Cyril Ramaphosa Back From Lesotho

Lesotho Prime Minister Tom Thabane and South African Deputy
President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitator, returned ahead of his scheduled address at a National Heritage Day rally in Orkney, North West, on Wednesday, spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said.

While in Lesotho, Ramaphosa paid a courtesy call on King Letsie III, and met with national coalition partners led by Prime Minister Tom Thabane, and the speaker and deputy speaker of the assembly.

He further met with the college of chiefs, the Lesotho Council of NGOs, members of the Independent Electoral Commission, and leaders of the Council of Churches.

“The visit to Lesotho came within the context of the mandate given to the Facilitator, Deputy President Ramaphosa, by the SADC Troika of Heads of State and Government,” Mamoepa said.

The troika appointed Ramaphosa as facilitator “to assist the people of Lesotho to address their current political and security challenges”.

“In this regard, the critical issues include among others the re-opening of Parliament, the stabilisation of the security situation as well as bringing forward a date for elections,” Mamoepa said.

“The facilitator, Deputy President Ramaphosa, was supported by SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Dr Themba Mhlongo, and expert members of the secretariat from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.”

During the visit, Ramaphosa officiated in the opening of the SADC office in Maseru, which would be responsible for the co-ordination of SADC activities to bring about constitutional normalcy in Lesotho.

- Sapa