Africa-Press – Lesotho. CABINET yesterday banned all political rallies in response to advice from the National Covid-19 Secretariat (Nacosec). Dr ’Malitaba Litaba, the Nacosec CEO, told thepost last night that the official response from Cabinet is expected today.
“We had a meeting today and they have agreed that rallies should be stopped,” Dr Litaba said.
“Even those who were against the ban ended up agreeing after all reasons were advanced to them,” she said.
Lesotho, like many African countries, is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 infections amid fears that a third wave could overwhelm the country’s weak health delivery system. The third wave is being driven by more deadly and highly contagious variants of the virus.
But the country’s political parties, desperate to drum up support ahead of elections likely to be held next year, seemed oblivious to the threat and have been holding rallies attended by hundreds of people.
Prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing were hardly being practised at the gatherings, making them potential super spreaders. “Political rallies are super spreaders and they should be restricted otherwise we will be in danger,” Dr Litaba said.
Despite the Covid-19 threat, political parties have been holding rallies in many parts of the country. Attended by large crowds, the rallies are conspicuous by the failure to adhere to prevention measures.
Many people, including political leaders accept that it is hardly possible to enforce measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. Yet, they continued with the gatherings, seemingly unperturbed.
“Maseru, Leribe and Butha-Buthe have increased numbers as massive rallies were mostly held in those districts,” Dr Litaba said.
She said cases of infection have increased in schools, probably in part because some children were infected by their parents who have been attending political rallies.
She said Nacosec had asked Cabinet to allow travel to and from India because the numbers have declined in that country and some Basotho in that country are desperate to return home.
“Our children are roaming the streets in India because their study permits have expired and flight companies are refusing to sell tickets to them,” she said.
“We have to lift that ban,” she pleaded. Nacosec also wants a provision in Covid-19 regulations allowing for the punishment of schools that fail to adhere to Covid-19 protocols.
But it is the issue of political rallies that was most threatening. Speaking to thepost before Cabinet announced the decision to ban rallies, some political parties said they would support a ban on rallies.
Teboho Sekata, secretary general of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), said it is vital for the government to seriously consider Nacosec’s recommendations.
“We support the idea because we can’t afford to lose our people to the virus,” Sekata said.
Basotho Action Party (BAP) leader Professor Nqosa Mahao seemed to send mixed signals – applauding the proposed ban on one hand but still determined to gather for party celebrations and worrying about financial costs if the Nacosec recommendation was adopted.
He said the Covid-19 threat is real “hence our cancellation of rallies since last week”. Professor Mahao said they were supposed to hold a rally in Mafeteng and another in Quthing but cancelled them when Covid-19 cases began showing an upward trend.
“We had to cancel because we didn’t want to be the ones spreading it,” he said.
Mahao however pleaded for a chance to gather one more time for celebrations, while also expressing concern on the financial implications of such a ban.
“We have no problem with a ban except that we will have to celebrate when we receive our certificate on Thursday.
” The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is today set to issue the party with a certificate showing that it qualifies to contest elections.
“If rallies are banned tomorrow, it will leave us with huge expenses. It will be difficult to recover our costs,” he said earlier, referring to the big celebration slated for today.
“Otherwise we do see the threat and we don’t have any problem with the restriction,” he said.
All Basotho Convention (ABC) spokesman Montoeli Masoetsa said saving lives should take precedence over political campaigns. Parties, he said, can use other platforms such as social media to campaign.
“Our government and country have no capacity to contain the virus and a lot of people could die because of (rallies),” said Masoetsa, whose party is part of the governing coalition.
“We don’t have resources and manpower. We don’t have vaccines and we still struggle with oxygen supplies.
We have to preserve the lives of the people who vote for us,” he said. Basotho Patriotic Party (BPP) leader Tefo Mapesela said all large gatherings should be banned.
“If they ban gatherings, they shouldn’t be picky. Rallies are similar to initiation schools (which the government has shut down) so they should also be closed,” Mapesela said.
“Elections can wait because they are not as important as people’s lives,” he said.
“However, they shouldn’t just impose a ban without strategies. They have to have mitigating factors and not just copy Ramaphosa who has remedial measures in place,” he said.
However, the Alliance of Democrats (AD), while supporting the proposal, sees the move as a political ploy to stop the party’s campaign drive. Party spokesperson Thuso Litjobo alleged the government wants “to hide behind Nacosec’s advice to ban rallies when in fact they fear big rallies being held by the AD”.
“They see us as a threat. They are trying to stop us,” Litjobo said. He said the AD has been following Covid-19 rules at its rallies despite the “huge crowds” in attendance. He said all parties should be given access to state media such as Radio Lesotho and Lesotho Television.
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