PM accused of ‘flirting with autocracy’

MOSA MAOENG

MASERU – A storm is brewing in Lesotho as the Advocates of the Supremacy of the Constitution, known as SECTION 2, have unleashed a scathing critique of Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane’s recent directive to the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF).

The order, which directs the LDF to employ any tactics it can to restore peace in the country, has sparked outrage and fear among many, who see it as a dangerous flirtation with autocracy. The Prime Minister’s words, delivered with an air of urgency, left little room for ambiguity.

“LDF Commander,” he declared, “deploy the men and women from your team so that these killings are alleviated. Do everything to see to it that Lesotho is restored back to its peaceful state. We have seen your dedication in Mozambique; the same dedication should be put in the country to clear these killings.”

This directive comes on the heels of an earlier chilling proposal by the Deputy Commander of the LDF, Major General Matela Matobakele, who in May called for a three-month state of emergency to empower the army to sweep across the country and curb what he cryptically referred to as “family activities.”

SECTION 2’s response, issued on August 5, was nothing short of an indictment. “We, the Advocates for the Supremacy of the Constitution, unequivocally condemn the recent statements made by Prime Minister Matekane and Major General Matobakele,” the statement began.

“These remarks not only undermine the rule of law but also threaten the very foundations of our democracy and the fundamental human rights of all people.”To many, Matekane’s directive represents a grim escalation, invoking the spectre of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province, where the military’s heavy-handed tactics have been met with both praise and condemnation.

But Lesotho, SECTION 2 argues, is not a war zone, and invoking such tactics within its borders is not only unnecessary but also dangerously inflammatory. “Lesotho is not embroiled in a war, nor is it facing extremism akin to that which plagues Cabo Delgado,” SECTION 2’s statement continued.

It showed that such rhetoric is not only baseless but also dangerous, as it fosters an environment of fear and instability. “It is the duty of the Prime Minister to uphold peace through lawful and democratic means, not through militaristic and authoritarian threats.”

But the group’s most pointed criticism was reserved for Major General Matobakele, whose recent comments have sent shockwaves through the legal and human rights communities.

In what SECTION 2 described as a “vicious attack on human rights defenders, lawyers, and the judiciary,” Matobakele seemed to suggest that these groups were obstacles to the army’s mission — a sentiment that many fear could signal a return to the darkest days of Lesotho’s history.

“This is a direct attack on the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and the protection of human rights,” SECTION 2’s statement read. It added that it an abhorrent proposition that echoes the darkest days of autocracy and dictatorship.

SECTION 2’s condemnation of Matobakele’s statements carries a deeply personal tone, rooted in the Major General’s own history. It was not long ago that Matobakele, along with several other soldiers, was forced to flee the country, seeking refuge from the very institution he now leads.

Exiled until 2017, Matobakele and his comrades were at the mercy of a rogue military that many now fear is being revived under his command.

SECTION 2 wrote that during this dark period, human rights defenders, working tirelessly with the families of those incarcerated, filed habeas corpus applications to secure their release.“Judges, upholding the rule of law, presided over these cases and ordered the release of the soldiers.”

It is a bitter irony that has not been lost on those who remember the turmoil of those years. The statement shows that in April 2018, Matobakele himself publicly apologised to the people of Lesotho for the excesses of the LDF, admitting, that the LDF terrorised Basotho.

He further notes that he pledged to work towards a restoration process to bring back peace to the nation. But that apology now rings hollow in the ears of many, as Matobakele’s recent statements suggest a disturbing reversal of the principles he once vowed to uphold.

“If Major General Matobakele has forgotten his own apology and the role that human rights defenders and the courts played during those troubling times, let it be clear that the people of Lesotho have not,” SECTION 2’s statement warned.

For SECTION 2 and its supporters, the current rhetoric coming from the highest echelons of power in Lesotho is not just concerning — it is a call to arms for all who value democracy and the rule of law.

“Section 2 stands firmly against any attempts to erode the constitutional order and the separation of powers that are fundamental to our democracy,” the statement concluded. “We remind the leaders of this nation that their positions are to serve the people within the bounds of the law, not to impose their will through threats and intimidation.”

As the nation watches and waits, the stakes could not be higher. The group has called upon all democratic institutions, civil society organisations, and the international community to join in condemning these “reckless statements” and to demand retractions and apologies from both Matekane and Matobakele.