29 Jun 2016

The SADC Double Troika summit comprising six Heads of State and Government has given Lesotho an ultimatum to fulfill its commitment through implementation of SADC decisions.

The decisions included, among others, developing and presenting a comprehensive roadmap with clear time frames on the implementation of all SADC decisions and submitting a report with tangible progress to the 2016 August Summit.

The summit chaired by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama that convened in Gaborone June 28, also urged Lesotho to ensure that constitutional and security sector reforms processes were inclusive of all stakeholders in the kingdom.

Thus, the summit called upon Lesotho to ensure that opposition leaders in exile returned to the kingdom by end of August in order to facilitate participation in the on-going reforms.

SADC executive secretary, Dr Stergomena Tax said in view of the foregoing, the summit directed the Double Troika members to assist on the return of those on exile and report progress to the summit on August.

She said the summit took note of the responses of Lesotho on the implementation of the commission of enquiry’s recommendations.

She said the summit approved terms of reference for the oversight committee as an early mechanism that will provide assistance in the implementation of constitutional security and public sector reforms.

“The secretariat has been directed to immediately implement the oversight committee headed by Mozambique as Chair of Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation,” she said.

She said the summit also approved terms of reference of the oversight committee and further approved a team of experts from double troika member states to support Lesotho in preparations for and holding of technical workshops on the security sector reforms.

Chairperson of council of ministers, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said the oversight committee was appointed so that they assist Lesotho government to re-group and re-build peace and trust that had been lost, and not that Lesotho government had failed to implement the SADC recommendations.

She said Lesotho government needed administrative support to implement certain activities.

“Some of the changes they have to make are administrative, some are constitutional, and some will happen in short time while others will take longer,” she said.

Dr Venson-Moitoi said the Lesotho Prime Minister reassured the summit that he will provide security for members of opposition in exile. Ends