BNP COMPLAINS ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
	Five members of the Basotho National Party (BNP) have lodged a case in the Lesotho high court, challenging their suspension from the proceedings of the National Assembly. The applicants are BNP’s leader Major General Metsing Lekhanya, and other members of its executive committee namely Messrs. Moeketsi Hanyane, Ranthomeng Matete, Mooki Molapo and Chief Lekhooana Jonathan. When addressing the court the applicants' legal representative Advocate Thabang Khauoe said his clients request the court to review their suspension in the National Assembly. Advocate Khauoe said his clients' grounds are that no proper steps were taken before they could be suspended, saying their contention is that the National Assembly only adopted the recommendations made by the privileges committee without following proper steps. He noted that according to law, the privileges committee has no mandate to make recommendations to the National Assembly, saying by adopting such recommendations, the National Assembly only created an irregularity. Advocate Khauoe said the privileges committee was tasked to investigate accusations that, the leadership of BNP failed to stop their youth from using party's documents and letter heads to write letters of intimidation to the speaker of the National Assembly. The defendants include the Minister of Justice and the Speaker of the National Assembly. The case continues. It is before Justice Ts'eliso Monaphathi, while the defendants are legally represented by Advocate Henri Viljoen.
	Source: LENA