South African Deputy President and SADC Facilitator Cyril Ramaphosa is expected in the capital of Maseru on Thursday 30 July 2015 in pursuance of his renewed SADC mandate to facilitate peace and stability in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
During his visit, Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected mainly to brief key political and other stakeholders on the Terms of Reference for the establishment of the SADC-led Commission of Inquiry into recent developments in the country.
In this context the SADC Double Troika Summit of Heads of State held in Pretoria on 3 July 2015 decided among others and ‘’as a matter of urgency, to establish an independent commission of inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Brig, Maaparankoe Mahao and its deployment with immediate effect’’. The commission which will be chaired by Botswana Judge Mpaphi Phumaphi is also expected to look into other related factors that may have contributed to incidents of instability in Lesotho.
In pursuance of the objective of his visit, Deputy President Ramaphosa will thus outline the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry to His Majesty King Letsie III during his courtesy call and further brief Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili, members of the opposition political parties , Council of Churches of Lesotho, College of Chiefs, NGO sector including business as well as members of the Law Society.
The SADC Double Troika Summit endorsed Deputy President Ramaphosa’s report on his previous facilitation efforts in the country to bring about peace and stability
in the country which resulted in the reopening of parliament, the holding of democratic elections and the inauguration of a democratic government.
Following recommendations of Deputy President Ramaphosa, the SADC Double Troika Summit further urged all stakeholders including the government to urgently undertake constitutional and security sector reforms with the assistance of SADC.
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