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LETSIE ASKS FOR KING’S HELP

05/03/2017 08:12:00 BY MDUDUZI MAGAGULA

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Lesotho monarch requests Swazi King’s intervention in political turmoil

MBABANE – Representatives of His Majesty the King, as chairperson of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) met Basotho King Letsie and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.

The consultative meeting took place in Lesotho about two weeks ago.
It came at a time when there was potential turmoil once again, in the mountainous kingdom, caused by the instability on the Basotho government’s leadership.
The meeting discussed various issues pertaining to security and stability in that country, among other issues.

His Majesty was represented by his special envoy Prince Hlangusempi, Minister of Economic Planning and Development.
The minister confirmed this when contacted by the Times SUNDAY.

He said the meeting had been initiated by the Basotho king. “He invited our king for a meeting and since His Majesty could not make it, he sent us to represent him,” he said.
The prince asked not to get into details of the meeting. “The talks were very confidential and details of the meeting may not be discussed in the media,” he said.
However, he said the issue of security of Lesotho was on the agenda.

Prince Hlangusemphi was part of a delegation made up of Mgwagwa Gamedze, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mbongeni Simelane, Private Secretary to the King.
In an interview, Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze also confirmed the trip to the troubled kingdom of Lesotho.

He said the meeting they had took place behind closed doors. The minister said the Swazi delegation was able to meet the King of Lesotho and Prime Minister Mosisili.
Contacted for comment, Vincent Mhlanga, Chief Officer at the King’s Office, asked not to comment on the issue.

“I am aware that there was a delegation sent by the King to Lesotho but I was not part of the delegation. I cannot, therefore, be in a position to comment,” he said.
The meeting took place just days before the Lesotho parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Mosisili, a vote that effectively removed him from office.

Mosisili, of the Democratic Congress (DC) party, has headed a coalition government since a snap election in 2015, which had been called in an effort to end Lesotho’s prolonged power struggles.
The coalition has recently become fragmented and last Wednesday, parliament voted in favour of replacing Mosisili with Monyane Moleleki, whose Alliance of Democrats party split from the DC last year.
Completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is one of the world’s poorest countries and its economy is heavily dependent on its immediate neighbour.