(MENAFN- The Post) THE All Basotho Convention (ABC) has barred former Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka and three others from contesting for the deputy leader's position at an elective conference set for this week.
The three are Kefeletsoe Mojela, Katleho Molelle, and Lekhetho Mosito.
Mosito was an MP who was appointed Defence Minister for a day and removed the following day during Dr Moeketsi Majoro's premiership.
The elective conference is set to be held at the Leqele High School hall this weekend.
A circular from the ABC said the three did not qualify to enter the race because they had not held any positions in the party's committees.
The decision to bar the three is reminiscent of the same tactics that saw former leader Thomas Thabane block Professor Nqosa Mahao from contesting for the party's deputy leader's position.
Professor Mahao subsequently walked away and formed the Basotho Action Party (BAP).
A weakened ABC has never recovered from that split.
Mphaka and his colleagues were vying for the deputy leader's position until they were stopped in their tracks by the circular which was issued out on Monday this week.
Dr Pinkie Manamolela is the current deputy leader.
She was plucked from the women's league to replace Dr Majoro who had resigned from the national executive committee after losing the leadership race to Nkaku Kabi in 2022.
There is a high chance that the four could drag the ABC to court to assert their right to contest. The legal wrangles will likely destabilise the party that is still smarting from a thorough thrashing in general elections held in October 2022.
Mphaka this week told thepost that he will challenge the decision to block him in the courts of law.
“They are crazy people,” Mphaka said.
“I will not allow this to happen,” he said.
“I have already instructed my lawyers to launch an urgent application in the High Court to challenge the decision before Friday this week.”
He complained that it was not clear why the party had decided to kick him out of the race after he spent a lot of time and resources campaigning.
Mphaka said the national executive committee“usually allows members to contest for positions without considering whether they were ever in the constituency committees or not”.
The contenders in the race are former Water Minister Samonyane Ntsekele, ex-Police MP Lehlohonolo Moramotse, former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Leshoboro Mohlajoa, and Maseru Star Taxi Association member Sekhonyana Mosenene.
A member of the national executive committee told thepost that“many of us support Mphaka and Kefeletsoe at all costs”.
“We were dismayed when we saw the circular removing the duo from the race,” he said.
He said many ABC members were rallying behind Mphaka because“he has been campaigning even before everyone could start”.
“They know he has lots of followers.”
He said it is unfair that Mosenene has been allowed to run but he has never held any position in any constituency except that he represented his taxi association in the ABC national executive committee.
“Why has he been allowed to contest yet he is just like Mphaka and Kefeletsoe?”
He complained that Sekhonyana, while representing taxi operators in the committee, was eventually made the deputy party spokesman despite not being in any constituency committee after 'Matebatso Doti resigned from the position.
“Mphaka was chosen by the party to lead the 2022 elections campaign teams and develop a party manifesto,” he said.
“He was allowed to do all that without being involved in any party structures.”
The party's spokesman Montoeli Masoetsa declined to comment.
Dr Manamolela told thepost that“the decision was not made by the party's national executive committee”.
“I do not want to talk much ...but it is not true that the party's NEC decided to remove Mphaka and Kefeletsoe”.
Kabi could not be reached for comment.
Nkheli Liphoto
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