Africa-Press – Lesotho. THE election of Professor Ntoi Rapapa as the new leader of the Alliance of Democrats (AD) comes as no surprise to us at thepost. Rapapa, who was Monyane Moleleki’s deputy in the AD, registered a thumping victory over his mentor at an elective conference in Maseru last weekend.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Moleleki who had built an aura of invincibility within a party he had formed six years ago. For Moleleki, this might have been the ultimate betrayal by a man he had patiently groomed as his mentee for years.
As we have argued in our previous editorials, the thumping defeat is yet another painful reminder to Moleleki that it is now time to pack his bags and go.
If Moleleki does not heed the voice of protest from his party faithful, he risks further humiliation from party hawks who wanted him out by all means necessary.
Moleleki should not subject himself to such humiliation. As an elder statesman, he can still play a constructive, fatherly role behind the scenes, mentoring the new generation of leaders in the AD.
On the other hand, the rise of Rapapa could be seen as a vote for the future by the party faithful. So much is expected from Rapapa. As a tried and tested academic, Rapapa can contribute immensely in shaping the direction of Lesotho at policy level.
At the party level, Rapapa must quickly banish the greenhorn tag. He also must move swiftly and shed off the perception that he was a sell-out who was in haste to chase his boss and political godfather out of a party he formed.
Rapapa has nothing to apologise for. He played his politics well and clearly outwitted Moleleki. The man simply tapped at the anger against Moleleki after he presided over the party’s worst electoral defeat in general elections last year.
There was also a feeling within the AD that Moleleki had overstayed as party leader and that it was now time for a new leader, with a fresh leadership style, if the party was to be rejuvenated.
But after outwitting Moleleki, Rapapa will soon be confronted by the big mess in the AD. He is inheriting a party that is bitterly divided and that has been in terminal decline.
His is a party that has been weakened by high profile defections in the last year. He will need to work harder to reunite a party and set it on a fresh trajectory of growth.
Rapapa’s leadership acumen will therefore be tested to the limit. But while Rapapa is working to consolidate his grip on power, he will need to watch his back. The Moleleki camp and like-minded fellows who feel aggrieved might regroup and fight back.
To ensure that he concentrates on key issues of growing the party, Rapapa will need to reach out to the Moleleki camp and strike a ceasefire deal now that elections are over.
We believe their interests are mutual. As a keen student of history, Rapapa must learn the lessons from Lesotho’s bitter past. If he fails to reunite the party, he will go down the annals of history as the party leader who presided over the first split in the AD.
That will mar his legacy. Unlike Moleleki who had a long, outstanding history in politics as a sail, Rapapa will have to prove himself amid many ‘doubting Thomases’ who are not sure if the party is now in good hands.
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