In the first elections following the introduction of an element of proportional representation, in May 2002, the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) took 77 seats and 55 per cent of the votes, the Basotho National Party (BNP) 21 and 21 per cent, and eight other parties each gained seats. Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili was again sworn in as Prime Minister. The Commonwealth observer group present for the elections said that the conditions existed for a free expression of the will of the voters. In October 2006, Tom Thabane resigned as a minister in the LCD government to form a new political party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC). Sixteen LCD MPs and one independent defected with him, making the ABC the third largest party in the National Assembly with 18 members. In the February 2007 general election, which was observed by a Commonwealth expert team, Mosisili and the ruling LCD were returned to power, winning 61 seats. The National Independent Party took 21 seats and ABC 17, mainly in urban areas. After the 2007 elections a political impasse arose following a dispute on the allocation of seats in parliament. Subsequent mediation efforts at resolving the dispute were led by a SADC Special Envoy, Sir Ketumile Masire, and the Christian Council of Lesotho. In February 2012 Mosisili and 44 other members left the ruling LCD to form a new party, the Democratic Congress (DC). A general election in May 2012, with Commonwealth observers present, resulted in a peaceful transfer of power when Pakalitha Mosisili was succeeded by ABC leader Tom Thabane, the first change of PM since 1998. Mosisili’s DC won 48 seats, the ABC 30, the LCD 26 and the BNP five. Though the DC had the most seats it did not have a working majority; the three opposition parties agreed to form a coalition government. Parliament elected Thabane Prime Minister and he was sworn in on 9 June 2012. Local government Ministry: Local Government and Chieftainship Parliament is mandated by the constitution to provide for local government and has done this largely through the Local Government Act 1997 and Local Government Elections Act 1998. The Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship is responsible for local government, which comprises the single-tier Maseru City Council and ten twotier district councils, the second tier of which comprises 128 community councils. Lesotho’s first local elections were held in April 2005; elections are held every five years. The local authorities do have revenue-raising powers, but receive the bulk of their revenues from central government. Their many responsibilities include public health, environmental protection, water supply, education and agricultural support services. DIRECTORATE ON CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC OFFENCES LESOTHO PROMOTING ZERO TOLERANCE TO CORRUPTION The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences (DCEO) was established in 2003 and is mandated to combat corruption and economic crime through a three-pronged strategy premised on prevention, public education and support, and investigation, leading to the prosecution of suspects. The Directorate consists of five Divisions: • Public Education and Corruption Prevention • Intelligence and Report Centre • Investigation • Prosecution • Administration and Finance Progress to date • Several cases involving public officials, private individuals and companies have been prosecuted. • Establishment of several anti-corruption structures: District Anti- Corruption Committees, Business Action Against Corruption, Systems Integrity Committees and Students Integrity Associations. • Linkages: UN Convention against Corruption, African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the Southern African Development Community Protocol against Corruption. Lesotho also chairs the Southern African Forum against Corruption. • The national anti-corruption strategy is being reviewed to strengthen the DCEO, courtesy of technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat. New legislation is forthcoming. Future plans • New Regional and District offices. • Additional officers and training. • DCEO seeks to mobilise all sectors, public, private and civil society for active participation in the fight against corruption. The Rt. Hon Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Dr Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as some Cabinet Ministers and Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies from the Southern African Forum Against Corruption Contact Mr Litelu Ramokhoro, Director, Public Education and Corruption Prevention, 1st Floor, Agric Bank Building, Maseru, Lesotho Tel: +266 223 13719 • Fax: +266 223 13719 Email: litelu2ramokhoro@yahoo.com
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