Outgoing Lesotho prime minister Moeketsi Majoro, right, hands over the national flag as the symbol of passing power to his successor, Sam Ntsokoane Matekane, on 28 October 2022.
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The new coalition government must act quickly to address the kingdom’s massive socio-economic problems, and restore faith in democracy.
Sam Matekane, Lesotho’s new prime minister has the daunting job of restoring public trust in politics and government.
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Unable to change the country’s vulnerability to shifts in the global and regional economy, the new prime minister Matekane has few economic levers to pull.
Lesotho Revolution for Prosperity party leader Sam Matekane (centre), Alliance of Democrats deputy leader Professor Ntoi Rapapa (L) and Movement for Economic Change leader Selibe Mochoboroane.
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The new governing coalition enters office amid euphoria and excitement. There are great expectations it will end corruption and fix the ailing economy.
Moeketsi Majoro, Lesotho’s new Prime Minister. A minor constitutional amendment enabled his ascension to power.
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The fundamental structure of the current constitution, which is cast in classical Westminster conceptions, is unsuited for modern-day constitutionalism.
Lesotho’s former Prime Minister Tom Thabane, left, and his successor Moeketsi Majoro, at the latter’s swearing in ceremony at the Royal Palace in Maseru.
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Moeketsi Majoro’s installation as Prime Minister is welcome. But it does not guarantee much needed political stability in an era of complex coalition politics.
Lesotho’s embattled prime minister deployed troops onto the streets in April, ostensibly to ‘restore order’.
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Power is visibly draining away from Tom Thabane. But, even at 80 years old, he remains a wily operator, and seems determined to cause maximum trouble to secure his immunity from prosecution.
Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane and his new wife, Maesaiah, at the Magistrate Court in Maseru.
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Politics in Lesotho can look incredibly complicated, with a mish-mash of competing political parties and repeated military interventions. It’s a mess, but it’s not that hard to unravel.