Signed agreement by political parties on the National Assembly Electoral Bill 2011

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Country/entity: Lesotho
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Signed agreement by political parties on the National Assembly Electoral Bill 2011
Date: 9 Mar 2011
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Lesotho Crisis (1998)
After Lesotho became independent in 1966, the Basotho National Party (BNP) established a one-party-system that lasted for almost three decades. After being beaten in elections in 1998, street protests against the new government were initialized; paving the way for a coup attempt by a faction of the national army. The conflict escalated when South African and Botswanan troops intervened in support of the elected government and although the revolt was effectively dampened by the end of the year, the political situation has remained fragile since.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Lesotho process
Parties: 11 political parties are signatories;
Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), signed by Vincent Moeketse Malebo
Lesotho Workers Party (LWP), signed by Sello Maphalla
Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP), signed by Jeremane Ramathebane (signed twice)
All Basotho Convention (ABC), signed by Tom Thabane
Lesotho People's Congress (LPC), signed by Kelebone A Maspu
Batotho National Party (BNP), signed by [Illegible]
Popular Front for Democracy (PFPD), signed by Lekhetho Rakuoane
Basotho Democratic National Party (BDNP), signed by Pelele A. Letsoela
National independent, [illegible]
Government of Lesotho, by Archibald [...Illegible...]
Third parties: -
Description: Agreement for the amendment of the Electoral Law. Notably emphasises ensuring proportionality in the National Assembly, fairness in campaign financing and the inclusion of women in party lists.

Agreement document: LS_110309_Agreement on National Assembly Electoral Bill 2011.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: 12. Gender balance on party lists
a. Article 47 (2b&c)

13. Gender quota on the party list
(Minority dissenting view in favour of one-third - BNP and BDNP, PFD)
(ABC asks for time to consider)

Women, girls and gender

Participation: Participation→Gender quotas
Page 2, 12. Gender balance on party lists
a. Article 47 (2b&c)

[Explanatory note: Section 47 (2: b & c) of the Lesotho National Assembly Election Amendment Act of 2011, introduced the rule for the proportional contest whereby a political party shall ‘arrange the candidates in order of preference from top to bottom, with a female or male candidate immediately followed by a candidate of the opposite sex; and include equal numbers of women and men’. Source: quotaProject - http://www.quotaproject.org/uid/countryview.cfm?country=133].

Page 2, 13. Gender quota on the party list
(Minority dissenting view in favour of one-third - BNP and BDNP, PFD)
(ABC asks for time to consider)
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Agreement Among Lesotho Political Parties Regarding the Electoral Law Bill

Agreements 9 March 2011

UN House, Maseru...Lesotho

1. Proportionality through a Mixed Member Proportional electoral System is enshrined

a. Article.

104, Schedule.3, and Const.

Article 57(1)

i. no change to bill needed.

2. Pre-electoral alliances are precluded and candidates may not stand for two political parties,

a. Article 477(4d), 7, 8

i. No change to 47 (4d 7 and 7) needed

ii. Add in 'office bearers' to 47(8c)

3. A single vote shall be introduced, counted once in constituencies and counted once for the purposes of the Proportional Party List seat allocation.

(a) Articles 55, 104, Schedule 1 (form 5)

i. No change to bill needed

(minority dissenting view in favour of Two Votes acknowledged - BNP and BDNP)

4. For the purposes of Proportional Party List seat allocation independent candidates in constituencies shall be treated as if they were a political party.

(a) Article 104 (3)

i. Change required.

New article 104 (3)

“For the purposes of Proportional Party List seat allocation independent candidates in constituencies shall be treated as if they were a national political party.

Independent candidates shall submit a single name on their party list.”

5. There shall be no threshold of candidates to be run in the constituencies for a party to be eligible for party list seat compensation.

a. Article 47 (1a)

i. Change required.

Remove 47 (1a) and renumber.

6. A deposit of M200 shall be paid for constituency candidates that are run.

There will be a deposit o M8,000 for the party list candidates.

a. Article 41 (2c) and 47 (4e)

i. Change required.

New article 41 (2c)

“accompanied by the prescribed deposit of M200 paid in the prescribed manner.”

Amend article 47 (4e) to show M8,000

7. One of the causes of the cancellation of the registration of a political party shall NOT be their failure to contest national assembly or by-elections.

a. Article 27 (2a&b)

i. Change required.

Delete 27 (a&b) and renumber.

8. Oath of Office not Secrecy

a. Article 53 (2) wording to be corrected

9. Consulting on recruitment of IEC staff to be done with PSC

a. Article 114 (1) Remove "ministers of Public Service and finance"

10. Article 64 (2).

This will be repeated in code of conduct

11. Who can petition the court on electoral issues?

a. Article 126/127.

A political party must have the capacity to petition the court on behalf of its candidates, if they have won seats or not.

i. High Court must have jurisdiction on PR seats.

12. Gender balance on party lists

a. Article 47 (2b&c)

12. Gender quota on the party list

(Minority dissenting view in favour of one-third- BNP and BDNP, PFD)

(ABC asks form time to consider)

Related issues

14. Voter Education

a. Resources will be made available for a voter education campaign to make voters aware of the change in the MMP election system – i.e., each voter being given a single ballot rather than two ballots as in 2002-2007.

15. Campaign Financing – Consolidated Fund (IEC)

a. The UN, Government of Lesotho, Foreign missions and International Organisations will endeavour to increase the size of the Consolidated Fund, distributed by the IEC, and disbursed to contesting political parties.

16. All those present agree that the IEC's independence should be strengthened.

-Ends-

Those present hereby affirm their support - March 9, 2011.

11 political parties are signatories;

Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), signed by Vincent Moeketse Malebo

Lesotho Workers Party (LWP), signed by Sello Maphalla

Basotho Batho Democratic Party (BBDP), signed by Jeremane Ramathebane (signed twice)

All Basotho Convention (ABC), signed by Tom Thabane

Lesotho People's Congress (LPC), signed by Kelebone A Maspu

Batotho National Party (BNP), signed by [Illegible]

Popular Front for Democracy (PFPD), signed by Lekhetho Rakuoane

Basotho Democratic National Party (BDNP), signed by Pelele A. Letsoela

National independent, [illegible]

Government of Lesotho, by Archibald [...Illegible...]