The Lesotho News Agency (LENA) reported nomination in Maseru, Berea, Thaba Tseka, Mokhotlong and Mohale's Hoek to have been very brisk in some areas and a bit sluggish in others.

At least six candidates, two of which are women registered to stand in the Matala electoral division of the capital Maseru. Berea had the largest number of women showing interest in contesting the election, with eleven out of the 20 candidates at five of the centres women. Two centres, Assumption and Tsoelang Pele, have been reserved for women while the other three, Koeneng, 'Mamathe and Teyateyaneng will be contested by a mixture of both women and men.

In Thaba Tseka, four candidates were nominated to stand at the three electoral centres of Sefapanong, Thabong and Ponts'eng with none yet at Mohlanapeng.

By noon on the first day of nomination, two candidates had registered their intention to stand at the Thabang electoral centre in Mokhotlong. In the southern district of Mohale's Hoek, of the ten candidates nominated at five electoral centres, seven are women. They represent both political party and independent candidates.

A nation wide list of nominated candidates is expected to be officially announced at 17h00 on April 1.

30 March 2005