Lesotho with its 2.1 million people has done it again!
The recent election changed the political landscape. A new party – Revolution For Prosperity – was formed just six months ago and its leader – top tycoon Sam Matekane – has ousted the establishment. The credibility of the new prime minister is that of a successful man.
The question is whether, as before, the new masters do not regard their posts as the source of their wealth. The hope is that he’ll have none of that- A good thing would be pruning the super-privileges moneywise of his Ministers.
Why and how change happened has been analysed by pundits such as Greg Mills writing in the “Daily Maverick”, other experts elsewhere. The basic “why” is said to have been the horrendous crime rate, which even outpaces South Africa’s unbearable rate, unemployment and corruption.
As Mills set it out, Lesotho is no stranger to change since it became independent in 1966. Since then, it has had a great mix of governments including four military coups, coalitions and swift handovers between a few leaders. None of which uplifted the lives of the people, one third of whom live in poverty. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is well below the average of Africa.
The economic situation is dire. The country’s income is shrinking, dependent as it is on South Africa’s Custom Union, transmitted income from Lesotho workers in that country, a declining textile sector and South Africa’s water purchases. The doubling of the population since 1966 hardly helped. Apartheid had led to international support, which still exists.
After 2014, changes at the top of government became a bit of a muddle, including a split from the ruling party last year, which didn’t help much. The fierce competition according to this DM piece, no other way of enriching oneself, except through politics.
Prime Minister Matekane certainly has his work cut out for him.