Africa News
Ramaphosa calls on Lesotho to consider SADC recommendations─── 06:20 Sun, 02 Aug 2015
Pretoria - Lasting stability in Lesotho will be promoted if stakeholders in that country give consideration to the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) recommendations on constitutional and security reforms, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday.
Fruitful discussions had been held on Saturday with King Letsie III and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and members of his cabinet, as well as leaders of the opposition parties, Ramaphosa said in a statement following his visit to Lesotho.
“We presented the report of the facilitation process here in Lesotho, the final report, to his Majesty the King.
“Attached to the report was the recommendation that SADC is making to Lesotho in relation to constitutional reforms as well as security reforms. That has now been tabled before His Majesty the King and the government of Lesotho.”
These recommendations were made to the government of Lesotho because some of the problems that beset Lesotho had to do with constitutional and security reform matters.
“And it is our considered view and opinion that if stakeholders in Lesotho were to give consideration to the recommendation, [a] much more stable and conducive atmosphere will be created in Lesotho so that greater and more lasting stability can be engendered in Lesotho.
“But we have left all these in the hands of the government and the people of Lesotho. SADC would clearly like to see greater stability being restored in Lesotho.”
Matters regarding the commission of inquiry set up by the SADC Double Troika Summit of heads of state and government when it met in Pretoria in July were also dealt with, he said.
“We looked closely at the whole process of the commission. We welcomed the Lesotho government’s initiative of setting up the machinery to support the work of the commission.
“They have prepared office space; they have prepared the full administrative logistical infrastructure that will support the work of the commission.”
The 13 commissioners, led by a judge of the High Court in Botswana, were about to commence work.
Ramaphosa called on the people of Lesotho to participate in the work of the commission.
The commission was meant to conclude its work within 60 days and thereafter report to SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation chairman, President Jacob Zuma.
The issue of the terms of reference set by the Double Troika to guide the commission’s work was also dealt with.
“We have agreed with the government that we should allow the commission to work guided by the SADC terms of reference.
“The Lesotho government, and indeed members of the opposition parties, including myself as facilitator, have also made certain proposals that could lead to the amendment of the terms of reference.
“And we discussed this matter and we all agreed that we want to see the terms of reference being added to, when the summit of the troika meets again on the 16th of August, which is literally within a two-week period.
“So the commission will commence its work right now, proceed and we will then be, on a consensus basis, working on additional terms of reference to look at various other aspects which we believe need to be looked at.
“And this by no means, means the commission should stop its work, it should commence and the people of Lesotho, through their various structures should participate in the work of the commission.
“So we call on everyone to cooperate, be they in government service; be they in the army; be they in the police; be they in the society; NGOs; to work with the commission and not to seek to impede the work of the commission, to make sure that the commission reaches a conclusion in a way where they will not be adversely influenced by anyone, be it a politician or whoever,” Ramaphosa said.
“We presented the report of the facilitation process here in Lesotho, the final report, to his Majesty the King.
“Attached to the report was the recommendation that SADC is making to Lesotho in relation to constitutional reforms as well as security reforms. That has now been tabled before His Majesty the King and the government of Lesotho.”
These recommendations were made to the government of Lesotho because some of the problems that beset Lesotho had to do with constitutional and security reform matters.
“And it is our considered view and opinion that if stakeholders in Lesotho were to give consideration to the recommendation, [a] much more stable and conducive atmosphere will be created in Lesotho so that greater and more lasting stability can be engendered in Lesotho.
“But we have left all these in the hands of the government and the people of Lesotho. SADC would clearly like to see greater stability being restored in Lesotho.”
Matters regarding the commission of inquiry set up by the SADC Double Troika Summit of heads of state and government when it met in Pretoria in July were also dealt with, he said.
“We looked closely at the whole process of the commission. We welcomed the Lesotho government’s initiative of setting up the machinery to support the work of the commission.
“They have prepared office space; they have prepared the full administrative logistical infrastructure that will support the work of the commission.”
The 13 commissioners, led by a judge of the High Court in Botswana, were about to commence work.
Ramaphosa called on the people of Lesotho to participate in the work of the commission.
The commission was meant to conclude its work within 60 days and thereafter report to SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation chairman, President Jacob Zuma.
The issue of the terms of reference set by the Double Troika to guide the commission’s work was also dealt with.
“We have agreed with the government that we should allow the commission to work guided by the SADC terms of reference.
“The Lesotho government, and indeed members of the opposition parties, including myself as facilitator, have also made certain proposals that could lead to the amendment of the terms of reference.
“And we discussed this matter and we all agreed that we want to see the terms of reference being added to, when the summit of the troika meets again on the 16th of August, which is literally within a two-week period.
“So the commission will commence its work right now, proceed and we will then be, on a consensus basis, working on additional terms of reference to look at various other aspects which we believe need to be looked at.
“And this by no means, means the commission should stop its work, it should commence and the people of Lesotho, through their various structures should participate in the work of the commission.
“So we call on everyone to cooperate, be they in government service; be they in the army; be they in the police; be they in the society; NGOs; to work with the commission and not to seek to impede the work of the commission, to make sure that the commission reaches a conclusion in a way where they will not be adversely influenced by anyone, be it a politician or whoever,” Ramaphosa said.
ANA
