Crisis in Lesotho worries Zuma

South African President, Jacob Zuma, on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Lesotho, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Zuma, is the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Reports say he is particularly concerned about the flight of three opposition leaders and the killing of Brigadier Maaparankoe Mahao, former Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), it said.

"Following the incident, Zuma dispatched a fact-finding mission to Lesotho to assess the latest political and security developments in the country. After receiving the report of the mission on Monday, Zuma has become more concerned about the apparent explosive security situation in Lesotho.

"In this regard, Zuma has decided to urgently dispatch his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the SADC Facilitator on Lesotho, to consult with Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. Zuma is also sending a Special Envoy to the Chair of SADC Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean president to share his deep concerns about the security situation in Lesotho,” said DIRCO.

It said that "Zuma has reiterated the need for all stakeholders in Lesotho to resolve their political differences through legal and peaceful processes. There is the pressing need to expedite the process of establishing institutional and security reforms”, he said. Mahao, an ally of Lesotho's former leader, Thomas Thabane, is a bitter rival of the current Army Chief, Tlali Kamoli.

Former Lesotho Prime, Minister Thomas Thabane, lost the February elections to current Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili. It remains unknown who masterminded Mahao's killing. Lesotho's Minister of Defence, Tseliso Mokhosi, said the government would convene a court martial to determine the innocence of all the mutiny suspects involved in the killing of Mahao.