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Home| Library | Democracy & Human Rights | Info & Comm | Lesotho Democracy Programme | Water SADC EMINENT PERSON MISSION ON THE POST-ELECTORAL, POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO The Mission of the SADC Eminent Person, Sir Ketumile Masire, the Facilitator of the Post-Electoral Political Dialogue comprising of the representatives from Angola, Swaziland and SADC Secretariat arrived in Maseru on 25 August 2008.
Upon arrival in Lesotho, His Excellency paid courtesy calls on His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the Right Honourable, Prime Minister Mr.Pakalitha Mosisili, as well as the UNDP Resident Representative in Lesotho Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie
During the June-July 2007 Post-Electoral Political Dialogue in Maseru, Lesotho; the dialogue successfully concluded with the Stakeholders agreeing that the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) model related matters which included the review of this model be addressed immediately after the election related cases that were before the courts were dealt with. His Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire consulted with a number of Stakeholders ranging from the Independent Electoral Commission, the Leaders of the Opposition Parties, the Ruling Party, the Government, the Christian Council, the former Media Facilitation Group and the Lesotho Council of Non- Governmental Organizations, the Speaker of national Assembly and the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Lesotho. The Stakeholders formed a Dialogue Facilitation Forum whose purpose was to review a Road Map which was developed during June-July 2007. The reviewed Road Map was adopted by all stakeholders. The Dialogue Facilitation Forum will guide the implementation under the coordination of the Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The Stakeholders set time frame and identified the implementing entities for the Reviewed Road Map. The Dialogue Facilitation Forum agreed to provide regular reports on the implementation process to His Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire. As previously agreed, Stakeholders reconfirmed their commitment to invite the Experts on the MMP Model. The Stakeholders also agreed on the Terms Of Reference (TORs) and to develop the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) within two weeks as a guideline and commitment to the process. It was agreed that the matter pertaining to the designation of the leader of opposition in Parliament be concluded. His Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire appreciated the commitment of all Stakeholders on their efforts to ensure safety and security in the country. He further emphasized the need for Lesotho parties and Basotho in general to put the interests of the nation at heart. His Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire appealed to all Stakeholders to commit themselves to the success of the dialogue process and avoid their individual positions and posturing. It is in view of this that all Stakeholders should compromise in the best interests of the country. His Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire raised a concern on the open endedness of the dialogue process, in this regard, he set the end of October 2008 as the finalization of the mediation process in Lesotho. This was agreed upon by all stakeholders. His Excellency, Sir Ketumile Masire, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Lesotho for the warm recepilion and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. Furthermore, he extended his appreciation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for providing financial assistance to the dialogue process. TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE ELECTORAL EXPERTS AS REVISED ON THE 30 AUGUST 2008 Terms of Reference are as follows; 2. To establish the Merits and demerits of the Mixed Member Proportion Model as applied in the 17 February 2007elections
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