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- WOW Party remains stable despite CEC resignation
- Accusing the media of misleading the public
Sewing Machine
Members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Basotho Action Party (BAP) have quit the party’s highest decision-making body, saying they were nothing more than agitators whose plot to oust leader Professor Nqosa Mahao from the Ministry of Energy had failed.
Ashamed of their actions and unable to look BAP leaders in the eye any longer, they decided, one after another, to quit the CEC.
Unfortunately, according to the “foreign” local newspapers,lesotho times,Sunday Express and“Washington post”attempting to portray Professor Mahau’s departure as an incompetent leader to “prove” that the newspapers were “pulled into” a conspiracy by senior BAP officials to destroy his “good image”.
This is all that was said by members of the National Committee of Bharatiya Janata Party (BAPYL) at a recent press conference held to attack the three newspapers and former Bharatiya Janata Party Central Election Committee officials.
According to BAPYL, nine party officials had tried to obtain tenders from the Energy Department, which was supervised by Professor Mahao.
But when the BAP leaders rejected them, in retaliation, they conspired to remove him from the ministerial post.
They secretly met with Prime Minister Sam Matekane at MGC Park to plot the removal of Professor Mahao.
They were ashamed and embarrassed that they could not persuade Prime Minister Matt Kane to expel Professor Mahau, and their last resort was to withdraw from the Central Election Commission.
The Youth League said the damage to BAP was further compounded by media coverage that made it appear as if the party was crumbling. They were particularly interested in BAP journalistslesotho times,Sunday Express,and The Washington PostThe newspapers called them “war correspondents” intent on destroying the good image of BAP leaders.
The BAPYL press conference comes two weeks after the latest dramatic CEC resignation, that of former treasurer Mamoipone Senauoane.
BAP Secretary General Lepolesa Makutoane said in a previous interviewlesotho timesSister NewspaperThe Sunday Express, Ms. Senaona had delivered her resignation letter in the CEC Whatsapp group before abruptly quitting the platform.
Ms Senaone, who is a BAP Proportional Representation (PR) MP in Parliament, is the third CEC member to resign from the committee this year.
Other BAP MPs who quit the CEC this year include former chairperson Tello Kibane and deputy secretary-general Hilda Van Rooyen, who quit the CEC in March and May respectively.
Another CEC member who resigned in March this year due to a long-standing dispute within BAP was Chabeli Mojapela. He represented the youth on the executive committee. Former secretary-general Lebohang Thotanyane left BAP at the end of 2023.
BAP has six proportional representation MPs in Parliament, namely Professor Mahao, his deputy Motlatsi Maqelepo, Ms Senaoane, Ms Van Rooyen, Mr Kibane and Nyaneso Taole. Ms Van Rooyen, Ms Senaoane and Mr Kibane are said to not get along with Professor Mahao in the legislature, despite being the party’s candidate.
BAPYL Secretary Borane Manyeli also claimed in the attack thatSunday Express,lesotho timesand“Washington post”misleading the public by reporting that BAP was about to collapse.
“We realizedlesotho times The article is intended to mislead the public by saying that Prof. Mahao is a bad leader. We have seen disputes between different political parties, such as two RFP legislators in Parliament switching to DC. We have not seen foreign publications (The Post and Lesotho Times) reporting on these things,” Mr Manyeli said.
BAP is a partner in the seven-party Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) coalition government led by Prime Minister Matt Kane.
In November 2023, Professor Mahau joined Matt Cairn’s coalition government when he was forced to expand his cabinet for political expediency.
The government led by Matekene initially consisted of only three parties, namely his RFP, the Movement for Economic Change (MEC) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD). In order to avoid a no-confidence motion from the opposition, Matekene was forced to invite more parties, including the BAP, which ironically was supported by some RFP lawmakers.
Mr Manyeli narrated how on January 30, 2024, nine BAP CEC members held a secret meeting with Mr Matken at MGC Park to plot the removal of Professor Mahao after they failed to “corruptly” secure the tender.
“On January 30, 2024, nine BAP working committee members held a secret meeting with the Prime Minister at MGC Park to plot to remove Professor Mahao from the Ministry of Energy. The masterminds of this conspiracy intended to secure a high-priced bid for themselves at the ministry, deliberately ignoring BAP’s commitment to good governance and the rule of law,” Mr Manyeli said.
When the conspiracy was finally exposed, the Bangladesh Youth Party’s district committee petitioned the Central Election Commission to call a special meeting, said Bokang Seakhoa, chairman of the Bangladesh Youth Party.
Mr Sikoa added that some of these defectors began to resign as they realised that the leaders “knew about their betrayal”.
““Washington post”were the first to report it with the headline ‘BAP implosion’ because they knew about the plot because some traitors leaked the information to them,” Mr Seakhoa said.
“The architects of this failed plot were ashamed and therefore resigned from the CEC and CWC. The BAP CEC held closed-door meetings in Leribe, Mafeteng, Berea, Butha-Bute, Maseru and Guting. Ms. Senaone, who led the rebellion, did not attend these CEC meetings.”
He said that after her continued refusal to attend these meetings, “it was only a matter of time before she handed in her resignation.”
“Her resignation letter, which she called ‘breakfast’, was circulated on social media before the party received it. BAP has not officially received her resignation, but these newspapers have created a feeling among the public that BAP is in danger. Perhaps as ’embedded journalists’, they know something. Only time will tell,” Mr Seakhoa said.
Last night, RFP spokesperson Mokhethi Shelile, CEO Tšeliso Lesenya and Secretary General Nthati Moorosi could not be reached for comment as calls to their mobile phone numbers went unanswered.
However, Mr Shellile had previously denied allegations that the RFP and Mr Matekane interfered in BAP issues.
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