From: wsargeant@igc.apc.org (Winslow L. Sargeant)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:Lesotho, former monarch pledges to
Date: 27 Jul 92 14:19:19 GMT

/* Written 12:04 am  Jul 26, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "LESOTHO: FORMER MONARCH PLEDGES TO " ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Africa, west
Title: LESOTHO: FORMER MONARCH PLEDGES TO WORK FOR A BETTER FUTURE


an inter press service feature

by phillip 'neko

maseru, jul 23 (ips) -- as the former king of lesotho settles
down after is return from two years in exile in england, he has
vowed to fight for a ''better future'' for his country, embedded
in the territory of south africa.

moshoeshoe ii received an emotional welcome on his return
here monday from his first son, mahato letsie iii who succeeded
him to the throne in 1990.

heavy police security deployed at the airport failed to deter
some 400 followers of the former king when he stepped onto
lesotho soil.

as his followers sang traditional songs and hymns of welcome,
placards read: ''we love king moshoeshoe ii''.

''we are so happy we don't know what we should do after
waiting for so long for the return of our king'', one of the
excited followers told ips.

moshoeshoe was forced into exile in march 1990 after
disagreements with maj gen justin lekhanya, the chair of the
defunct military council that overthrew the (now late) prime
minister leabua jonathan in 1986, after the strongman reduced
moshoeshoe's executive and legislative powers.

the former king was born constantine bereng seeiso, son of
paramount chief seeiso griffith and mofumahali 'mabereng. he
ascended to the throne in 1960 and became king at lesotho's
independence in october 1966.

his return follows negotiations, under the auspices of the
commonwealth secretariat in london last month, between lesotho's
military regime and representatives of his family.

under a compromise reached during the negotiations, the
54-year moshoeshoe returned home as head of the royal family,
but not as king.

addressing an airport news conference after prayers by
anglican archbishop phillip mokuku, moshoeshoe committed himself
to work tirelessly with the basotho people toward greater
freedom, harmony and the attainment of their basic human rights.

at his native royal village of matsieng, some 40 km south of
here, where he was greeted and welcomed by hundreds of his
followers, he told local and foreign journalists he would
endeavour to work for true and genuine democracy. (more/ips)


lesotho: former (2)

as long as he is ''physically, spiritually and mentally fit''
he said he would ''start to hold discussions and talks with my
people with a view to work for harmony, prosperity and a better
future for this country''.

''i've got lots and lots of catching up to do ahead of me'',
said moshoeshoe after a three-hour triumphant horseback ride to
his home village.

he said he is extremely happy to rejoin his family, friends
and the entire basotho nation, all of whom he said had
contributed in many ways to make his return possible.

moshoeshoe returns home four months before the country's
general elections nov. 28, in keeping with the military
government's pledge to hand over power to the civilians this
year.

on whether his return would affect the electoral process, he
said: ''the basotho people have been robbed of their fundamental
human rights and democracy during the 1970 political upheavals.
i believe in human rights as well as civil liberties''.

this was reference to the state of emergency and suspension
of the constitution by leabua jonathan when he and his party,
the basotho national party (pnp), were defeated by the basotho
congress party (bcp), led by ntsu mokhehle, in the 1970 general
elections.

moshoeshoe was briefly exiled in the netherlands during the
state of emergency.

the military government has not officially commented on
moshoeshoe's return. however, asked about his position in
relation to the monarchy, he said this ''lies with many
thousands of basotho in the country. a chief is a chief because
of the people''.

a political science lecturer at the university of lesotho,
mahao nqosa, told ips wednesday that the former king, like any
other lesotho citizen, has a right to live and enjoy his human
rights which should be respected.

nqosa says it is surprising the government dramatised the ex-
monarch's issue when there are more serious issues, like the
stagnant economy and drought, to be addressed.

''the basotho people should also be given chance to air
their views on the affairs of their country. they should be
given that opportunity to say whether they support monarchy, or
prefer king moshoeshoe ii or letsie iii'' mahao said.
(end/ips/pn/apc/oa/92)


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