As the possibility of military intervention by Southern African Development Community nations to restore stability to Lesotho is being increasingly considered, South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been despatched to Harare, Zimbabwe, to brief the community's peace and security troika. President Jacob Zuma yesterday sent Mapisa-Nqakula to speak to her Zimbabwean and Botswanan counterparts in the SADC, and to SADC chairman Robert Mugabe.Mapisa-Nqakula returned from a fact-finding mission to Lesotho a only few days ago.The mountain kingdom has been destabilised by attacks, allegedly by the Lesotho Defence Force, on opposition leaders, and by the murder of former defence force chief General Maaparankoe Mahao.Opposition leaders, journalists and lawyers who have spoken out against Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and his defence force chief, Tlali Kamoli, are fleeing the country.Zuma sent Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to Maseru to ensure that Lesotho's government adheres to pre- and post-election deals.Early elections in February followed a failed coup last year by elements of the military intent on ousting former prime minister Tom Thabane.The main objective of Mapisa-Nqakula's visit is to give an update on developments in Lesotho, and to honour the decision taken by the SADC during the pre-election period to monitor the security situation in that country."There are concerns about Mahao's killing. There need to be expedited investigations into his death," said The Presidency.The discussions in Harare are being held as concerns about Lesotho's deteriorating security situation grow and the necessity for military intervention by the SADC is being considered.John Stupart, of the African Defence Review, said it was possible that Mapisa-Nqakula's visit was to drum up support for such an intervention."All options will be discussed. A security intervention, while not the first option, will be on the cards," Stupart said."The level of violence at the moment doesn't warrant an intervention but if it continues to deteriorate there may be merit in such an intervention."He warned that all efforts should be made to resolve the crisis through diplomatic efforts."Any intervention, which has to be the last option, must be carefully thought out, not only by the SADC but also with buy-in from the African Union."Importantly, there must be a buy-in by the Lesotho Defence Force. Along with short-term stability plans there must be long-term plans to restore security."He said that if there were to be a military intervention South Africa would carry most of the burden."Although Botswana and Zimbabwe will contribute boots [soldiers] and observers, along with South Africa, the South African defence force would provide military hardware, special forces, heavy weapons, surveillance and airlift capabilities."Ramaphosa said the SADC would investigate Mahao's murder and South Africa would send two pathologists to assist in establishing exactly how he died...