Lesotho tasked to announce results of inquiry

 

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office, the order was made to the Lesotho’s Premier, Dr Pakallitha Mosisili, by the SADC Stroika Chairman and President of Botswana Lt. Gen. Ian Khama.

The Double Troika Summit (DTS) of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was attended by presidents Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

Others who attended included Prime Minister Mr Kassim Majaliwa of Tanzania and the Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.

“During the meeting, the delegation received and endorsed the Report of the Commission of Inquiry, and urged the Lesotho’s government to implement its recommendations as a way to end all political misunderstandings facing the country at the moment,” said the statement.

Other directives that were issued to the country include to prepare a roadmap for the implementation of the reforms as contained in the SADC Facilitator’s Final Report, the report is supposed to be submitted to the next summit in August this year.

The Double Troika Summit urged the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho and all political stakeholders to actively contribute to a conducive environment to allow the safe return to Lesotho of the opposition leaders and members of the Security forces who are in exile.

According to Tanzania ambassador to South Africa, who also represents Tanzania in Lesotho, Ms Radhia Msuya, the Summit aimed at ensuring peace, stability and economic well-being among its member states. “SADC Double Troika is a special summit by heads of state in the region forming the organ on politics, defence and security cooperation,” she said.

The Lesotho political crisis is linked by the killing of the country’s former Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Maaparankoe Mahao, in June 2015, where some of citizens were arrested and others being detained.

The Summit was also attended by the SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, and the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry, Mr Mpaphi Phumaphi.