Issued by: Office of the Deputy President T M Mbeki
OPENING STATEMENT OF THE SADC EXTENDED TROIKA TO A MEETING OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
THIS IS A MOMENT TO BE SEIZED!
Bomme le bo ntate
On Sunday, 20 September 1998, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) extended Troika delegation had occasion to meet separately with the Lesotho Congress for Democracy party (LCD), as well as the Basotho National Party (BNP), Basutoland Congress Party (BCP) and the Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP). Our delegation received submissions from yourselves which, in the main, focussed on your responses to the Langa Commission report. You also made proposals on possible solutions to the political impasse.
It will be recalled that the current impasse has its origins in the validity or otherwise of the May 1998 election results in Lesotho. On the one hand, the BNP/BCP/MFP group alleged that the conduct of the elections was fraught with serious irregularities which, in some cases, amounted to fraud. On the other hand, the LCD maintained that the outcome of the elections was a true reflection of the will of the people of Lesotho.
Since the release of the Langa report, the positions taken by the parties, both as reflected in the submissions and in public pronouncements, remain basically as they were prior to the release of the report. Looking at the passion with which both sides have argued their case, it is clear that both sides genuinely believe themselves to be right. As at 20 September 1998, we sat with competing proposals as to how the process was to be taken forward.
Since then, many things have happened. Amongst these is the military intervention by SADC. Historians will continue to ask whether the political leadership and other role players could have taken decisions which would have shaped the course of events differently. It is an exercise which borders on the futile to pontificate about that now.
All leaders, all of us have to understand that we have a responsibility to keep hope alive. Despair is not an option open to us. It is for this reason that the extended Troika delegation maintained contact with the LCD, as well as the BNP/BCP/MFP coalition. In the course of this interaction, we were given a distinct impression that the parties do not want to continue to live with the impasse. That alone si a reassuring sign to the effect that one day the people of Lesotho shall be able to live together in peace and harmony. As to when that day will be depends on the leadership, the vision, political will and the quantity of the efforts of those who believe that they are worthy of being entrusted with the destiny of their country and its people.
Talking to Ntate Malebo and later Ntate Thabane, under conditions which did not allow for the posturing which characterised much of the public discourse, it became clear that the leadership of Lesotho has it within itself to take this country out of the current impasse to a more worthy future. Throughout this process we were sustained in our hope by His Majesty King Letsie III's support and guidance. Our own advice as the guarantors of peace in Lesotho is that as you approach today's meeting, it is important that you put Lesotho before everything else. You must find it within yourselves to eschew a `win-lose' line of thinking and adopt a `win-win' future vision.
All leaders, this is perhaps most important opportunity you have to determine how you are to be remembered by posterity. This moment must be seized, for the sake of all those to whom tomorrow depends on it.
MASERU 2 October 1998