Lesotho goes to polls

By Marafaele Mohloboli

MASERU

Thousands of Lesotho citizens – known as Basotho – went to polling stations on Saturday to cast their ballot in the southern Africa state's general elections.

Voters defied the chilly weather and the hardships of getting to the polling stations – given Lesotho's rigid geography – to be present outside the polling stations.

Prime Minister Thomas Motsoahae Thabane arrived at one of the polling stations amid heavy security arrangements to cast his vote.

"Now this is democracy," Thabane told The Anadolu Agency ahead of casting his vote.

"It is good to see people deciding on what they want in a government,"

Outside the same polling station, Mamakhube Makhube took her place in the long line of voters to cast her ballot.

"I just want peace for my country and nothing else," Makhube, 70, told AA.

"As for poverty, I am accustomed to it and cannot complain about it; I just want peace."

Younger voters were, however, after something else, namely change. One of these younger voters, waiting outside the polling station for her turn to come was Seitebatso Sekhoete.

The 20-year-old woman said she sustained the hardships of coming to the polling center because she wanted change.

"My political leader has promised us change in education and jobs as well," Sekhoete said. "So I am hoping for that change; I want to see the promises implemented," she added.

-Snap polls-

Thirty-three-year-old Neo Mohapi, meanwhile, said he wanted nothing but security.

"I would like to see the new Prime Minister taking full charge of security institutions," Mohapi said.

"This is to say that some laws would have to be amended, especially those that give politicians power over such institutions," he added.

Mohapi expressed hopes that most tertiary schools would be converted and accredited into university level. He said he also wanted to see an end to rampant corruption in Lesotho.

A few meters away, 18-year-old Thabo Lemphane waited impatiently to cast her vote in the election and go. She said she had always hoped to cast her vote in elections.

"I am a first time voter," Lemphane said. "I am going to do the right thing and vote for the government that I love," she added.

Lemphane said she was fully confident that her future was strongly connected with her vote.

Only one of Lesotho's 24 political parties refused to contest the elections. The remaining 23 parties are fielding candidates in the country's 80 constituencies.

About 1.2 million people are eligible to vote in more than 2,800 polling centers across Lesotho.

A total of 1,116 candidates are racing against each other to win seats in this poor country's parliament, including 779 men and 337 women. Twenty-four candidates run as independents.

Lesotho is home to 2 million people. The country suffered several coups since it gained its independence from Britain in 1966.

The results of the elections are expected to be out on Sunday.

The polls should have been held after two years from now, but a fallout within the coalition making the government brought about these snap elections.