VZCZCXRO3336
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0215/01 1810836
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300836Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4241
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4670

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000215 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/S AND INR/AF: BYRNES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO:  NEW TWIST IN THE CALL FOR MINISTERS TO BE FIRED 
 
REF: MASERU 194 
 
MASERU 00000215  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) Youth League members 
allegedly wrote a letter, dated June 6, 2009, which urged the 
Prime Minister to fire some cabinet ministers for incompetence. 
The letter has sparked controversy, as some sources accuse 
Mothetjoa Metsing, the Minister of Communications (who is also 
the Secretary General of the LCD), and two other Members of 
Parliament (MPs) of being the authors of the afore-mentioned 
letter.  The letter was reportedly delivered to the Minister of 
Communications for onward transmission to Prime Minister (PM) 
Mosisili. Metsing and the two MPs denied the allegations and 
suggested that this accusation was merely intended to tarnish 
their images. 
 
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Minister of Communications stirring the pot? 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. According to information dated June 22 on a local website 
news service, Intelserv, well placed sources inside the 
governing party have fingered Metsing, MP Keketso Rants'o, and 
MP Mahlomola Makhube of being the masterminds behind the Youth 
League's controversial letter.  Earlier, media had reported that 
the letter was prepared by the LCD Youth League and delivered to 
the Minister Metsing because of his role as Secretary General of 
the LCD.  Metsing and the two MPS have vehemently denied any 
involvement in the preparation of the memo.  They asserted that 
whoever is pointing fingers at them has a hidden agenda and 
wants to bring their names into disrepute.  Intelserv also 
revealed that another MP from the Koro-Koro Constituency was 
involved in sending text messages to Youth Leagues members' 
mobile phones informing them about a meeting at party 
headquarters to discuss "some urgent party business" regarding 
the petition to the PM. 
 
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Divisions widening within the ruling party? 
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¶3. In yet another surprise move, the President of the LCD Youth 
League, Mosala Mojakisane, distanced the League and himself as 
President from the controversial letter.  He stated that the 
Youth League Executive Committee had nothing to do with the 
petition.  Local observers say that this move clearly 
demonstrates that there are two opposing camps within the 
governing LCD.  Both Intelserv and the Lesotho Times issue of 
June 25 reported that the petition called on the PM to fire the 
following ministers for incompetence:  Minister of Natural 
Resources, Monyane Moleleki; Minister of Local Government and 
Chieftainship Affairs, Dr. Pontso Sekatle; Minister of Gender 
and Youth, Sports and Recreation, Mathabiso Lepono; Minister of 
Agriculture and Food Security, Lesole Mokoma; Minister of Public 
Service, Semano Sekatle; and Minister of Forestry and Land 
Reclamation, Ralechate Mokose (reftel). 
 
¶4. The June 26 issue of the Public Eye newspaper reported that 
the infamous memo also requested the PM to reshuffle the 
following ministers in addition to those already mentioned: 
Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Timothy Thahane; 
Minister of Education and Training, Dr. Mamphono Khaketla; 
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Mphu Ramatlapeng; and 
Minister of Public Works and Transport, Tsele Chakela.  Despite 
this indication of dissatisfaction on the part of some party 
members, Public Eye reported that at a June 14 rally in Butha 
Buthe, the PM showed total disregard for the infamous petition 
by extolling Moleleki's performance as a minister.  He outlined 
Moleleki's achievements and cited rural electrification and 
revenue collected from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project as 
success stories.  On the other hand, at the recent funeral of an 
MP who was killed in April, the PM publicly criticized the 
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security for failing to 
transform Lesotho's agricultural sector despite his high 
credentials as a leading agriculturalist. 
 
¶5. Some local analysts believe the PM's statements are just 
meant for his domestic LCD audience.  Professor Makoa, a 
political scientist from Lesotho, indicated that he was not at 
all surprised to hear the PM making such statements when 
addressing his followers.  He said that the PM's statements must 
be seen in the context of the audience he was addressing.  He 
warned that although the PM was clearly speaking to the public 
gallery, some party fanatics might take the PM's words to heart 
and seek to use his remarks to further their own agendas. 
 
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Comment 
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MASERU 00000215  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. The latest turn of events illustrates that there are some 
disgruntled elements within the LCD which would like to change 
the status quo.  Well-placed Embassy sources had indicated 
earlier that the PM was planning to reshuffle his cabinet. 
However, in recent days, our sources have alleged that Mosisili 
is reluctant to proceed with his reshuffle plans because he 
fears that this would destabilize the party.  Some local 
observers say the PM's statements criticizing or praising 
cabinet ministers could have unduly raised people's expectations 
that a cabinet re-shuffle was eminent.  A clear example  is the 
LCD Youth League's letter, which indicates that their 
expectations may have been raised and encouraged them to agitate 
for a cabinet reshuffle.  According to Post's sources, the PM 
(who is on his third five-year term), has not revealed any clear 
succession plans.  This lack of clarity for the future of the 
party frustrates potential future LCD leaders who may be vying 
for his position and widening rifts within the party.  Local 
Government elections are set for April 2010; post will monitor 
how well the governing party manages to keep party unity until 
then. 
NOLAN