Africa-Press – Lesotho. MABUOANG Mazenyo, a Basotho National Party (BNP) supporter who was shot dead at the party’s chaotic elective conference last month, was laid to rest in Quthing last Saturday.
Mazenyo, 67, was fatally shot on June 12 when a gunman sprayed bullets in a hall full of delegates at the BNP’s leadership conference in Mazenod. Another party member was injured but is said to be on the mend.
The police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the incident but investigations continue. Among the mourners were the BNP’s top brass and Machesetsa Mofomobe who was elected leader at the conference marred by violence and allegations of rigging.
Mofomobe said he believes the bullet that killed Mazenyo was meant for him. “I knew she was going to vote for me,” Mofomobe said. He said he believes Mazenyo’s killers will be caught and face justice.
He told the mourners that he is in constant contact with Police Commissioner Holomo Molibeli to get progress on the investigation. “I have trust in Lesotho police,” Mofomobe said.
Mazenyo’s daughter, ‘Manaleli Matsoso, described her as the pillar of the family. She said her mother was “passionate about uplifting her family and loved her in-laws dearly”.
A staunch BNP supporter, Mazenyo worked as a vendor at the Quthing taxi rank. She was also a chairperson of a group of vendors. “My mother raised me to be a strong woman as I am,” ’Matsoso said as she struggled to hold back tears.
She said she had always been persuading her mother to leave active politics and give younger ones a chance but she was adamant she still had a role to play.
Matsoso said she had a chance to see her mother as she lay in hospital. “She wanted to say something to me but she could not,” she said. Matsoso said her mother hated guns.
Teboho ‘Mutsi, her neighbour and friend, said Mazenyo was a loving person. She said Mazenyo nurtured children in the village to respect their elders. “We would sit down and eat pap and vegetables together,” ‘Mutsi recalled, sobbing.
She said Mazenyo had called her on the night she was shot to tell her that she was in Maseru. Mazenyo had attended some training programme from the Red Cross to deal with vulnerable groups such as the elderly, HIV/AIDS patients and orphans amongst others in the society.
She also had a passion to educate the community about Gender-Based Violence (GBV). A deeply religious woman, she was a leader at the St Saviour Catholic Church. She is survived by her husband, four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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