On Thursday the 14th Match 2024 is was former Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s birthday and I was overcome by a strange sensation: I miss Pakalitha Mosisili. Maybe you might say it is natural for someone who supported a lot of Mosisili’s policy decisions to miss his administration. Let me be honest I had been disappointed by some aspects of his administration such as the rate of corruption. I had hoped that the next Prime Ministers were going to correct that aspect especially when they campaigned against it.
But since Mosisili left it feels as if there has been a decline in behavioural standards across the leadership of this country. Many of the traits of character and leadership that Mosisili possesses, and that maybe we have taken too much for granted, have suddenly gone missing or are in short supply.
The first and most important of these is basic integrity. The Mosisili administration has been remarkably scandal-free. Think of the Liabiloe’s house bombing, how Lipolelo Thabane was killed and former Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane and his current wife, Maesiah Thabane were suspects, remember the sitting gesture of former Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro and how he handled Covid-19 pandemic, day light robbery of public funds through cabinet sanctioned transaction of the purchase of fertilizer in Prime Minister Ntsokoane Matekane and his inability to speak. When Matekane speaks, you would think he has aphasia, which has left him unable to communicate to other. Remember his Convention Centre speech during the political debate.
We have had very little of that from Mosisili. He and his staff have generally behaved with basic rectitude. Matekane is constantly having to hold these defensive press conferences where he’s trying to explain away some vaguely shady excuses of the importance of being pragmatic as opposed to being a good communicator, but Mosisili has not had to do that.
He and his wife have not only displayed superior integrity themselves, they have mostly attracted and hired people with high personal standards. Remember his ministers Mohlabi Tsekoa, Dr. Mamphono Khaketla, Monyane Moleleki, Dr. Pontso Sekatle, Timothy Thahane, Sephiri Motanyane, Mofelehetsi Moerane, Mpho Malie just to name a few. There are all sorts of unsightly characters floating around politics, including in the Thabane government, Majoro’s government and Matekane’s administration. These kind of ministers would have never emerged in Mosisili’s time.
Second, a democrat, Mosisili believed in democracy. He always took this country to elections at the end of every term in government. Matekane and his deputy Nthomeng Majara spent much of their campaign vowing to do away with democracy.
They refused to be ousted through a democratic and constitutional provision of a no confidence motion in the Prime Minister rather we were shocked to observe the heads of security agencies making a statement that they will not allow members of parliament to do their constitutional duties. Prime Minister Mosisili, meanwhile, allowed himself to go through the no confidence motion and lost.
Third, a sense of basic humanity. Those who were close to Mosisili knew how devastated he was when Maaparankoe Mahao was shot and killed during his administration. He cares deeply about other human beings. His testimony in the Phomaphe’s Commission showed that the quality of Prime Minister Mosisili flowed out in the unexpected but important moment. He had exuded this basic care and respect of others time and time again.
Fourth, grace under pressure. I happen to find it that Matekane gets nervous on the big occasions — that he fumbles when he has to address people. A Prime Minister has to maintain equipoise under enormous pressure. Mosisili has done that, especially amid the crisis.
Fifth, a soundness in his decision-making process. Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothejoa Metsing was laughed and made fun of when he cried foul that he was never consulted when Thabane’s administration made major decisions. LCD was disappointed in Thabane’s decision making process and almost always felt that their views were never considered. Mosisili respected partners and made inclusive decisions.
Lastly, Mosisili had a resilient sense of optimism. If you were to listen to Thabane and Matekane’s campaign, you would conclude that this country is on the verge of complete collapse. That’s simply not true. We have problems, but they are less serious than those faced by just about any other nation on earth.
People are motivated to make wise choices more by hope and opportunity than by fear, cynicism and despair. Unlike the above mentioned leaders, Mosisili never appealed to those passions. Matekane is showing us all just how difficult being the Prime Minister really is. Mosisili made it look like it wasn’t all that hard to do, and at times, made it look like a really good ride.
I miss Mosisili’s pro-poor policies. His pro-poor policies emancipated a lot of Basotho from poverty. Matekane’s administration is a club of the rich and for the rich only. They are in government for themselves. No wonder Members of Parliament and cabinet do business with the same government they control.
Matekane is showing us all just how hard it is to be Prime Minister when you know absolutely nothing about government, basic etiquette, humility, and just plain common sense. Was Mosisili perfect? Did all his actions and politics result in positive outcomes? Surely not, and that’s just fine. We all make mistakes in our decisions even when we think we are doing for the best.
Mosisili has a powerful and charming voice. Pakalitha has that deep, authoritative, euphonic and captivating voice. I always found his voice comforting to listen to. Even his enemies could never miss his speeches because he always had something up his sleeve.
As I conclude it is important to note that Mosisili radiates an ethos of integrity, humanity, good manners and elegance that I am beginning to miss, and I suspect Basotho also miss him. Mosisili for all his faults has been the best prime minister in my lifetime and quite frankly it is not even close. I miss my Prime Minister and leader.
