Who will guide next elections?

The Council of State is set to advise His Majesty King Letsie III to appoint new Commissioners for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as the current team’s five-year term comes to an end in December.

The move marks a crucial transition for one of Lesotho’s most vital democratic institutions, still reeling from past controversies that have cast doubt on its credibility.

Newsday has learned that the political parties have submitted a shortlist of five names to the Council of State for consideration. They include Dr John Maphephe, ‘Mamatlere Matete, Retšelisitsoe Mohale, Dr Monyane Chelete, and Dr Fako Likoti.

From this list, the Council will select three to be appointed by His Majesty King Letsie III in accordance with Section 66(4) of the Constitution.

“For the purpose of enabling the Council of State to select the names of persons to be submitted to the King under subsection (3), the Council shall request all registered political parties in accordance with the procedure agreed by them to jointly propose to the Council within a period of thirty days from the date specified by the Council, a list of not less than five names,” the constitution reads.

According to sources close to the process, 44 applications were received for the coveted positions, but four were disqualified for failing to meet eligibility requirements, notably, holding political or government posts

A consultant was engaged to assist with the evaluation, and after rigorous screening, 10 candidates were shortlisted for interviews.

According to sources involved in the process, a scoring system was used in which political parties controlled 70 percent of the marks, while 30 percent were assigned to the consultant’s independent assessment.

After consolidation, the top five candidates emerged and were forwarded to the Council of State for final consideration.

The Council of State, which advises the King on such appointments, is now tasked with selecting three names to be formally appointed to the IEC, a decision expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

“The final decision now rests with the Council of State, which must apply its mind and advise His Majesty,” said a senior government source familiar with the recruitment process.

Among those who did not make the final cut is Dr Karabo Mokobocho-Mohlakoana, one of the current IEC Commissioners, who had been shortlisted but ultimately failed to secure a spot in the top five.

The current Commissioners, Mphasa Mokhochane (Chairperson), Tšoeu Petlane, and Dr Mokobocho-Mohlakoana, are nearing the end of their five-year term and have formally expressed interest in being reappointed. In their motivation letters, the trio argued that they have “faithfully served the nation” and wish to continue steering ongoing institutional reforms at the Commission.

Appointed in 2020, the three oversaw the 7 October 2022 general elections, which ushered in the current government.

Their leadership of that electoral process, however, was not without controversy — with questions raised over the Commission’s handling of proportional representation (PR) seat allocations and its subsequent admission of administrative errors.

In January 2023, three civic activists, Kananelo Boloetse, Motsamai Mokotjo, and Resetselemang Jane, wrote to the Council of State petitioning it to advise the King to institute a tribunal to investigate the fitness of the Commissioners to hold office.

The trio accused the Commission of “undermining public trust” after it admitted to an error in the calculation of four PR seats in the 2022 elections. They argued that such an error compromised the integrity of the poll and demanded that the Commissioners be investigated under Section 66 of the Constitution.

Although the Council of State acknowledged receipt of the activists’ letter, the tribunal was not established. The IEC, for its part, maintained that the error was an “administrative oversight” and not an act of misconduct.

Despite these challenges, the IEC has sought to position itself as a forward-looking institution. In 2023, it unveiled a Strategic Plan for 2024–2028, outlining a vision for strengthening election management and restoring public confidence.

The 54-page document, rooted in Section 66A of the Constitution, sets out the Commission’s constitutional duty to ensure that both national and local elections are held regularly, and that they remain free and fair.

In launching the strategy, Chairperson Mokhochane described it as a “roadmap for the future of election management,” pledging to improve transparency and deepen stakeholder engagement. The plan includes measurable targets such as maintaining a 95 percent updated voters’ roll and achieving at least 75 percent voter turnout by the end of the strategy period.

Former IEC Chairperson Advocate Leshele Thoahlane commended the initiative, saying it demonstrated a renewed commitment to credible elections. He encouraged the IEC to collaborate with institutions like the National University of Lesotho (NUL) to expand civic and voter education, arguing that public awareness remains a cornerstone of democratic participation.

Thoboloko Ntšonyane

Thoboloko Ntšonyane is a dedicated journalist who has contributed to various publications. He focuses on parliament, climate change, human rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), health, business and court reports. His work inspires change, triggers dialogue and also promote transparency in a society.