General elections were held in Lesotho on 26 May 2012. The incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's newly formed Democratic Congress won a majority of single-member seats. He also won his seat by the second-largest margin of victory. However, they only had a plurality in the overall tally and coalition talks are taking place.
Background As a result of the impact of the Arab Spring in 2011, the government faced protests over unemployment, poverty and low salaries. The protests eventually had the support of taxi drivers, trade unions, students and opposition political parties. The protest leaders also demanded to meet Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who had at times refused to do so.
Following a dispute over the allocation of the proportional seats in the 2007 elections, the electoral system was amended, with the National Assembly Elections Order 1992 repealed and replaced by the National Assembly Elections Act 2011. The previous system of casting separate votes for a constituency candidate and a national party list was replaced by voters casting a single vote for a party, which was counted for both the constituency candidate and the national party list.Tlohang W Letsie "The 2021 General Elections in Lesotho: A step towards the consolidation of democracy" Journal of African Elections, pp65–83
Parties and campaign Before the election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy suffered a split because of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's refusal to cede power. He then founded a new party called the Ntsu Democratic Congress, in reference to the founder of the LCD Ntsu Mokhehle. The LCD's secretary-general Mothetjoa Metsing then moved to lead the LCD.
Tom Thabane ledanother faction that had broken away in 2006, the All Basotho Convention, which is expected to benefit from the infighting of the other two parties. Voters' primary demands were reportedly job creation and an improvement in "basic services." The LCD's Metsing said that he would not take part in a national unity government. In like measure ABC ruled out working with LCD.
Opinion polls Most polls predicted a plurality for the Democratic Congress. One tribal chief, Mohato Bereng, said that he would vote for change in supporting the Lesotho Congress for Democracy. Incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili had an approval of rating of 39% a month before the election. Two days before the election, Mosisili said that DC would get a simple majority.
Conduct Former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, who headed the Commonwealth of Nations' electoral observer team, said that despite a history of coup d'etats he was assured by the army and police that there would be no interference. There were also electoral monitoring teams from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.
Results Voting centres were opened from 7:00 at 17:00. Vote counting started at the vote centres in Maseru before they closed. The official results were expected the day after the vote due to the remoteness of some communities. Maliako Ralejoe of the Independent Electoral Commission said at the end of the day that: "Currently most of the urban areas have been counted, which is a good indicator. We have had challenges with the rural areas as some areas are still counting, but Maseru is complete. We estimate that [on 29 May] we will be able to announce the final verdict." On 27 May, the IEC suspended the electoral count because of "serious logistical problems." This caused tension in Maseru and opposition parties led by ABC pressured the IEC to release the result.
Voter turnout was 564,451 or 50.04%.
List of elected MPs ConstituencyNumber District Constituency MP Party 37 Maseru District Abia Motsoahae Thomas Thabane ABC33 Maseru District Thetsane Mamothibe Bernice Chaule ABC35 Maseru District Lithotheng Majoro Nephtali Mohapi ABC34 Maseru District Qoaling Chalane Clatus Phori ABC32 Maseru District Maseru## Edward Haae Phoofolo ABC55 Mafeteng District Mafeteng# Temeki Phoenix Tsolo ABC24 Berea District Teya-Teyanang# Prince Maliehe Maliehe ABC5 Butha-Buthe District Butha-Buthe# Motlohi Maliehe ABC28 Berea District Khubetsoana Thabiso Masenkane Samuel Monyatsi ABC2 Butha-Buthe District Hololo Teboho Charles Letsela DC58 Mohales Hoek Mohale's Hoek# Retselisitsoe Masenyetsi DC57 Mohales Hoek Qhalasi Palo Alphoncis Leteete DC4 Butha-Buthe District Qalo Thabang Linus Kholumo PFD53 Mafeteng District Likhoele Khotso Letsasi DC 14 Leribe District Tsikoane Khotso Matla LCD15 Leribe District Maputsoe Mampho Marystella Mokhele LCD23 Berea District Khafung Motlalepula Khaahloe LCD30 Maseru District Motimposo November Pitso Maisa ABC38 Maseru District Thaba-Bosiu Boomo Frank Sofonia ABC49 Mafeteng District Kolo Paul Teboho Lehloyenya DC54 Mafeteng District Qalabane Motlalentoa Letsosa DC18 Leribe District Kolonyama Lebesa Maloi LCD17 Leribe District Peka Tlali Khasu ABC16 Leribe District Likhetlane Timothy Thahane Thahane LCD8 Leribe District Thaba-Phats'oa Mahala Molapo ABC9 Leribe District Mahobong Mothejoa Metsing LCD11 Leribe District Matlakeng Mafalatsi Joyce Lekhatla LCD22 Berea District Malimong Magents Leshoboro Joseph Mohlajoa ABC25 Berea District Tsoana-Makhulo Joseph Tsoeu Molise ABC29 Berea District Mabote Paul Sekhulumi Ntsoaole ABC42 Maseru District Koro-Koro Thabiso Enerst Litšiba ABC48 Mafeteng District Thaba-Phechela Molahlehi Malefane DC52 Mafeteng District Thabana-Morena Selibe Mochoboroane LCD56 Mohales Hoek Taung Phallang Monare** DC71 Qachas Nek Tsoelike Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili DC12 Leribe District Leribe Leketekete Victor Ketso LCD27 Berea District Berea Matela Solomon Khojane ABC20 Berea District 'Makhoroana Charles Nyebe Tsibela ABC13 Leribe District Hlotse# Makabelo Priscilla Mosothoane LCD3 Butha-Buthe District Motete Tumaole Clement Lerafa DC50 Mafeteng District Matelile Maimane Philemon Maphathe DC26 Berea District Thupa-Kubu Tsietsi Ezekiel Lethole ABC1 Butha-Buthe District Mechachane Apesi Ratsele LCD10 Leribe District Pela-Ts'oeu Solomon Montsuoe Lethoba LCD59 Mohales Hoek Mekaling Kamoho Joseph Moroeng DC41 Maseru District Maama Mankoe James Maime ABC36 Maseru District LithabanengMatebatso Doti ABC6 Leribe District Maliba-MatsoFrancis Mokoto Hloaele DC7 Leribe District MphosongBataung Leleka DC31 Maseru District Stadium Area Moshoete Mophato Monyake ABC39 Maseru District MachacheMonyane Moleleki DC43 Maseru District QemeKali SeitLheko DC44 Maseru District RotheManthabiseng Arcylia Phohleli DC45 Maseru District Matsieng’Matšepo Ramakoae*** ABC46 Maseru District MakhalengMootsi Samuel Lehata DC74 Thaba-Tseka District Thaba-Tseka#Maneo Mathabo Nelly Moremoholo DC19 Berea District MosalemaneLiau Amos Ntlele**** DC21 Berea District Bela-BelaLitsoane Simon Litsoane ABC51 Mafeteng District MaliepetsaneMichael Mpalipali Molefe ABC60 Mohales Hoek QaqatuLethusang Daniel Kompi DC64 Quthing District TeleNdiwuhleli Ndlomose***** DC69 Qachas Nek Qacha's Nek#Pontšo Matumelo Susan Sekatle DC40 Maseru District Thaba-PutsoaTsukutlane Joel Au DC61 Mohales Hoek MpharanePhutuhelo Daniel Mafereka DC76 Thaba-Tseka District MashaiTšoeu Phineas Mokeretla DC78 Mokhotlong District SenquLikeleli Tampane Monare DC79 Mokhotlong District Mokhotlong#Tlohang Sekhamane DC65 Quthing District MoyeniMahooana Rapitso George Khati DC47 Maseru District MaletsunyaneLawson Kotiti Diholo DC67 Quthing District Mount MoorosiKose Julius Makoa DC77 Mokhotlong District MalingoanengSerealong Kemuel Qoo DC66 Quthing District SebapalaKabelo Mafura DC68 Quthing District QhoaliMathibeli Edwin Mokhothu DC75 Thaba-Tseka District SemenaJobo Joseph Sekautu DC70 Qachas Nek LebakengHenry Semano Sekatle* DC62 Mohales Hoek KetaneMarefuoe Alice MusoDC 63 Mohales Hoek HloahloengNtlhoi MotsamaiDC 72 Thaba-Tseka District MantsonyaneMasuthang Agnes TaoleDC 73 Thaba-Tseka District Thaba-MoeaMokhokolI Bethuel SeutloaliDC 80 Mokhotlong District BobatsiMakhabane Gilbert MalukeDC * Largest margin of victory by just over 92.9% of votes. **Won by 33 votes over ABC's Ramoshebi Maboee Moletsane (39 ballots were "rejected"). ***Won by 39 votes over DC's Mokhele Stephen Moletsane (19 ballots were "rejected"). ****Won by 94 voted over ABC's Tsoinyana Samuel Rapapa (161 ballots were "rejected") *****Smallest margin of victory by 14 votes over LCD's Doreen Chaoana-Mapetsa (47 ballots were "rejected") #District capital ##District and national capital
Reactions Ramahoana Matlosa, who lost his bid to become an MP from Maseru District, sad that the DC failed to attract the youth vote. "Of course we knew the ABC would be strong in urban areas. But if you add our numbers to the LCDs, we would have beaten them. It's just that the ABC had an advantage because their number stayed the same and we split." The AU and SADC monitoring teams said of the election that "we are delighted that the voting and counting took place in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility."
Electoral observers said the election was largely free and fair. The Commonwealth of Nations' Bakili Muluzi said that "we chose democracy in Africa. And we should allow democracy to prevail.
Government formation An unnamed senior party member of DC said that they had begun coalition talks with ABC, but would also look to open talks with LCD if those failed. He also said that the party could try to lure in individual MPs from the other parties if all options failed, while adding that "we are confident that we will lead the new government. We are also not political buffoons not to know that we have to start serious engagements with any coalition partners immediately." DC upped their attempts to build a coalition with LCD upon realising they would not get a majority after proportional seats were allocated. Confidantes to ABC's Thabane said that he was confident of winning the seats necessary to head a coalition government with the other parties, who could possibly get a share of the proportionally allocated seats. An unnamed party member said that "we are in serious discussions with the LCD but most will depend on the final tally of the seats. The LCD is our first preference for any coalition as we have all been in the opposition," but that this was subject to the proportional seats being allocated "properly."
On 30 May, ABC's Thabane told the BBC that he had formed a coalition to give him a majority in parliament. His coalition included the LCD, Basotho National Party, Popular Front for Democracy and the Marematlou Freedom Party. He also said that the government's priorities would be "poverty, lack of jobs, lack of school opportunities, absence of schools at the right places, lack of proper infrastructure, particularly health services. We have gone way below what we were a few years ago, and that's inexplicable. We put power in the hands of the wrong people and we are taking it away from them."
Mosisili resigned on 31 May and would be the Leader of the Opposition. Following this Lincoln Ralechate Mokose, the secretary general of DC, said the party would seek coalition partners and that "we will either succeed or fail. [If the party fails] our stand is to concede and work in parliament as opposition." ABC's secretary-general, Thabiso Litšiba, said it could be a week before the new parliament meets and officially chooses the new Prime Minister.
Analysis Prior to the vote, Hoolo 'Nyane, the director of the Transformation Resource Centre, said that the lack of a governing coalition "would be a very disturbing scenario. [A repeat of the 1998 stand-off and violence which led to the death of 58 locals and eight South African soldiers, as well as large damages in Maseru were] not completely unlikely." He added that "the entire young and urban vote is in revolt against Mosisili."