A millionaire businessman is to be the next prime minister of Lesotho, leading a coalition government following an agreement between his party and two smaller rivals.
Sam Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party, founded earlier this year, was five seats shy of an absolute majority in Friday’s general election – so it is forming a coalition with runners-up Alliance of Democrats (AD) and Movement for Economic Change (MEC).
Mr Matekane announced the new coalition government on Tuesday accompanied by AD and MEC leaders – telling reporters they promise to deliver economic growth, more jobs, better infrastructure, a reduction in government ministries and new rules making public servants declare their assets.
The tycoon is a political novice but is well regarded in business circles, and made his money in the diamond, construction and transport industries.
Lesotho has had a succession of fragile coalition governments in the last decade, so this newest administration hopes its political reforms can usher in change.
A recent scandal saw ex-Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his wife Maesaiah Thabane accused of murdering his estranged wife, but the case was dropped in July.
Source: BBC