Thousands flock to Lesotho for elections

Thousands of Basotho from across South Africa and southern Africa streamed into the Mountain Kingdom yesterday ahead of today's controversial elections.

By 10am a queue of people and vehicles stretched for nearly two kilometers at the Maseru border gate into South Africa, with an estimated 3 000 people passing through border control between 9am and 1pm.

"The time is now. We are here to vote for change. We are here to ensure that the people speak," said Tello Seoahilimo.

Seoahilimo spent the last two days driving from Rustenburg where he works on a platinum mine to reach Maseru to cast his vote.

Mines across southern Africa have given tens of thousands of Basotho nationals leave so that they can vote in an election whose build-up has been marred by violence.

An estimated one million people out of the country's 2.7-million citizens are to cast their vote.

In June, Prime Minister Tom Thabane dissolved cabinet ahead of a vote of no confidence in him.

The vote came after he demanded that his deputy, Mothetjoa Metsing, be investigated for corruption.

In September, Thabane fled to South Africa after soldiers loyal to army chief, Tlali Kamoli, attacked Thabane's residence after he [Thabane] fired Kamoli. The soldiers attempted to assassinate the newly appointed military chief, but failed, leaving several killed.

The violence saw the Southern African Development Community deploying hundreds of police to Lesotho to protect the leaders of various political parties. Two weeks ago violence flared again when two of Thabane's bodyguards, who had tipped him off about the raid on his residence, were shot. A civilian was also apparently killed in the shooting.

Although fears abound that the elections will become violent, people were yesterday adamant that they were not going to allow themselves to be intimidated.

Abie Mhala, a miner in the North West, who was queuing at a South African passport control office, said he would let nothing stop him from voting.

"It's my God-given right. The King has said we must vote and we will vote. Yes there is fear, but if we live in fear forever we will never live."

He said the fear was there but people were determined not to let it stop them.

"The army and police must accept what happens. Whoever we chose to lead Lesotho must be accepted."

Louis Mokhle, who returned from Port Elizabeth, said he was concerned about what would happen today.

"We have to vote. No matter what what we have to show that Basotho's are in charge. That they have come home to make themselves heard."

He said he thought the problems would come later, after the election.

"People won't make trouble now. It will be when they decide who gets what position, when they appoint ministers in charge of the police and the army. That's when the problems will start."

Rails Odinga, African Union Observation Mission head, called for all roleplayers to play their part in ensuring peaceful elections

While optimistic, he said all the necessary plans were in place to ensure peace.

"For peace, Lesotho requires comprehensive overhauls and reforms, reforms especially of the security agencies with proper civilian oversight mechanisms installed."