Lesotho ruling party set to win

2002-05-28 07:53

Maseru - Lesotho's ruling party headed on Tuesday for a landslide victory in crucial polls endorsed as free and fair by international and regional observers, but criticised by the main opposition party.

The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) had won 43 seats out of 44 constituencies declared so far in the tiny African kingdom encircled by South Africa. The Lesotho People's Congress secured the other seat.

The LCD also captured a 54.8% of the votes cast separately for parties, with the disappointed arch-rival Basotho National Party (BNP) trailing with 21.1%. Final results are due by the end of the week.

Observer groups from the Commonwealth, the Organisation of African Unity and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said that despite delays in some constituencies, the election process had been transparent and credible.

Political limbo

"The election was peaceful, free, fair and transparent; it is thus a reflection of the will of the people of Lesotho," the SADC parliamentary forum election observer team said.

Lesotho has been in political limbo for the last four years and has pinned its hopes for stability on the election, held for the first time under a new electoral system, designed to create a more representative parliament.

Analysts said going by the current trend, the ruling party looked set to repeat its 1998 victory when it won all but one of 80 parliamentary seats.

But even if they did, the LCD's majority would be tempered by the 40 additional seats allocated to other parties under a new proportional system in the expanded parliament of 120.

Opposition cries fraud

BNP leader retired Major-General Justin Lekhanya said independent auditors hired by the party had established "distinct patterns" in voter behaviour that suggested the results had been manipulated.

"This could not have happened naturally but indicate a strong possibility of pre-determined election results," Lekhanya told a news conference.

Lekhanya, who came to power in 1986 in a coup and ruled until he was deposed in 1991, ruled out violence. He also said he was not rejecting the poll but was instead calling for an independent audit.

Analysts and observers in the capital Maseru dismissed Lekhanya's claims.

No possibility of cheating

"It seems as though all international opinion points to the fact that there was no possibility of cheating in only two days of voting," said Sir James Mitchell, head of the Commonwealth Observer group.

A peaceful and free and fair election was seen by analysts as boosting southern Africa's democratic credentials after polls in Zambia and Zimbabwe in the past six months were criticised by international observers.

International and regional observers say that if successful, the poll model would be recommended as a solution for the conflict-ridden young democracies of impoverished Africa.

- Reuters