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.
Molise Molise/AFP via Getty Images
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.
Molise Molise/AFP via Getty Images
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.
Lesotho citizens queue to vote in a previous national elections.
EPA-EFE/ Kim Ludbrook
The whole idea behind independent candidates is the hope that their inclusion might improve the accountability of parliamentarians to the voters. The bill doesn’t do that.
The MPLA is using all instruments at its disposal to hobble a new united opposition front ahead of the Angola election.
Zimbabwe’s opposition Citizens Coalition for Change supporters attend an election campaign rally in Harare, in February. Zimbabwe, 20 February.
EPA-EFE/Aaron Ufumeli
Most citizens feel that it is pointless to vote because it won’t change anything.
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah speaks after submitting his candidacy papers for the presidential election last November. The poll was postponed.
EPA-EFE/Stringer
The 2021 local government elections signals widespread disillusionment with representative democracy that only a sea change in service delivery can fix.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the campaign trail.
Gianluigi Guercia/AFP via Getty Images
Zambia’s new president will have to balance austerity and the high expectations of the many unemployed young people and struggling people who voted for him.
Some political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters, want municipal elections postponed because they can’t host campaign rallies.
EFE-EPA/Kim Ludbrook
There is more support for democracy among African people than is often recognised. Yet this can be undermined by election rigging and is lower in countries like Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa.
Chief Research Specialist in Democracy and Citizenship at the Human Science Research Council and a Research Fellow Centre for African Studies, University of the Free State