MASERU — Prime Minister Sam Matekane has moved swiftly to stabilise his fragile parliamentary position, mandating three senior cabinet ministers to open urgent talks with the All Basotho Convention (ABC) on joining the governing coalition, Lesotho Tribune has been informed by multiple sources with direct knowledge of cabinet deliberations today.
The extraordinary cabinet directive comes as the ruling Revolution For Prosperity (RFP) faces its most serious internal rupture since assuming power, with further defections by its Members of Parliament expected before the end of the day.
According to highly placed sources, the outreach to ABC is a calculated attempt to rebuild a reliable governing majority in anticipation of continued losses from within Matekane’s own caucus. The Prime Minister is understood to be seeking a formal political arrangement that would cushion his administration against a possible parliamentary minority scenario.
“This is about numbers and survival,” one source familiar with the discussions said. “Cabinet is fully aware that the situation is fluid and could deteriorate rapidly.”
The move marks a significant political shift. ABC, once the dominant force in Lesotho’s coalition politics, has until now remained outside Matekane’s governing arrangement. Bringing ABC into government would immediately alter the balance of power in the National Assembly and potentially blunt the impact of RFP defections.
Today’s cabinet decision underscores the growing urgency inside government as the ruling party’s internal cohesion weakens. Lesotho Tribune has been reliably informed that additional RFP MPs are expected to announce their departure imminently, in what insiders describe as a coordinated political repositioning.
The Prime Minister’s strategy reflects a recognition that the threat is no longer theoretical but present and escalating. Should the defections continue at the current pace, Matekane could face the prospect of governing without a secure majority, exposing his administration to legislative paralysis or even a motion of no confidence.
The developments also raise the stakes for opposition parties, who have been quietly positioning themselves to benefit from the ruling party’s instability.
What remains unclear is whether ABC will accept the overture, and on what terms.
Speaking to Lesotho Tribune, a source who is not authorized to talk to the media said, “rubbish, we (ABC) will agree to that madness!”
Lesotho Tribune is awaiting ABC’s response on the question asked.
Historically, coalition negotiations in Lesotho have involved complex bargaining over cabinet positions, policy influence, and civil service deployments.
For now, the immediate focus remains on Parliament, where the governing party’s majority appears increasingly uncertain.
Today could prove to be a defining moment in the survival of Matekane’s administration.
This is a developing story.
