Drama as LCD fight continues

MASERU – THE police are tomorrow set to mediate between the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) leader Mothetjoa Metsing and his secretary general Teboho Sekata following scuffles within the embattled party.

The intervention by the police comes after Sekata reported Metsing to the police after he allegedly threatened to kill him.

Metsing is said to have fled the party’s offices on Monday after he learned that the police were coming.

The drama in the party comes as the LCD is bracing for what promises to be an explosive elective conference in six weeks’ time. The conference is scheduled for March 23.

Sekata told thepost that Metsing had hatched a plot to physically eliminate him so that he does not contest for the position of party leader.

“I will not disclose more about my security but he threatened to kill me,” Sekata said.

There are two warring factions in the party that support both Metsing and Sekata.

Metsing could not be reached for comment last night.

On Monday this week, there was a NEC meeting at the party’s offices where the faction behind Sekata was seen gathering near the gate while those supporting Metsing were at the office entrance.

While the meeting was in progress, Metsing left the premises and after a few minutes, a police vehicle came carrying two police officers who briefly spoke to the party’s deputy leader Tšeliso Mokhosi before entering the office.

After the police had left, Metsing came back and joined the meeting again.

After a while, Metsing’s bodyguard approached Sekata’s faction where he briefly talked to the faction’s representative Jase Makafane.

Makafane was seen putting his phones down and daring the bodyguard and one member from their rivals to beat him up.

“Beat me up if you say so,” Makafane said.

Makafane told thepost that he is not afraid of the other faction.

“We are here to protect our leader Teboho Sekata who is being threatened with death,” he said.

Makafane argued that his party always calls the NEC meetings without informing Sekata.

They hate him, he said.

A member of the Metsing faction told thepost that he was furious at Makafane for posting lies about their leader on social media.

“It is a pure lie that Metsing said he would kill Sekata. It is just a smear campaign,” he said.

The LCD deputy spokesperson, Lesolle Phalatsi, said the party is yet to sit down and discuss the fiasco that unfolded this week.

“It happened while we were busy at the NEC meeting. We only became aware of it afterward,” Phalatsi said.

He accused the Sekata-led faction of plotting to get Metsing arrested.

Nkheli Liphoto