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Seithati Mphatsoane/Moroke Sekoboto
TWENTY-FOUR of the 52 parties contesting tomorrow’s elections have committed to accepting the results “at all costs”.
Some of the parties that signed the pledge under the under the auspices of the Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL) include the All Basotho Convention (ABC), Alliance of Democrats (AD), Basotho National Party (BNP) and Movement for Economic Change (MEC).
These four parties were represented by their leaders; Nkaku Kabi, Monyane Moleleki, Machesetsa Mofomobe and Selibe Mochoboroane, respectively.
The leaders also pledged to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.
CCL’s Archbishop Tlali Lerotholi said the pledge was also in honour of Lesotho’s constitution and laws in respect to human dignity.
“This signing ceremony is more than just putting your names on a paper; it is a serious commitment to ensure peace and stability in the country,” Archbishop Lerotholi said.
He said the pledge was a serious commitment by the leaders to work harmoniously and to build trust between different political parties.
It was also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which seeks to promote peace, justice and strong institutions.
Although the CCL expected all the 65 parties registered with the Independent Electoral Commission to sign the pledge, only 24 appended their signatures. While 65 parties are registered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), some of them will contest as coalitions. Therefore, only 52 are contesting the elections.
Archbishop Lerotholi said they would continue engaging the remaining parties to come on board and commit to fostering peace and stability in the country.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN) says it has deployed 300 observers to monitor the elections.
LCN Executive Director, Seabata Motsamai, told a media briefing yesterday that the observers would be stationed at polling stations and at the command centre while some would be moving around the country.
