Only Five Parties Contest Thaba Putsoa By-election

Only five out of the country's 19 political parties have announced candidates for the Thaba Putsoa Constituency by-election on January 24, 2004.

The five candidates were announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on nomination day at  Likalaneng on December 18. They include Mr. Khotso Andreas Lehloka for the Marematlou Freedom Party, Mrs. 'Maholili Marupelo for the Lesotho Congress Party, Mr. Mokone David Mokone for the Popular Front for Democracy, Mrs. Tahleo Lucia Ramashamole for the Lesotho Workers Party and Mr. Makara Sekautu for the United Party.

In an interview, the IEC District Officer for Maseru, Ms 'Mamotena Maputsoe decried the poor turn out of political parties for the by-election, saying they had expected all the parties to take part in the process and make a stronger contribution to the enhancement of democracy in the country.

The IEC Returning Officer for the Thaba- Putsoa constituency, Ms Aria Toloane encouraged those few candidates whose parties have shown interest of participating in the coming by-elections to continue working hard for the success of the by- elections. All of them should continue working for the Thaba- Putsoa community even after the by-election, she said.
Eight political parties contested the Thaba-Putsoa constituency elections in the last general elections. The incumbent LCD candidate Mr. Molefe Mokoena died in September this year, hence the by-elections.
18 December 2003