BAP four years on
‘MANT’SANG KHUTLISI
MASERU – Basotho Action Party (BAP), founded in April 2021 by Professor Nqosa Mahao is commemorating its fourth anniversary this year.
The party was formed as a breakaway of the then ruling All Basotho Convention – ABC when internal squabbles tore in. A faction of the ABC – potential voters believed Mahao was a better alternative to any leadership in political circles then.
Leader Prof Mahao, a former Energy, Justice and Law minister, said during the four years, there have been challenges within the party.
He noted with concern that they did not perform well in the 2022 general elections ascribing their poor performance to the fact that “the masses joined the now ruling party – RFP” thus resulting in BAP not performing as they had anticipated to.
Mahao said the challenges they faced include that of other members of the party who came into BAP with personalized expectations and not that of taking the party forward and building an independent party.
“Those people used the BAP as a stepping stone,” the Prof said.
He further noted that the BAP began losing members in 2024 with some even opting to form a different party.
“We were not surprised. There is no honor amongst thieves,” Mahao said. “Those people were disagreed even before their idea morphed into a party.”
He lamented that some of the members who used BAP for their own good include “those now in parliament and who even gained positions within the government because of the BAP.”
Mahao grieved that those members disappointed him when they took the government’s side over that of the BAP’s.
“They are being used by the ruling party,” Mahao charged.
Mahao was however optimistic the BAP will weather the storm and engage better in the coming 2028 elections “having to conquer all the obstacles it’s facing now”.
As a leader now in opposition Mahao said the RFP has a responsibility to create jobs for Basotho, mostly for youth.
The RFP promised Basotho to vote for them that there will be jobs … also promised Basotho people who work across South Africa that they will return to Lesotho because of abundance of jobs for such.
Mahao lambasted the governing party for the failure of this important promise.
“RFP has done nothing but sold Basotho fake dreams,” Mahao said.
He said instead of making the promise come true, the RFP wants to come up with yet another stunt, “promising Basotho to work in other countries such as Mauritius. They have failed to create jobs in Lesotho, now they are promising them yet false dreams.”
The learned Professor added that with Lesotho positioned number two across the world with the HIV pandemic, it means “that over and above hunger and poverty problems, HIV makes it difficult for Basotho to live long”.
He said ever since US president Donald Trump halted financial funding for some countries, Lesotho seems to be at its lowest of survival.
There is not even backup plan in all these problems which the country is facing, Mahao expounded.
According to the BAP leader those in government seem to benefit on things such as the construction of roads and projects in Agriculture.
“As we all know that the government benefits more than Basotho who struggle to get seeds as well as fertilizers.”
Mahao said leaders in RFP circles are “benefiting more in all this sectors and Basotho people are struggling”.
He sternly spoke on corruption saying this is the major problem holding Lesotho backward.
“While the RFP was campaigning, it showed that it is going to fight corruption but as we speak, corruption has gone higher than any other time. It’s disturbing!
“Those in government are the ones who benefit more through tenders as well as awarding of such, Basotho have stabbed themselves in the back by voting for RFP,” Mahao said.
There is nothing since 2022 that Basotho can point to that the government has done right, Mahao added.
While the celebration for the four-year milestone reflects the party’s endurance, it also highlights a period marked by internal discord and the challenges it had within the ruling coalition in its one-year stint.
In the 2022 general elections, the BAP secured six seats.
It later joined the ruling coalition led by the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) when a no-confidence vote was called on Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane – a move that saved him for inevitable ouster in 2023.
Following its joining, Mahao took up as Minister of Energy in an expanded cabinet announced in November 2023.
Tankiso Phapano, his right hand man with whom they dumped the ABC soon became his Principal Secretary – PS.
Quickly thereafter the BAP faced internal strife when Mahao fell out with his ministry’ PS Phapano.
The intensifying internal discord saw the BAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) boot out Phapano from the party in August 2024. Phapano faced charges of sowing discord within the party and its coalition partner (RFP).
The problems within the party would culminate with the suspension of Mahao’s deputy, Motlatsi Maqelepo, over allegations of misconduct, including unauthorized communication with the Prime Minister Matekane and participation in unauthorized meetings.
Mahao was himself later disgraced from being minister the same year and has since dumped the ruling coalition for opposition benches.
As BAP celebrates its fourth anniversary, it continues to navigate the complexities of coalition government while striving to fulfill its vision of transforming Lesotho in to a self-reliant nation.
In closing, Mahao extended his condolences to the family of the late Pope Francis I, acknowledging the significant loss to the Catholic church and the nation at large.
