Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Teboho Lehloenya has, on Monday this week, lost to a no confidence vote in what the Speaker Sephiri Motanyane described as an “unprecedented but not unusual” motion.
He read the section 64 of the Constitution which asserts that the Speaker of the National Assembly may be removed by two-thirds majority but said it is silent on the Deputy Speaker.
“I have framed a standing order for this exercise,” said Motanyane. The motion to unseat Lehloenya was through a secret ballot paper, which passed with 58 votes while 48 votes were opposing the motion and one was spoilt. Moving the motion, Motete No. 3 Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Tumahole Lerafa of the Democratic Congress (DC) said there is no bad blood in having Lehloenya removed from that position.
Lerafa said the tenth parliament MPs under Lehloenya’s seating experienced challenges in the august house resulting in others sustaining injuries which have had to be
attended in hospitals. He also said the outgoing Deputy Speaker had “hijacked” the trip meant for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Committee Chairperson to China and went for himself and
said he never reported to the house upon his return. He further supported his motion by questioning “which agenda will he drive as his party (Alliance of Democrats) is no longer in this side (government
side)?” he stressed. He went on to argue that Lehloenya is “incompetent” to lead the house. The motion was seconded by Hon. Mankoe Maime an MP for Maama No. 41 under All Basotho
Convention (ABC), who is also the newly elected Chief Whip. Echoing similar sentiments, he said there is nothing personal about the move to have the Deputy Speaker
vacate the post, “when one hunts, one should trust their dogs. ” “At work, everyone knows who to trust,” he said. The Leader of opposition Hon. Monyane Moleleki, who is the former Deputy Prime
Minister in the recently collapsed 4 × 4 coalition government pleaded with the members of the august house to drop the motion, but it would seem his pleadings fell to deaf ears as the house continued with the
motion. Moleleki argued that the lawmakers should direct the efforts towards ongoing reforms, adding that the lifespan of the National Reforms Authority (NRA) is near.
“Let us wait and complete reforms processes,” he emphasized. Of note in his arguments was
reference made to the recently passed Bill of the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution Act 2019 which blocks the sitting Prime Minister (PM) to advise His Majesty King Letsie III to call for fresh elections should
the former lose a vote of no confidence, citing that it does not “sit well with him. ” In addition the Machache No. 39 MP commented on the ‘norm’ by successive governments to have Principal Secretaries
as people affiliated to their parties. Lastly he expressed concern that Lesotho is a nuisance to both South Africa (SA) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), hence why focus should be on reforms.
It is not yet known who is going to succeed the outgoing Deputy Speaker and when such vacancy will be filled. However, it is said that the former Government Secretary (GS) in the Mosisili led coalition
administration(2015 – 2017), also Mafeteng former DA Lebohang Ramohlanka has been tipped for that position according to the sources close to this matter.
Before joining active politics, Lehloenya worked as District Administrator (DA) in Mafeteng and an MP for Democratic Congress (DC) for Kolo No. 49 constituency.
In 2015, Lehloenya moved a motion of no confidence against the then Prime Minister Dr Pakalitha Mosisili over the Bidvest saga which was mired by ‘corruption’ allegations and was seconded by the now Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Hon. Samuel Rapapa.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
