A week-long main dialogue on Lesotho's post electoral politics facilitated by former President of Botswana Sir Ketumile Masire kicked off at the ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru on Monday.

Issues to be discussed according to the programme during the dialogue will, among others, be creation of an enabling environment for a successful dialogue, consideration of certain democratic parliamentary processes and status of election related court cases versus the need to facilitate the dialogue.

Review and safeguarding of the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) model and agreement on the process as well as institutionalization of a sustainable culture of dialogue, code of conduct and political tolerance will also be included in the agenda.

Participants of the dialogue are members of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), opposition parties, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organizations.

The dialogue is a follow-up to the preliminary meeting that was held in Maseru earlier this month, where all parties had agreed to have the dialogue.

Sir Masire and his delegation arrived in the country on Sunday and they are expected to depart on Monday next week.

SOURCE: LENA 25/06/2007