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- The Lesotho military, police, and state security chiefs have rallied behind Prime Minister Sam Matekane.
- They have issued a warning to the opposition who is seeking to pass a vote of no confidence in Matekane.
- The Law Society of Lesotho has warned the security chiefs not to get involved in civilian politics.
The commanders of the three wings of Lesotho's security forces have declared they will defend the government of Prime Minister Sam Matekane against a motion to unseat it by the opposition.
This, in essence, marks the return of the military to politics, which has a reputation for staging coups in Lesotho.
In a joint statement broadcast on Facebook, Commissioner Holomo Molibeli of the Lesotho Mounted Police Services, Lieutenant-General Mojalefa Letsoela, the commander of the army, and National Security Service Director-General Pheello Ralenkoane said Lesotho would not relapse into the political instability of the past.
"As the heads of the national security agencies, we are mandated by the Constitution to uphold and maintain national security.
"It has come to our attention that there are people who want to disturb the peace by destabilising the nation for their own personal gain.
"This can fuel riots, which can affect lives and property. We declare that Lesotho will never go back there," said Molibeli.
The security bosses said they would only work with the government of the day, which was elected more than a year ago.
"We will work with the lawfully elected government and the nation at large to protect the image of this country and maintain the confidence of investors," added Molibeli.
READ | Lesotho's prime minister dodges debate on his removal, but his govt is now paralysed
On Tuesday, a motion in Parliament to pass a vote of no confidence in Matekane was stopped at the last minute with a court interdict.
The leader of the Democratic Congress, Mathibeli Mokhothu, secured 61 signatures from the 120-member legislature to become the new prime minister.
For a vote of no confidence, he had the required majority.
The no-confidence motion was filed by Basotho National Party leader Machesetsa Mofomobe.
But to stamp their authority, the security bosses said: "We therefore notify you that those actions of change of government will never happen."
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They added, "What will take place is the continuation of the national reform process. We thank the nation for your patience in these trying times where you are taken for granted by these people you have sent to serve your interests".
However, the Law Society of Lesotho said the security forces should stay away from civilian politics and stop making partisan statements.
"The Constitution of Lesotho enshrines a clear and vital principle: the security forces must remain politically neutral.
"This neutrality is the cornerstone of a stable and democratic nation where the armed forces, police, and security agencies are committed to serving the state rather than any political interest.
"The Law Society of Lesotho unreservedly condemns any actions or statements that undermine the security forces' political neutrality, thereby endangering the very foundations of our democracy.
"We underscore that the security forces' commitment to political neutrality is not a mere convention; it is a constitutional imperative that cannot be compromised," it added.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
