Mokhothu defends funeral attendance
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Pascalinah Kabi
DEPUTY Prime Minister Mathibeli Mokhothu says he attended the funeral of former prime minister Metsing Lekhanya to represent the government in line with a cabinet resolution since the event was a state funeral.
Because of Major General Lekhanya’s profile and place in the history of Lesotho, it would have been irresponsible for the government not to be represented at his funeral, especially after it had designated it as a state funeral, said the DPM.
DPM Mokhothu spoke in response to calls by three prominent youths activists and social media users to have him and other ministers who attended the event at Ratjomose Barracks prosecuted for violating Covid-19 restrictions. Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro had announced just a day before the Major General Lekhanya’s funeral fresh regulations limiting attendances at funerals to 20 people comprising of 10 relatives and 10 others responsible for digging the grave.
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1980s coup leader Lekhanya dies
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Mohalenyane Phakela
MAJOR General Metsing Lekhanya, who led the 1986 coup against then Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, died yesterday at the age of 83.
The former army commander who later traded his military fatigues for civilian attire after assuming control of the Basotho National Party (BNP), died ironically on the 35
th anniversary of his coup.
At the time of going to print, it was not clear what had caused his death as there were no official comments from his family, government or the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). Instead his death was widely reported on social media platforms.