LCD set for explosive conference

MASERU – The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) party is set for an explosive national conference this weekend amid fears that jostling for power between warring factions could split the party.
Reports say the strife between the factions has intensified in the run-up to the three-day conference which begins tomorrow at Mathabiseng convention centre in Maseru.
The reports say “silent battles” have been going on behind the scenes for influential positions in the national executive committee that are up for grabs.
However the party’s outgoing secretary general, Mpho Malie, is confident that the party will come out of the weekend conference stronger.
He said there were no factions in the party but differences.
Malie said these differences were not going to split the party.
“The LCD is strong and members can rise above these differences,” Malie said in an interview last night.
“I would not call them factions. I think the word faction is too strong. I think there are differences in opinion,” said Malie.
“They are different people with different ideas on how things should be done. This can be described as factions. In a party where there are 200 000 members it is clear that there will be differences.”
He denied speculation that a split was looming in the LCD which has ruled the country for the past eleven years.
“I don’t think that the party will split because of these differences. No. There is no impending split within the party.”
He said the anxiety that the conference has created was normal in any party having internal elections.
“Of course there is anxiety because there is an election. People want to see their candidate win. Some will be happy while others will be disappointed but that does not mean that the party will split. In fact I am confident that the party will be stronger,” he said.
On why he is not contesting as secretary general Malie said: “There is always a time to move on. I need to move on.
“I have not been forced out. I want to give the younger generation a chance. There are vibrant, strong and intelligent young people coming up in the party, we need to give them a chance.”
Speculation has been rife in the last three weeks that factionalism had intensified ahead of the conference as some members jostled for top posts.
According to documents seen by this paper the position of the party secretary general is being contested by Mothetjoa Metsing (Communication Minister) and Ralechate ‘Mokose (Forestry Minister).
Ponts’o Sekatle (Local Government) is understood to be challenging Lebohang Nts’inyi (Tourism Minister) for the deputy general secretary post.
Nts’inyi is the incumbent.
Moeketsi Sello MP for Nokong is the only candidate for the position of chairman.
The minister of Natural Resources Monyane Moleleki is hoping to fend off a stiff challenge from Motloheloa Phooko (Minister in the Prime Minister’s office) for the position of Mololi editor.
This position is crucial because it controls Mololi newspaper, the party mouth-piece.
Popane Lebesa (Trade minister) is unchallenged for the position of party treasurer.
All these people are alleged to be ponies in the factional politics games in the party. Speculation has been rife that they are either pro-Malie or Moleleki.
The two have however distanced themselves from the alleged factions.  This week Malie said: “There are no factions but different ideas.”
Moleleki has in the past said he is not part of any faction within the LCD. He said there were no factions within the party.
Some of those named as part of the factions have also vehemently denied any connection.
Nts’inyi last week said she was not attending “night vigils for factionalism”.
She said she had outgrown such petty political games.
Lebesa said he was ‘absolutely not’ part to any faction in the party.  “And I do not know of the existence of factions in the LCD,” Lebesa said.
Ponts’o could not be reached for a comment.
Moleleki was not available as well.
The conference will deal with some constitutional amendments which Malie said would help the new executive committee operate effectively.
It will also discuss the party’s consolidation plan in preparation for the 2012 election