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In pursuance of the SADC Troika mandate to facilitate the return of Lesotho topolitical normalcy and the stabilisation of the security situation, SADC Facilitator and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will depart from Cape Town later today, Wednesday 22 October 2014 for Maseru where he will pay another official visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho from Wednesday-Thursday 22-23 October 2014.

Once again, the Facilitator, Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to continue to pursue consultations with political role-players including paying a courtesy call on His Majesty KingLetsie III as part of ongoing regional efforts to assist the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho in their endeavours to address their current political and security challenges facing their country.

Thus far the SADC regional facilitation efforts have yielded positive results with the reconvening of parliament by His Majesty King Letsie III which took place on Friday 17 October in Maseru. This arose from the signing of the Maseru Facilitation Declaration facilitated by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and members of the SADC observer mission to Lesotho.

The Declaration further provided for parliament to discuss the budget and any other related matter to the general elections scheduled for February 2015 on a date to be set by His Majesty King Letsie III as well as the dissolution of parliament in December 2014.

Deputy President Ramaphosa continues in his facilitation mission to Lesotho to enjoy the support of the team of SADC experts and members of the secretariat led by the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Dr. Thabang Mhlongo. This team comprises officials from the member-states of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe and are expected to be joined by officials from other member-states.

Issued by SADC observer to Lesotho