“HALALA, bophelo, moruoo!” These were the shouts of jubilation from supporters of the Revolution For Prosperity (RFP) outside the ’Manthabiseng Convention Centre over the weekend as election results began to trickle in.

First time entrant in the political landscape, the RFP has won 56 constituencies with the Democratic Congress (DC) at only 16 constituencies as of Monday morning. 

The party’s popularity among Basotho became clearer as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced the results of the 52 political parties that contested for votes in 79 out of 80 constituencies. 

Launched in March, just six months before the 2022 general elections, the RFP is led by businessman Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, of Mantšonyane in Thaba-Tseka. 

The party has promised to focus on food security, agriculture, healthcare expansion, pharmaceutical production and good governance. 

Speaking to the media outside Thetsane High School in Maseru on Friday, the outgoing prime minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro, of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) party, said about 200 years after the nation was established, and 56 years into democracy, Basotho faced many problems.

He said the incoming government should address poverty, inequality, unemployment and other issues facing the country.

According to the poverty assessment produced jointly by the World Bank and the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics in 2019, more than 75% of the population is either poor or vulnerable to poverty.

An assessment by the World Bank in 2021 found that youth unemployment in Lesotho was among the highest in the world, and three times higher than the average rate observed in other lower-middle-income countries.

Apart from the high unemployment rate, the World Bank said the other disturbing trend was that more Basotho had given up looking for work.

Majoro told the media that his government could not address all these issues in two years. 

He was appointed prime minister by parliament in May 2020 after his predecessor, Thomas Thabane, stepped down after months of pressure.

Thabane was named as a suspect in the murder of his former wife, Lipolelo Thabane, in June 2017, days before he was sworn in as premier.

In July this year, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Advocate Hlalefang Motinyane, dropped charges against Thabane and his current wife, ’Maesaaiah, because critical witnesses could not be located.

They have both denied involvement in the killing.

Majoro is not seeking reelection. He refused to disclose which party he voted for. “Would that not be seen as campaigning? My vote should be public but I cannot disclose it at the polling station.” 

He said he would make an announcement about his plans after leaving office.

It is not out of his own free will that he is not seeking to be prime minister for another term.

He was defeated by Nkaku Kabi in the election for leader of the governing ABC in January this year.

Although the counting still continues, but the RFP appears to be leading the race.

The results of the Afrobarometer survey released in July this year indicated that the Democratic Congress (DC) led by the deputy Prime Minister, Mathibeli Mokhothu, was most likely to win the election.