The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has mandated a team of eminent statesmen and officials from the region to ensure implementation of political reforms in Lesotho.
According to a communique issued at the end of the 42nd SADC Summit held in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, the 16-member regional bloc “approved the establishment of an oversight committee made up of the SADC Panel of Elders (PoE) and the Mediation Reference Group (MRG) to ensure continuity and oversight on the implementation of reforms in the Kingdom of Lesotho.”
SADC has since 2014 been seized with efforts to find a lasting solution to challenges in Lesotho where political bickering has resulted in an unstable peace and security environment.
As part of the recommendations, SADC called upon the government of Lesotho to develop and submit a roadmap on the implementation of reforms, with concrete, clear milestones and deliverables.
The 42nd SADC Summit approved the appointment of former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete as chairperson of the SADC PoE. His deputy will be former Mauritian vice president Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory.
Other PoE members former Zimbabwean justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and ex-Botswana foreign minister Charles Tibone.
The Lesotho political will be the first mandate for the PoE, which is a SADC structure with the mandate to facilitate the prevention, management and resolution of significant inter and intra-State conflicts and is supported by the MRG.
Members of the MRG are former Zambian ambassador to Italy, Lucy Mungoma who chairs the group; Hellen Lwegasira, a Tanzanian mediator and negotiator (deputy chairperson); ex-Botswana ambassador to Australia, Molosiwa Selepeng; and former Zimbabwe ambassador to Belgium, Andrew Mtetwa.
JN/APA