Seek SADC intervention to help rebuild our Kingdom

An appeal to Prime Minister Thomas Thabane and his 4x4 coalition government in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

PRIOR to your inauguration we submitted our statement pleading that as you form a new government you must as a matter of urgency implement the Phumaphi Commission recommendations to stabilise the Kingdom into normalcy.

Two days before your swearing-in ceremony your estranged wife was murdered in cold blood. We appealed for SADC intervention to help you establish institutional structures as you lay a new foundation for the troubled Kingdom.

Condolences for the loss of your loved wife. Congratulations for your coming back to the helm of the government.

This appeal is directed mainly to four heads of the coalition. We are aware that though the three of you may be in exile does not mean your ideologies will match. Still, it does not mean that your marriage with the butterflies as they call themselves with Mr Moleleki will make you a uniform team in policy formulation and mode of governance. Still, lack of majority in parliament will bar you from instituting massive reforms.

This is an uphill struggle for you and your new administration. We are well aware that the majority in the Kingdom’s defence force do not take orders from you as their political affiliations differ from yours. We are also mindful of the tattered state the Kingdom’s police is in.

Politically we are accustomed to the tension between you and your rivals – those you have just defeated at the polls. Mindful of their evil wishes and intentions, we are aware that plans may be hatched to eliminate you physically or otherwise.

This is the reason we are appealing to you to seek external assistance on policing as well as military matters to help you establish professional and robust institutions.

Vengeance and witch-hunt are not best tools for restoring order, fair trial and justice are. Amnesty will have to be granted only and unless if you by consensus agree to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Bureau.

Honourable Prime minister you must make sure justice is not only seen to take place, but you must walk the talk. Many nations including Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia are in turbulence because they chose to cover up the atrocities of the past in an attempt to shield those that were regarded as famous and heroes.

We may not have great hope in you as you are human too, but make sure that you do not condone corruption in your administration.

Corruption has made Africa the global laughing stock while outsiders see this continent as a home of plenty.

History recommends you as one administrator with upright hands because any ministry you administered in past governments did extremely well, using the same prowess to distinguish your leadership.

You may not choose to ask for boots on the ground from SADC, but at least military pens and encyclopedia will be required to help restore order and bring back the Kingdom of envy.

Lesotho is one of the kingdoms with rich resources, advantaged with a small and manageable population, so the Kingdom can become a middle class income nation if you use the said resources for the benefit of the entire nation.

Greed, selfishness, intolerance, divisions and cupidity are prime enemies of economic and social growth. Many nations have failed because of this.

May the Kingdom of Lesotho under your mantle become the beacon of hope so that the past is buried forever.

Our older chiefs used to say “the past is what has been destroyed, the present is where we lay a new beacon for us to build a new inspiring future”.

The Forum for the Future of Africa would like to leave you with the same sentiments as you embark on a mission of rebuilding the Kingdom of Lesotho.

With Khotso (peace), your office must promulgate best policies, with Pula (rain) wisdom must fall like rain, with Nara your team 4X4 must drive the Kingdom to greater heights of success. The Forum For the Future of Africa.

May we, under you, become a beacon of hope