Lesotho’s stability encouraging-Lungu

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:11:11 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA

LEOTHO has been facing problems in the past but I am happy that they are finally on their feet, President Edgar Lungu has said.

President Lungu said it was important for Zambia to be encouraging Lesotho to continue on the path of stability.

The Head of State said this yesterday at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport before his departure to the Kingdom of Lesotho where he is today expected to attend the swearing-in and inauguration ceremony of the Prime Minister-elect Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane.

“We are in the same region and we are all aspiring for democratic governance systems and I think Lesotho has been facing problems in the past and we are happy that they are finally on their feet and it is important to encourage them to go that route,” President Lungu said.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa accredited to Lesotho and Madagascar, Emmanuel Mwamba said President Lungu was invited by His Majesty, King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Mr. Mwamba said the ceremony would be held at Setsotso Stadium in the Capital City, Maseru on Friday (today).

He said on June 3, 2017, the Kingdom of Lesotho held a snap election following the success of a vote-of-no-confidence against the government of Dr. Pakalitha Mosisili’s coalition government.

Mr Mwamba said consequently Parliament was dissolved and elections were called to be held in 90 days.

“After the elections that were held on Saturday 3rd June 2017, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) declared the All Basotho Convention party (ABC) led by former prime minister, Dr. Thomas Thabane, won the majority seats totalling 48 out of the 120 seats in the National Assembly.

“However, to form government, a party requires a minimum of 61 majority seats. Dr. Thabane has since marshalled a coalition of parties comprising three other parties securing a total of 63 seats in the National Assembly,” he said.

Mr. Mwamba said the observer missions led by former President Rupiah Banda of Zambia (Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy(EISA)), former President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique (African Union(AU)), Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Augustin Mahiga (Southern African Development Community(SADC)), and Ms. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba (Commonwealth Observer Mission) all affirmed that the elections were credible, free and fair.

President Lungu has been accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba and his political advisor Kaizer Zulu among other government officials.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has regretted the death of several innocent lives in an inferno which also left many others injured at London’s Grenfell Tower on June, 13 2017.

In a message of condolences to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mrs Theresa May, the Head of State said he learnt with profound sorrow, the loss of so many lives and injuries suffered by survivors.

“As we join you in mourning the departed, we pray that the Lord Almighty grants solace and fortitude to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a quick recovery.

“I wish to convey, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Zambia, and indeed on my own behalf, my deepest condolences to the people of the United Kingdom, and the families of the deceased during this trying period,” President Lungu said.

This is according to a statement issued yesterday to the Daily Nation by special assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.