National
SADC to send team to Lesotho─── 05:25 Tue, 02 Sep 2014
Pretoria - Leaders of the SADC have agreed to send a team of observers and security personnel to Lesotho following an alleged coup in the country.
This was announced by the Southern African Development Community Troika and leaders of the Coalition Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho in a joint statement on Monday.
President Jacob Zuma, the chairman of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, met the delegation of the coalition -- consisting of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, deputy prime minister Mothetjoa Metsing and Morena T J Maseribane, minister of gender and youth, sports and recreation -- on Monday in Pretoria.
"The meeting reviewed the political and security situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho on which the leaders of the Coalition Government highlighted that the political and security situation had deteriorated which needed immediate intervention and support from SADC," read the statement.
The meeting also saw the leaders of the coalition government agreeing to remove the parliament prorogation.
"In this regard, they agreed on the road map with clear timelines on how to remove the parliament prorogation, which shall be submitted to the king.
"The leaders further agreed to issue a joint statement appealing for calm and exercise restraint with a view to rapidly bring law and order back in the Kingdom," the parties said.
Leaders of Lesotho have been at loggerheads since June when the prime minister suspended parliament to dodge a vote of no confidence.
On Saturday, the military in Lesotho disarmed police in the capital, Maseru, saying they had received information that police were planning to supply arms to participants in a demonstration.
Thabane called the actions a coup attempt and said he fled to South Africa for his safety and for consultations.
Zuma is said to have welcomed the joint commitment of the leaders of the coalition government and pledged to render the SADC Troika's full support with a view to speedily restore the stability and security in the country.
"In addition, SADC agreed to send an SADC facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho to work with the coalition government as they implement the agreed road map.
"SADC further agreed to deploy an Observer Team on Politics, Defence and Security as a matter of urgency."
Sapa
