VZCZCXRO0682
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0336 3190429
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140429Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3911
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4331

UNCLAS MASERU 000336 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/S MATTHEW SHIELDS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO POLITICAL UPDATE: NEW POLITICAL PARTY LAUNCHED 
 
REF: MASERU 306 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Disgruntled former members of Lesotho's main 
opposition political party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC), 
held a political rally on November 9, 2008 and indicated their 
intention to form a new political party in the coming days.  On 
November 2, 2008, the ABC celebrated its second anniversary 
since its inception.  The party has been beset with controversy 
from the onset.  Party members who quit the ABC recently are 
reported to be from 21 different constituencies.  End summary. 
QOn Sunday, November 9, 2008, former Publicity Secretary and 
Member of the ABC Executive Committee, Lehlohonolo Ts'ehlana, 
and former Chairperson of the Stadium Area Constituency in 
Maseru, Moeketsi Tsatsanyane, announced that they, and other 
members of the ABC from several other constituencies, had 
decided to establish a new political party to counter the 
prevailing political situation in which, in their view, 
political parties lack internal democratic norms and values. 
Tsatsanyane indicated that they quit the ABC because of their 
concern that the leadership of the partyQ not committed to 
hold a general conference which would 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.  End note).  This 
created concern among some party members who desired elections. 
 
¶3.  Local private radio station, People's Choice FM, reported 
that the rally organized by the duo was poorly attended. 
Analysts on local radio call-in programs (which are a de facto 
barometer for measuring public opinion) openly criticized 
Tsehlana and Tsatsanyane of demonstrating a propensity to 
hopscotch from one party to another.  Both politicians were 
members of the Basotho Congress Party (BCP).  When a new 
splinter group emerged in 1997 and formed the current governing 
party, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), Ts'ehlana 
joined that new party.  However, he was dismissed by the LCD 
Disciplinary Committee in 2006. 
 
¶4.  In 2006, both Tsehlana and Tsatsanyane joined the ABC, which 
was seen to be beleaguered with controversy from its inception 
due to the number of disgruntled and `greedy' politicians from 
the LCD,  who joined the ABC with the hope of winning 
parliamentary seats or being elevated to prominent positions in 
the party. 
 
¶5.  Comment:  The launching of a new political party will bring 
the total number of parties which have registered with the 
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to 20.  There is only one 
political party, the Basotho African National Congress (BANC) 
which was formed in 2007 but has not registered with the IEC. 
The majority of ordinary citizens and local analysts believe 
that with a population of about 1.88 million, there are already 
too many political parties.  Local observers argue that the 
launching of this new party demonstrates greed for power and 
leadership given the history of Tsatsanyane and Ts'ehlana of 
joining parties and quitting or get dismissed.  The new party is 
expected to be launched in the coming days.  End comment. 
 
NOLAN