LESOTHO will hold a parliamentary election on Friday, amid failures by its politicians to pass constitutional reforms meant to end years of political instability in the southern African mountain kingdom.
The All Basotho Convention (ABC) has run the country since 2017, but divisions within the party have given it two prime ministers over five years – one of whom, Thomas Thabane, stepped down in 2020 after being charged the murder of his ex-wife.
He denied any wrongdoing, and the charges were later dropped.
His successor – Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro – declared a state of emergency in August, after legislators failed to pass two bills meant to end political volatility in parliament.
Last month, Lesotho’s highest court ruled the declaration unconstitutional.
The ABC has selected another leader, former health minister Nkaku Kabi, to contest the ticket, after he defeated Majoro in a party vote in February.
Surrounded on all sides by a South African mountain range,
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