20 Jan 2016

The just ended Double Troika Summit ended in a sour note after Lesotho refused to receive a report of the commission of inquiry, citing an ongoing court case.

Briefing the media on Wednesday January 20, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said the chairperson of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama pursued the issue further sensing the mood of all the heads of government and state that attended the summit.

Dr Venson-Moitoi said Lesotho Prime Minister, Dr Pakalitha Mosisili, did not leave the country immediately and met with President Khama on Tuesday to discuss the issue further.

Dr Venson-Moitoi said at the end of the meeting, Dr Mosisili agreed to accept the report. She said the possibility of suspending Lesotho was also discussed during the summit.

Furthermore, Dr Venson-Moitoi said upon acceptance of the report by the Lesotho prime minister, President Khama informed the heads of state and government about the new development.

Meanwhile, the summit discussed the SADC facilitator to Lesotho’s report following its concern on the deterioration of the political and security situation in Lesotho.

The situation has forced the main opposition leaders of Lesotho to flee the country fearing for their security, exacerbated by the death of former Lesotho Defence Force Commander, Brigadier Maaparankwe Mahao on June 25, 2015.

The Double Troika summit handed the report of the commission of inquiry to Lesotho and tasked the government to provide feedback to the chairperson of the SADC summit and to publish the report within 14 days.
Lesotho is expected to provide a road map on how they will implement the reforms from the report. ENDS