Major political shift rocks DC
Political earthquake as MP Lehata defects to RFP, power balance continues to alter
‘MANTŠANG KHUTLISI
MASERU – In a dramatic political twist, Mootsi Lehata, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Makhaleng constituency, has abandoned the opposition Democratic Congress (DC) to join the ruling Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) – marking the third DC lawmaker to defect to the RFP and sending shockwaves through Lesotho’s political landscape.
Lehata made the announcement during a radio broadcast, declaring himself a full-fledged RFP member. His departure follows a growing trend of opposition MPs crossing the floor, raising questions about the DC’s future and the RFP’s tightening grip on power.
The outspoken legislator first stepped down as the chairman of the DC’s parliamentary caucus earlier this year, though he claimed then that he would not be leaving the troubled party but was only giving his stalwarts a chance to lead.
Lehata has drawn comparisons between his exit and former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s decisive moves from various political parties, framing his decision as a bold step toward national progress.
He suggested that Mosisili’s legacy of resigning from political parties has found an unlikely parallel in Lesotho’s current political landscape.
“The RFP is the ruling party, and it needs support for a better Lesotho,” Lehata stated, emphasizing his alignment with the RFP.
He painted his defection as a strategic shift driven by ambition, vision, and patriotism.
“I have moved from a sinking ship to an elevated one,” he declared, framing his exit as a pragmatic response to the DC’s declining influence.
While acknowledging the emotional fallout of his departure, Lehata insisted it was necessary for the “greater good.”
Some DC members, he admitted, were devastated by his decision. Yet he defended his choice with a striking analogy: “I was compared to a donkey – beaten and misused, yet expected to stay forever. Now that I have found the courage to leave, they are in disbelief.”
With a bold metaphorical flourish, he declared himself “an eagle unfurling its wings to claim the sky,” soaring beyond the confines of the ordinary to serve not just Makhaleng but the entire nation.
He lauded Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane, leader of the RFP, as “a mountain of integrity and a visionary architect of tomorrow,” whose steadfast resolve could carve pathways through even the rockiest terrain.
“If there is any force capable of lifting Lesotho to new heights, it is Matekane,” Lehata proclaimed, framing the prime minister’s pre-political triumphs as proof of his “unerring compass” – a leader who transforms pledges into pillars of progress.
When pressed about whether he had consulted his constituents before his political pivot, Lehata admitted he had signalled his departure from the DC but left his destination shrouded in mystery. Yet, even as he stepped into uncharted skies, he paid homage to his former party with reverence.
“I will not cast shadows upon the DC – it is my baby, my legacy carved from stone. I nurtured its roots; I will not sever them.”
Though his allegiance now drifts on new winds, Lehata insisted his faith in the ‘Congress philosophy’ – a constellation of ideals, not merely a party – remains unshaken.
The political earthquake triggered by his defection sent shockwaves through Lesotho’s corridors of power.
Isaac Malebaleba, RFP MP for Thaba-Bosiu, likened the moment to “witnessing a river reverse its course,” confessing that Lehata’s leap moved him to tears – “not of sorrow, but of hope for the storms we might now weather together.”
“The last time I cried was when I lost my mother, but this week, as Mootsi crossed to RFP, I wept tears of joy,” he said. Malebaleba praised Lehata’s political acumen, describing him as a national figure whose expertise in parliamentary matters will be invaluable to the RFP.
Other RFP members echoed similar sentiments.
Thabo Maretlane, MP for Thaba-Phatšoa, emphasized the importance of increasing the party’s parliamentary numbers. Currently holding 58 seats, the RFP is striving to secure at least 61 to solidify its majority and legislative strength.
“Being called government or the ruling party is by numbers, we must work hard to gain more seats,” Maretlane remarked.
However, the DC has not taken the defections well. Party spokesperson, Serialong Qoo addressed the issue, asserting that the departures were self-initiated and stemmed from internal disagreements.
“No one kicked them out, they decided to leave,” Qoo said.
He explained that the conflicts arose during internal party candidate selections.
“Mootsi was raised by Congress movement, now that his mentor is no longer there, he follows his heart’s desire,” Qoo lamented.
In a twist of irony, the political game appears to go both ways. An audio clip circulating in social media platforms clip suggests that artists who left RFP for DC have reportedly lost their employment.
One such figure, Matsemela, is heard expressing emotional turmoil, saying though he loves the DC he has no choice but to leave and return to the RFP due to external pressures.
The political climate in Lesotho continues to evolve rapidly, with shifting allegiances and strategic positioning ahead of what could be a critical period in the country’s democratic journey. Lehata’s defection to the RFP underscores a growing trend and highlights the challenges opposition parties face in maintaining cohesion and loyalty within their ranks.
As the nation watches with anticipation, the question now becomes, who will be next to jump ship?
