Situation Report: Lesotho: On the Path to Democracy and Stability?, Chris Maroleng

The Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), led by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, scored a resounding victory over its inter-party rivals in the general elections held on 17 February 2007. Following the defection of a number of parliamentarians under the leadership of former cabinet minister, Tom Thabane, who formed a new party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC), the governing party had been left with a slender majority in parliament. The possibility of further defections to the ABC had raised fears within the LCD that they would not be able to win another majority in these elections. The governing LCD, with the advantage of incumbency, took a gamble by calling for early elections on 17 February rather than waiting for May 2007. In this way the LCD evidently hoped to deny the recently formed ABC the time to gain momentum and additional support.