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Prime Minister Sam Matekane of Lesotho is confronting an uncertain political future. The main opposition party- the Democratic Congress (DC)-has started initiating a vote of no confidence
Prime Minister Sam Matekane of Lesotho is confronting an uncertain political future. The main opposition party- the Democratic Congress (DC)-has started initiating a vote of no confidence. In 2020, Lesotho amended the constitution that curtailed the powers of the executive. That move undermined the powers of the Prime Minister, making Matekane vulnerable to challenges that could be posed by the opposition, such as moving a motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister.
The legal proceedings are scheduled for October 30. Political analysts say that it would cause a parliamentary standstill and delay crucial matters, including the budget.
Matekane voiced his concerns about the hurdles his government faces. He accused certain politicians of bending the law to hinder progress and sow discord. The relationship between law and politics in Lesotho is intricate. Constitutional changes can have significant ramifications for governance and leadership. Upon the motion being voted in favor, Matekane will have to demit office. The previous three prime ministers faced a similar fate. These vulnerabilities stemming out of the constitution highlight the evolving political landscape in Lesotho, a small country encapsulated in the landmass of South Africa.
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Lesotho formerly known as the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa, with which it shares a 1,106 km border. it is the only sovereign enclave in the world outside of the Italian peninsula. The constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. King Moshoeshoe II was exiled in 1990 but returned in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995. One year later, Moshoeshoe II died and his son Letsie III took the throne. Lesotho is considered a lower-middle-income with significant socioeconomic challenges. Almost half of its population is below the poverty line, and the country’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is the second-highest in the world. However, it also targets a high rate of universal primary education and has one of the highest rates of literacy in Africa (81.02% as of 2021.)
