The two main parties in Lesotho were running neck-and-neck in a crucial legislative election aimed at cementing democracy in the tiny, famine-struck African kingdom, according to early indications on Sunday.
As results trickled in from Saturday’s election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) had won one constituency seat, facing its main challenge from the opposition Basotho National Party (BNP), officials said.
”Unofficial indications are that they are running neck-to-neck, sharing the vote equally,” said Alwyn Viljoen of the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
”No third party seems to be sharing the vote at this stage.”
Saturday’s election was the third democratic poll in this southern African mountain kingdom since independence from Britain in 1966 and it is hoped it will mark a return to stability after the 1998 elections ended in chaos and violence.
It is set against a backdrop of unemployment, severe food shortages ? 80% of the country faces starvation — and a high HIV infection rate afflicting most of southern Africa.
Turnout was reported to be high, and provisional results are expected during Sunday or Monday.
The major parties vying for seats in the 120-member parliament are: the LCD, led by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, the BNP, and the Lesotho People’s Congress which split from the LCD last year.
The BNP is headed by Major-General Justin Metsing Lekhanya, the military ruler of Lesotho from 1986 to 1990.
Four years ago the LCD won a landslide victory at the polls but opposition supporters charged that it was rigged and staged massive protests, which was followed by rioting and a mutiny.
Lesotho’s government allowed military intervention by South Africa and Botswana which prompted clashes in which 75 people died and there was widespread damage in three towns.
In a bid to avoid a repetition of such violence, Lesotho has adopted a new mixed electoral system, being used for the first time in Africa.
Eighty constituency members of parliament will be elected in a traditional first-past-the-post ballot, but the other 40 seats will be allocated by a form of proportional representation.
About 830 000 voters out of a population of 2,2 million were registered to choose candidates from 19 parties.
But unlike elections in the rest of southern Africa, regional and international observers, 250 of whom are deployed in Lesotho, said Saturday’s poll seemed to go smoothly and fairly.
”I am amazed at people’s commitment, some of them walked for hours,” British observer Alistair Moir said.
A total of 48 stations are due to remain open until noon on Sunday because of logistical problems. – Sapa-AFP