Social Development Minister Molahlehi Letlotlo
’Marafaele Mohloboli
THE High Court will today hear former Lesotho People’s Congress (LPC) leader Molahlehi Letlotlo’s challenge of its decision to accord his erstwhile deputy Mabusetsa Makharilele control of the party.
Mr Letlotlo filed an urgent application appealing a ruling by Justice Keketso Moahloli on Tuesday last week to hand over the party reins to Mr Makharilele.
This was after Mr Letlotlo’s lawyers did not pitch up in court to prosecute their case in which the minister sought to challenge his expulsion from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) along with 15 of his supporters.
In his latest application, Mr Letlotlo argues his lawyers were not notified of the date of hearing for the case, hence their no show.
Following the court ruling, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) lifted its suspension of the LPC from participating in party activities which had been effected earlier this year pending the finalisation of the case.
However, Mr Letlotlo has since written a letter to the IEC complaining over the decision, saying the matter was still before the courts.
“When I learnt of the IEC’s decision, I decided to write to the body and bring to their attention the fact that the court had made the judgement in our absence as we were given different days from the one set for the case. So for us, the case remains unresolved,” he told the Lesotho Times this week.
IEC Director of Elections Dr Letholetseng Ntsiki confirmed receiving the letter from Mr Letlotlo saying: “We received their letter requesting that we not accept the other faction, but we have decided to stay put in compliance with the court’s decision until any further change by the same courts. We will only reconsider our decision based on the court’s decision in this matter.”
Contacted for comment, LPC Secretary-General Bokang Ramatšella said Mr Letlotlo was fighting a losing battle since he had already joined forces with the Lesotho Worker’s Party (LWP) in campaigning for the 3 June 2017 elections.
“What Ntate Letlotlo is trying to do is to campaign for his new party LWP as he has made it known that he will be contesting in the coming elections under its banner,” said Mr Ramatšella.
“He wants to campaign using LPC resources which he is accessing through his ministerial post.”