PRETORIA, South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Lesotho Wednesday for consultations with the new government of the Mountain Kingdom, leaders of opposition parties, the college of chiefs as well as civil society stakeholders in his capacity as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitator to the kingdom.

His working visit followed Lesotho’s general election in June which saw the inauguration of a new coalition government under the leadership of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane. The consultations are expected to chart the path for the full implementation of SADC decisions on Constitutional and security sector reforms for the kingdom.

The SADC Extraordinary Summit that took place in the Kingdom of Swaziland on the 18th of March this year had mandated the Facilitator, supported by the Oversight Committee, to conduct a multi-stakeholder national dialogue with the aim of building consensus and trust among all stakeholders and guiding a roadmap for the implementation of SADC decisions,” the Presidency said in a statement issued here in conjunction with Ramaphosa’s visit.

This process could not be undertaken before the 3 June elections in Lesotho as political parties had demanding elections campaign schedules.”

Following the successful elections and the appointment of a coalition government, conditions have made it possible for continuation of the national dialogue and the reform process.

Ramaphosa is expected to provide a report to the SADC Double Troika Summit taking place in Pretoria on Aug 19 when the Lesotho government is also expected to table a reforms roadmap.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by members of the SADC Oversight Committee which provides on-going monitoring of the political and security situation in Lesotho.

On Wednesday, Ramaphosa kicked off his engagements by paying a courtesy call on King Letsie III.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK