SOME Basotho National Party (BNP) factions are plotting to topple leader Machesetsa Mofomobe. The factions are allegedly lobbying constituencies to demand a special conference where they will try to push out Mofomobe. Sources say two of the party’s three factions met at a private home in Upper Thamae over the weekend to flesh out their plot against the leader.
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Machesetsa’s current six-year tenure ends in 2028 but he is eligible to contest for another term. The two factions are hoping he would not end this tenure as the leader if they convince constituencies to force through a special conference.
“This is easy and doable, less than 10 out of 80 constituencies can ask for the special conference and the national executive committee will be bound by the constitution to abide,” a source said.
Another source said the plot against Mofomobe is led by Advocate Bereng Makotoko who was former leader Thesele ’Maseribane’s principal secretary in the previous coalition government.
“He is one of those who will see to it that Cheese (Mofomobe’s nickname) is removed,” the source said.
“They are working overtime to do that so that should there be a snap election the BNP will go to the polls with a new leader.”
Advocate Makotoko has denied leading the plot against Mofomobe but confirmed that some BNP members want Mofomobe out.
“It is not true that I am lobbying other members to resist Machesetsa (Mofomobe)’s leadership but the truth is that many of us BNP members are tired of his leadership,” Advocate Makotoko said.
“We have had enough of him. We do not want him as our leader anymore, because our party has declined from 23 000 votes during the past elections to a paltry 7 000 in 2022,” he said.
“We have also declined from having 43 councillors to only three,” he said, adding that “this is a clear sign that he is failing our party”.
“He must make a noble gesture and resign. We tried to talk to him secretly advising on how our party could be improved, but he goes to different media platforms talking bad about us.”
Advocate Makotoko said it is not true that he wants Mofomobe replaced by ’Maseribane.
“We will support whoever will win during an elective conference,” he said.
“We will not stop working hard for the sake of our party, even in the hands of this person who humiliates the country’s prominent people and later deny it.”
Mofomobe told his rally in Mount Moorosi, ’Maseribane’s constituency, that Makotoko and others were out to damage the party.
He also said they were acting on behalf of someone he did not mention.
“I know the person who has been sending Makotoko and others to humiliate and insult me,” Mofomobe said.
Advocate Makotoko and nine others wrote to King Letsie III last week saying they were apologising on behalf of the BNP for Mofomobe’s misconduct.
They told the King that Mofomobe was “uttering shameless words that cannot be repeated anywhere because of the way they are embarrassing”.
Mofomobe told his rally that the letter “was full of unfounded and untruthful allegations”.
“Lately the same people have written to the King with a bizarre story,” Mofomobe said.
He said he was aware of the rebels destabilising the party. Mofomobe however remains defiant even as knives are trained on him.
“I do not have to negotiate with the National Executive Committee to extend my terms,” he said.
Staff Reporter
