MASERU – The June expulsion of five members of the new executive committee of the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) by leader and Prime Minister Thomas Thabane was today nullified by High Court of Lesotho judge Justice Tšeliso Monaphathi.
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Dec. 17, 2019
METRO REPORTERS
2 min read
Victory for ABC Mahao camp
Victorious: ABC Deputy Leader, Professor Nqosa Mahao
The expelled members were party deputy leader Professor Nqosa Mahao, Chairperson Sam Rapapa, Secretary General Lebohang Hlaele, Spokesperson Montoeli Masoetsa and his deputy ’Matebatso Doti, in an announcement made by the leader at an open air press briefing outside party offices.
This decision by the ABC leader was viewed as unilateral in several quarters, and infringing on the very constitution of the party, the move to expel the five was understood as a step to sidestep the vote on the February ABC elective conference that put them into executive positions.
In a long-drawn-out court battle since this expulsion, in the initial application High Court judge, Justice Sakoane Sakoane, declared that the ABC leader had no right to expel members of his party without ratification by the party National Executive Committee (NEC).
The expelled group had sought legal resource to nullify their purported booting from the party, challenging, at the same time, Prime Minister Thabane’s making of unilateral decisions.
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Addressing supporters at the high court grounds following the victory deputy leader, Professor Mahao, welcomed the verdict; indicating it just formalized what his group has always been striving for “respect for the rule of law and the constitution of the ABC.”
He said what remained a challenge, though, was for the acceptance of the court ruling by the losing side; claimed to be pro-Thabane as an ABC camp popularly referred to as ‘State House’
“The remaining challenge is for the other group to accept that the court has accepted the interpretation of the ABC constitution as we understood it,” Mahao further said.
He said tomorrow the legally endorsed NEC will meet to look into this decision by the court and to map a way forward, adding “I appeal to all of you to wait for direction from the ABC NEC tomorrow after our meeting.”
“I thank all of you supporters who have rallied behind the journey to ensure that the party constitution is respected and adhered to…it has taken a long time but we have made them respect and obey the constitution,” he said.
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