Justin Lekhanya
Encyclopedia
Retired General Justin Metsing Lekhanya (born April 7 1938 in Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho) was the prime minister, defense minister and chairman of the military council of Lesotho
from January 24 1986 until May 2 1991. Lekhanya was commander of the army when he overthrew Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan in a military coup following revelations that he had been the victim of a hoax by South African exiled PAC military commanders, Potlako Leballo and Bernard Leeman (who had served Lekhanya as a Lesotho Paramilitary Force Major in 1977 under a false identity), that had resulted in financing the Lesotho Liberation Army against himself. Lekhanya immediately sought to establish better relations with South Africa which were strained due to Jonathan's support of the African National Congress. Lekhanya also gave more power to Lesotho's king at first, but later came into dispute with him, and he deposed the king in another military coup in 1990. The king was later restored, and Lekhanya himself was overthrown in a 1991 military coup. Lekhanya then became leader of the Basotho National Party, Lesotho's main opposition party, which only has a few seats in Parliament and, according to Lekhanya, has been the victim of fraud in the last several elections in Lesotho.
BOOKS
Leeman, B.N.T. "Lesole la Mokhehle" (Soldier for Mokhehle) University of Azania Press 1993, 2nd edition 2002
Leeman, B.N.T."Lesotho and the Struggle for Azania 1780- 1986)" University of Azania 1986 (Doctrinal thesis Bremen University, Germany)
Leeman, B.N.T. (1995)The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania "Africa Today", Australian National University
Leeman, B.N.T. (2011) The Lesotho Liberation Army
Mphanya, Ntsukunyane (2004) "A Brief History fo the Basuotland Congress Party" Morija, Lesotho
Lekhanya was elected as Party Leader of the BNP at its Conference in March 1999, and he was re-elected as Party Leader at the BNP Conference held on March 31–April 1, 2001. In the May 2002 parliamentary election, Lekhanya, the BNP candidate for the Mant'sonyane constituency, was defeated by Masuthang Taole of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy
(LCD), receiving 28.5% of the vote against Taole's 49.1%. He was, however, elected to the National Assembly through proportional representation
.
On May 31, 2006, he was temporarily suspended from the National Assembly in connection with alleged intimidation of the Speaker of the National Assembly, which the BNP leadership was said to have condoned and abetted, according to a motion of the National Assembly and a subsequent report from the Committee of Privileges. Four other MPs from the BNP were also suspended, but for lesser periods of time.
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
from January 24 1986 until May 2 1991. Lekhanya was commander of the army when he overthrew Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan in a military coup following revelations that he had been the victim of a hoax by South African exiled PAC military commanders, Potlako Leballo and Bernard Leeman (who had served Lekhanya as a Lesotho Paramilitary Force Major in 1977 under a false identity), that had resulted in financing the Lesotho Liberation Army against himself. Lekhanya immediately sought to establish better relations with South Africa which were strained due to Jonathan's support of the African National Congress. Lekhanya also gave more power to Lesotho's king at first, but later came into dispute with him, and he deposed the king in another military coup in 1990. The king was later restored, and Lekhanya himself was overthrown in a 1991 military coup. Lekhanya then became leader of the Basotho National Party, Lesotho's main opposition party, which only has a few seats in Parliament and, according to Lekhanya, has been the victim of fraud in the last several elections in Lesotho.
BOOKS
Leeman, B.N.T. "Lesole la Mokhehle" (Soldier for Mokhehle) University of Azania Press 1993, 2nd edition 2002
Leeman, B.N.T."Lesotho and the Struggle for Azania 1780- 1986)" University of Azania 1986 (Doctrinal thesis Bremen University, Germany)
Leeman, B.N.T. (1995)The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania "Africa Today", Australian National University
Leeman, B.N.T. (2011) The Lesotho Liberation Army
Mphanya, Ntsukunyane (2004) "A Brief History fo the Basuotland Congress Party" Morija, Lesotho
Lekhanya was elected as Party Leader of the BNP at its Conference in March 1999, and he was re-elected as Party Leader at the BNP Conference held on March 31–April 1, 2001. In the May 2002 parliamentary election, Lekhanya, the BNP candidate for the Mant'sonyane constituency, was defeated by Masuthang Taole of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy
Lesotho Congress for Democracy
The Lesotho Congress for Democracy is a political party in Lesotho.In 1997, Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle left the Basutoland Congress Party to form with his faction the new Lesotho Congress for Democracy. The new party won the 1998 elections with 60.7% of the popular vote and 79 out of 80 seats....
(LCD), receiving 28.5% of the vote against Taole's 49.1%. He was, however, elected to the National Assembly through proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
On May 31, 2006, he was temporarily suspended from the National Assembly in connection with alleged intimidation of the Speaker of the National Assembly, which the BNP leadership was said to have condoned and abetted, according to a motion of the National Assembly and a subsequent report from the Committee of Privileges. Four other MPs from the BNP were also suspended, but for lesser periods of time.