Leaders of opposition parties have come out this week strongly accusing the members of the public of anomie they claimed have displayed in the face of failure to uphold good governance and respect of the democratic institutions by the sitting government.
The leaders accuse Ntsokoane Matekane’s led government for stinging violation of democratic processes and the institutions that are supposed to uphold it. They have levelled broad accusations chief amongst them the government’s continued contemptuous treatment of the court orders.
The leaders of majority of opposition parties including the Democratic Congress (DC), All Basotho Convention (ABC), Basotho National Party (BNP), Basotho Action Party (BAP), Mpulule Political Summit (MPS), United Africans Transformation (UAT) and Popular Front for Democracy (PFD).
The government’s indifference towards rule of law and good governance which are tenants of healthy democracy, these leaders have wondered why there is an “overwhelming silence” from the civil society organisations (CSOs). They suggested that everyone is “captured” as they point to failure to “make noise” at government’s unbecoming conduct.
They have also frowned at the Law Society of Lesotho for “silence” over the continued contempt of court orders.
To this effect they have vowed to withdraw from the reforms processes including all processes and meetings aimed at discussing their involvement in the reforms.
They have also written the letter to the Chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) ahead of its Summit slated for 17th August in Durban, South Africa. In their collective letter penned by the leader of Opposition, Mathibeli Mokhothu the opposition parties seek the SADC intervention as the overseer of the reforms in the country. But prior to making a correspondence to the regional bloc they wrote to the Prime Minister.
They complain about what they call the “growing and deeply concerning pattern of non-compliance with judicial decisions” and had cited some cases where the government had failed to abide by the court’s decisions. Those include that of the Ombudsman wherein the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ordered that she should return to the office and resume her duties while her matter is being heard by the court.
The other case relates to the ConCourt’s case involving the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) whom the court reinstated but was later removed from position. They have also mentioned the case of the suspended Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL) ‘Mathabo Mokoko whom the Labour Court had reinstated pending the finalization of her case but remains outside work.
The letter further highlighted the decided case of the Court of Appeal being the apex court in the country where it ordered the reinstatement of 77 members of the National Security Service (NSS) but to date they have not been reinstated.
ABC leader Nkaku Kabi said they are committed to the reforms but the government is not.
“This government of the rich is for the rogue elements,” he said.
Advocate Lekhetho Rakuane said the Ombudsman’s case is “rock of offence” as it directly affected by the 10th Amendment to the Constitution. The Act proposes for the establishment of the authority which will monitor laws proposed and also facilitate the recruitment of the positions of the institutions that are creatures of the constitution.
He noted that the authority were to be established in three months but the government has been slow to seeing to its establishment. Long time MP and former Minister said where the government has interest it invokes the provisions of the 10th Amendment but where it does not it uses old laws.
At this rate, the PFD leader also expressed fear that the country might not even get to elections in early 2028 as the 11th parliament term is expected to end in November 2027. He said unless something happens, the country is in “deep trouble”.
On the other hand, MPS leader, Remaketse Sehlabaka hinted at mounting a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
On the third of this month, the leader of Opposition also wrote the PM letter where he raised concern over the “continued non-compliance” with court orders. “This issue has reached a point where it threatens the very constitutional order upon which our democracy is founded and fundamentally undermines the legitimacy of the ongoing national reforms process. The Opposition remains fully committed to constitutional democracy, the rule of law, judicial independence and meaningful national dialogue. Indeed, these principles are the very foundation upon which the national reforms process was conceived.
“However, meaningful constitutional reform cannot occur while government itself appears unwilling to comply with the Constitution and the lawful decisions of our courts. As Head of Government, Your Right Honourable bears the ultimate constitutional responsibility for ensuring that all organs of the Executive respect and implement decisions of the Judiciary. The doctrine of separation of powers requires every branch of Government to respect the constitutional role of others,” reads the strong worded letter of Mokhohu to Matekane.
Meanwhile, yesterday the Press Attaché in the PM’s office Thapelo Mabote confirmed to this publication that the PM had not responded to the Leader of Opposition’s letter.
While the 10th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in August 2025 the government has only this week convened the multi-stakeholder dialogue for its operationalization. Twelve months later, the government is only acting on reforms.
This move coincidentally comes as the SADC Summit is drawing near. In the Summit the government is expected to table the report on the progress of the reforms and update the Heads of State and Government.
Last year the government celebrated that Lesotho is out of the SADC’s Troika’s agenda. Mofomobe said they have written to the SADC to bring back Lesotho to the watch list of SADC.
He asked why the public and youth does not march against the government. When women are being purged from their offices but there is silence about what they are being subjected to by government.
“You are afraid, tomorrow it will be your child,” he said.
Summary
- Leaders of opposition parties have come out this week strongly accusing the members of the public of anomie they claimed have displayed in the face of failure to uphold good governance and respect of the democratic institutions by the sitting government.
- The letter further highlighted the decided case of the Court of Appeal being the apex court in the country where it ordered the reinstatement of 77 members of the National Security Service (NSS) but to date they have not been reinstated.
- The Act proposes for the establishment of the authority which will monitor laws proposed and also facilitate the recruitment of the positions of the institutions that are creatures of the constitution.
Thoboloko Ntšonyane is a dedicated journalist who has contributed to various publications. He reports on accountability, human rights, exposes corruption and wrong doing by those in power. He reports have exposed corruption, abuse of power, fraud, misconduct and negligence. He subscribes to evidence-based reporting. He reports on governance, parliament, courts, climate change, human rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), health, business and agriculture. He gives a voice to the marginalised while also demanding accountability. His work inspires change, triggers dialogue and also promote transparency in a society.
