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Tag: Sam Matekane

  • Diamond magnate to be sworn in as Lesotho PM

    Diamond magnate Sam Matekane is due to be sworn in as Lesotho’s new prime minister at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru, following the 7 October parliamentary elections.

    His Revolution for Prosperity party, formed earlier this year, won the polls but failed to garner an outright majority in the 120-seat parliament, leading to the formation of a coalition government with the Alliance for Democrats and Movement for Economic Change parties.

    According to the government website, over 30 heads of state and government have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony.

    For a decade, none of Lesotho’s political parties has garnered enough votes to form a government on its own.

    The country has, as a result, been run by coalition governments that have proved fractious, and no prime minister has served a full five-year term.

    The small Southern African kingdom has experienced political instability since 2012, including a coup in 2014 and three national elections in five years.

    He spoke to Bola Mosuro from the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme shortly after his election victory:

    Source: BBC

  • Astounding poll performance by Lesotho’s new party

    Lesotho’s Revolution For Prosperity (RFP) party put on an outstanding performance for a party that had only been established six months prior, which was also a damning indictment of the nation’s recent political leadership.

    But officials in the RFP will be disappointed that an overall majority was not secured.

    Many Basotho will also be wondering if a line would have been drawn under the years of infighting and chaos of coalition governments had Sam Matekane’s party gotten over 50% of the seats.

    The diamond magnate will still dominate the political scene.

    There will be high expectations that the RFP fulfills a promise to cut unemployment.

    Some eyes will be checking for potential conflicts of interest between Mr Matekane’s business affairs and the government.

     

  • New party of Lesotho mining tycoon wins most seats

    Results from Friday’s parliamentary elections in Lesotho showed a newly established party headed by a billionaire diamond magnate won the most seats.

    However, Sam Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity party only managed to win 56 seats, falling barely short of the necessary majority to break the protracted political gridlock.

    The All Basotho Convention party, which led the outgoing government, lost a lot of support and only won eight of the country’s 120 seats.

    Over the last decade, numerous coalition governments have been undermined by infighting and no prime minister has served out a full five-year term.

    Mr Matekane, who only formed the party six months ago, will now have to secure the support of smaller parties to form a government.