SADC to hold Troika Summit on Lesotho

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Pretoria – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has returned from his visit to Lesotho after being dispatched there by Chairperson of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Jacob Zuma.

His visit was an attempt to facilitate an end to a political situation in the mountain kingdom‚ which worsened following the killing of the former Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force‚ Lt. General Maaparankoe Mahao.

During his visit Deputy President Ramaphosa met with King Letsie III as well as interacted with Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili and his government coalition partners.

The Deputy President, who is also the SADC facilitator in Lesotho, met the Lesotho Christian Council, Lesotho Chamber of Commerce, College of Chiefs and the Lesotho Law Society.

“I came here to deliver a specific message to the Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, that SADC would like the Prime Minister to come to the [SADC] Troika Summit that is going to be held on Friday in Pretoria,” said Ramaphosa following his visit.

Deputy President Ramaphosa also visited the home of the late former Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force, where he met with the widow and other family members.

He conveyed the response of President Zuma to the requests of Prime Minister Mosisili for SADC to provide investigators to assist in the enquiry into the murder of Mahao.

In this regard, the SADC member states of Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide experts to assist in the investigation.

“South Africa will be sending pathologists, to do the examination and other countries in the region - Zimbabwe and Namibia - will be sending investigators to investigate the circumstances around Lieutenant General Mahao’s death,” said Deputy President Ramaphosa.

He said all stakeholders in the country have expressed their concern about the killing, something that has prompted SADC to hold a Double Troika Summit to discuss the way forward.

The Deputy President is expected to present his facilitation report on Lesotho‚ including reflections of the proposed constitutional and security sector reforms‚ to SADC.

“And I am sure that out of that discussion will come suggestions, proposals and solutions of how to take matters forward here in Lesotho.” – SAnews.gov.za