including the election of party officials - despite repeated 
requests from party members.  Some local analysts argue that 
these attitudes will spill over into Parliament and the 
Executive branch, and adversely affect the nation at large. 
Both Lekhanya and Mosisili have been accused by their party 
executives of trying to stay in power indefinitely and failing 
to come up with a clear plan for leadership succession. Embassy 
media sources believe that both leaders want to hand-pick their 
successors before considering retirement, and neither seem in a 
hurry to do so.  It will be interesting to see the outcome of 
the three parties' annual conferences, scheduled to take place 
in December 2008, January 2009 and March 2009, respectively. 
 
¶11.     The political dialogue mediated by Masire under the 
auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), 
and talks between the GOL and transport operators, have come to 
a standstill reportedly due to unwillingness to compromise and 
arrogance on the part of the parties involved.  This has 
illustrated a lack of political maturity, intolerance, and a 
lack of commitment to a resolution.  Failure to continue the 
dialogue has diminished the possibility of a win-win situation. 
It is unclear at this point what the next course of action will 
be regarding the stalled talks. 
ANDERSON