From 27-30 September 2023, ACCORD conducted a research visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho. The purpose of the visit was to develop a better understanding of the current political dynamics in the Kingdom. ACCORD engaged various partners on the ground who discussed various dimensions of the issues presently facing Lesotho.
This research visit was a follow-up to the visit ACCORD took last year prior to the elections. The elections in Lesotho were won by a political newcomer, who came close to winning an outright majority, a rarity in Basotho elections. The elections also took place amid a reforms process in Lesotho. The country was set to pass the omnibus bill, which included, amongst others, political reforms aimed at strengthening stability in Lesotho. However, this bill was not passed for the elections, and as yet, has not been passed by the new parliament. In part, the visit sought to better understand the current status of the omnibus bill and when, or if, it is likely to be passed by parliament.
ACCORD’s visit also coincided with Lesotho’s local government elections. These elections had low voter turnout and enthusiasm for the elections in the country in the build-up to the elections was not high. One of the points raised during the visit is that local governments are not as influential in issues of service delivery and administration as the national representatives and national government. ACCORD was able to witness Lesotho’s democratic participation in the Kingdom.
The research trip allowed ACCORD to deepen its understanding of the current political climate in Lesotho and identify possible areas of work for the organisation.
