DC in turmoil
…Spokesperson labels resignations unhappy souls
‘MANTŠANG KHUTLISI
MASERU – Main opposition Democratic Congress (DC) is in tumultuous waters, this after three of its senior members in different structures of the party ‘quit’.
In 48 hours as of Tuesday the DC had seen three senior persons; ‘Makeresemese Letsoara resigning from the Women’s configuration where she served as deputy speaker and the party in general. Bokang Mootoa of the Thetsane constituency resigned from his positon in the constituency committee and the party.
Pakalitha Bokhatsi, the party’s Youth League PRO also resigned.
The trio have since written letters of resignation to the DC structures. Writing to the DC Secretary Thetsane Constituency Mootoa’s messive read, “After long and carefull consideration I have decided to tender my resignation from the constituency committee and the party in general.”
The letter continued, “beng baka (comrades/friends) continue to serve your party with endurance and respect. . .)” indicating in no uncerttain terms that he would hence forth not be part of the political formation.
The resignations rocking the main opposition party do not come in a vacuum.
There is wide speculation that those who orchestrated for a leadership change ahead othe the party indaba in January would be purged or sidelined in party activities.
Just last week, there was a circular – which the party spokesperson, Serialong Qoo, was quick to dismiss – saying the Secretary General, Tšitso Cheba, has not written it.
The circular had names of members of the DC who are labelled “rebels” and it would seem those who resigned and those on the circular are aligned to the would be DC leader challenger Bothata Mahlala’s camp.
Mahlala, a long time sponsor of the congress party, had wanted to challenge incumbent DC leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu, for the leadership of the party in late January.
Mahlala had openly put forward a challenge to lead the DC, an open leadership confrontation that is shunned in the party.
He was subsequently barred from contesting against Mokhothu and only recommended for the deputy leader’s post where he would be pitted against Motlalentoa Letsosa current and longtime Mokhothu ally and deputy.
Letsosa is former MP for Qalabane who is no longer in parliament after he made a poor showing at the 2022 natioal elections.
Mahlala would have none of it, and later withdrew his candidature.
Incidentally Mahlala, who has cautiously ducked forming his own party, is on country tour handing over gifts to both DC party affiliates and vunerable in the South of the country. For a long time the party had soared on his ‘financial wings’ but strongly refutes claims Mahlala was its grand sponsor.
This after relations soured earlier this year.
In Mahlala’s rare honour, an upcoming political songster, Rankai Rahae, is said to have released a song praising the philantropic businessman-wanna be politician for his philantropic escapedes.
The single is titled “Lefika le teng Mount Moorosi”.
On the exodus of long serving prominent members experts say the DC is on course to emulate the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of Julius Malema in South Africa which saw its founding heavyweights dump it for the politically fledging Umkhondo we Sizwe led by erstwhile African National Congress leader and ex-President Jacob Zuma.
The DC would soon attain the status of a weak party, they prophesy.
In an interview with this paper, Bokhatsi cited his health as a reason that would curtail his efficiency to perform his day-to-day activities in the party.
He opted to resign from the youth league.
“My health comes first. So I saw fit to resign, as I was unable to perform my main duties. The party may look for yet another person for the position,” he clarified.
While Bokhatsi noted firmly that there were times where they couldn’t see things eye to eye in the office, he was quick to say the “working experience was good”.
Quizzed on whether he was dumping the DC for an alternative political home, he said, “I am still part of congress and I will work by all means possible to make sure that the party grows.”
Bokhatsi began his political journey back in 2003 where he was part of Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD).
He then decided to leave LCD in 2012 when Democratic Congress was formed up and has been with the party till this far as a loyal and valuable member.
In a brief call with the deputy PRO of the DC Woman’s League, ‘Makeresemese Letšoara said, “I have no comment on anything relating to Democratic Congress as I am no longer a part of such political party.”
Motokoa ex-DC Thetsane constituency PRO sub-committee said his reasons for leaving the red sea are tied to his hands “being full and at times missing important party meeting of the constituency.”
He, however, made clear that he is no longer part of DC because “their views differ in terms of preferences” making a clear preference to the party leadership.
“I was and am always rooting for Bothata Mahlala to be a deputy leader due to the wonderful work he is doing in helping the vulnerable and making sure that Basotho are well taken care of, Bothata being the deputy would be easier for him to help out and DC would gain more trust as well as votes.”
Basotho want actions and not just words, and Mahlaha is the man of his words by far, Motokoa said.
DC Youth League President, Pheello Sehlabaka, said he has not seen the Youth League PRO Bokhatsi’s resignation letter at all and was in no position to commit to any comment regarding Bokhatsi’s resignation.
“I have not seen the resignation letter up to this far and the secretary of the youth league has not received anything from him as yet, so it is quite difficult for me to comment on the matter,” Sehlabaka said.
Sehlabaka said he could only comment after he has seen the letter and cannot commit to any thing since he does not know reasons why Bokhatsi resigned.
“The only thing I heard which is trending all over social media is Bokhatsi’s clip about resigning not the letter”.
The now infamous February 18 circular which trended for a week is largely the cause of the headache in the main opposition party.
Some of the so-called “rebels” are members of parliament, former NEC, Women’s League and as well as known strong members of the DC.
This chaos is a larger chain reaction that follows the DC indaba of January in which long time loyal and respected member of DC Bothata Mahlala pulled out of the race to deputise incumbent leader Mathibeli Mokhothu.
Rumour has it that Mahlala will soon form a political party and the so-called “rebels” will leave DC and move to ‘greener pastures’.
In an interview with DC PRO, Serialong Qoo, said the office of the secretary general has received such resignation letters but has not gone through them to pin point the reasons why they have resigned.
He said no one is forced to do anything adding if any person feels like leaving the party, such person is free to walk away.
“DC is still firm and has been stronger than before. This is just a storm like any other and DC is not shaken at all. This actually makes it stronger than before,”Qoo retorted.
Asked to comment on the viral circular which has been trending in social media platforms which labeled some of his party members “rebels”, Qoo categorically said there is no such circular.
“It is a fake circular which is intended to bring conflicts and chaos in the party,” he added.
“This is a fake circular of heartless, sellouts, backstabbers, unhappy souls and all kinds of bad names which forged the Secretary General signature and it is fake.
“Our circulars are sent through mails. The only circular which we have is that of “DC43” and so this is just yet another stunt intended to bring nothing but misunderstanding among our loyal party troops.”
He continued to say there is no way that the party can name some of its members rebels quickly summersaulting that he believes such circular is written by “their members and some outside members of the party who do not want peace”.
“There are just too many errors on the forged signature but I cannot reveal much,” Qoo said.
He said it is so unfortunate that “these people resign now after just a few months of their appointment. It is so costly to arrange and go for elections then at a later stage, one just wakes up and decides to resign.
“Why did they agree to take the appointment at first? If someone has a problem, I believe they first have to go to their constituencies and solve the matter, the headquarters of DC did not appoint such people, why are they bringing their resignations to the headquarters? All those who have resigned have shown their weakness at the greater level,” annoyed Qoo said.
Quizzed on Mahlala’s political party in the offing, Qoo admitted that there were rumours that the DC would soon give birth but added since he went on radio stations and talked about it, the party still birthed.
He was, nonetheless, convinced that there is a concerted effort to undermine the DC by bringing the said party to life adding “there is a trending clip of a lady who has also resigned that she is also going to join the “polasi team” and will take a mass of people along.”
Polasi team is synonymous with Mahlala, Public Eye has learnt.
Public Eye went all out to seek comments as well as opinions from those labeled “rebels” of the DC who include prominent figures: Lehlohonolo Hlapisi, Mokherane Tsatsanyane, Mootsi Lehata, Peiso Kelane, Maimane Maphathe, Likelei Tampane, Dipalesa Gama, Lobe Moeletsi-Mohale, ‘Mamofana Ramapepe, Mosala Mojakisane, Molefe Lehloaea and others.
Tsatsanyane said he has not found time to read the rebel-naming circular because he “lacked interest in doing so because the secretary general, Tšitso Cheba denied the circular saying it is “fake news””.
“I didn’t want to hurt my feelings by reading it, until NEC comes and says the circular comes from them and that its real; it is then that I will read it,” Tsatsanyane said.
Kelane, a parliamentarian of ‘Maletsunyane Constituency said he has no idea why he is being labeled a rebel adding that “perhaps it is because the previous party elections did not go in favour of those who call him a rebel”.
Kelane said the defeated candidate who claimed that the elections were not fair took him to court.
The court, Kelane said, ruled that indeed he (Kelane) had won the elections fairly.
“I will not mention names, but someone once said to me, I will not defeat them by prayer or traditional medicine,” Kelane said.
He said that statement made him question his stay in the party because since day one he has been turned and tossed by those who now call him a rebel.
“My aim is to work for DC fairly, to work for my constituency in all ways possible, my dream is to see Lesotho as a better place for all; lastly, I’m faithful to myself so for one to call me a rebel, well that is something else, clearly they don’t know me,” Kelane concluded.
The man central to the turmoil in the red sea, Mahlala himself acknowledged seeing the ‘fake circular’ noting that the DC secretary general denied that the circular was written by him.
Reacting to those being labeled rebels Mahlala said, “I have accepted because it is in several instances that my opinions differ from that of others, I am in politics where I want to see change in people’s lives.”
“I am in politics where I want to see Lesotho as a better place. I am not in politics where you see people self-centred and careless about the nation.
My dream is to change the country. I’m saying let’s put this people on a test, those who call us rebels that if given a chance to bring a difference in the country whether they will succeed.
Shockingly these people who call us rebels have been given a chance by Basotho to rule but they did nothing,” Mahlala charged.
Former MP and party strongwoman Tampane is one of those rumoured to be dumping the DC for Mahlala’s new formation.
Reacting to those who call her a rebel Tampane was furious.
She has come far with the DC and no one should bold up to say she is a rebel, she said.
“I formed the DC. I have seen the letter but as for me being called a rebel, I have no idea of such. No one will tell me that I am a rebel, no one will tell me such. I will have my own opinion should I receive a letter of my dismissal from the party, up to this far, I am still a DC member.”
Furious over the allegations Tampane went further.
“I am not a rebel as yet; I am yet to become one. Those who say I am a rebel haven’t seen anything. I am coming after each and every one of them, and they will see by my actions that I am a rebel.
This has broken my heart deeply, it cannot be a coincidence that such a big party like DC gets to list only certain names of individuals and later say it’s a fake circular. I am convinced the circular is from NEC, I am not a child.”
It remains to been seen if Mahlala will indeed form a party to which DC followers will run and whether the DC is its dying age.
