Revolution without change?

Former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane promised his people a revolution. Basotho gave him a chance in 2012 and 2017 and all we experienced was a revolution without change. Basotho are now deeply sceptical of the political direction their country has taken since Thabane’s false revolution. Trapped with an oligarchic political class such as John Yan Xie and frustrated with only modest reforms, Basotho are now angry over their continuous poverty. Most Basotho are convinced that the country is on the wrong path. The Chinese like Yan Xie extracted wealth from the government by pulling some strings in the judiciary, politics and elections, the media, and business especially the banking systems. Xie was able to illegally transfer M7 million from one bank to another and within an hour that money was out of the banking system. The rules of the game were rigged to keep the money flowing into the pockets of a few, whether they are skimming from state companies, legitimate businesses, or funds of donor governments and international financial institutions. With all these challenges, Lesotho saw business tycoon Sam Matekane enter the fray last week. There is no doubt that Matekane is immensely rich. There has however been a sentiment that Matekane needs to share his wealth and empower other Basotho in the mining sector. They think that the system has been rigged to keep the money flowing into the pockets of a few individuals. I am surprised that there is a large number of young people who think and believe that Matekane can be the solution to our current problems. When Thabane was in power, he was worrying about how to manage his own personal wealth, his wife and the wealth of his backers. He did not have time to figure out how to improve healthcare, prosecute those who were responsible for the murders of Lt Gen Maaparankoe Mahao, Lt Gen Khoantle Motsomotso, Brigadier Bulane Sechele and Colonel Tefo Hashatsi, yet he campaigned using Mahao’s death. Despite the bleak picture right now, Lesotho has a fighting chance at a genuine transformation. I may be deeply sceptical of those who promise a revolution like Thabane. Matekane has formed a new political party called Revolution For Prosperity (RFP), which promises heaven on earth. Will it bring revolution without change? Time is running short for changing the system in this cycle. After two years of promises, reform of the system has not even really begun. We are left with only six months before our next general elections, but a new face at the top will only bring superficial change if there is no will to change the country. We need leaders with a different mind-set. Nevertheless I believe that through the establishment of Matekane’s party, Lesotho has won another shot at transformation. Its leaders should not let it slip away again because if they do they may not get another chance. Here is a new player in the game who should force everyone to re-examine their strategies and vision for this country. Of course, every revolution is unique and comparisons between them do not always yield useful insights. But there are a few criteria I have identified that are usually present in revolutionary explosions. First, there is tremendous economic inequality. Second, there’s a deep conviction that the ruling classes serve only themselves at the expense of everyone else, undermining the belief that these inequalities will ever be addressed by the political elite. Third, and somewhat in response to these, there is the rise of political alternatives that were barely acceptable in the margins of society before. In our case a businessman in Matekane is joining the political space. Combined, these factors create a deeply felt and widely shared sense of injustice, an almost palpable conviction that the system is not working for the majority and only for the very few who abuse their positions of privilege. These qualities weaken any administration’s claim to legitimacy. But they are not solely sufficient. The indispensable ingredient of a political revolution is the mental revolution that happens before: personal convictions that the system is no longer working and needs to be replaced. In my opinion Lesotho is displaying all of the above characteristics. The country is experiencing tremendous levels of economic inequality that’s worsening according to every meaningful measurement. Could a revolution be a good thing? I am not sure anymore. On one hand, no. Revolutions are never good things to live through; they bring conflict and war, pain, suffering and hunger, and will plunge the country into political instability for decades. 1998 is a perfect example of what could go wrong. On the other hand, I think revolutions are necessary. Almost all political rights citizens enjoy and all the protections they have from the arbitrary use of political authority are results of past revolutions. We can all remember the 1970 take over, the 1986 military revolution to the 1992 re-introduction of democracy and the 1998 conflict. In my opinion sometimes political systems remain so far behind political consciousness that revolutions become the only way to catch up. I have a very important question to ask, will Matekane’s revolution address our real problems? Poverty is probably the most obvious yet most neglected problem in our country. Every day, we are pushed further down into the ground without having an idea on how to get up. Every day, thousands of Basotho are having problems in coping with the fast pace of the modernisation of the world. We have seen the sale of prime residential and commercial land to non-indigenous Basotho, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese and others. We have also seen the selling of productive and fertile arable agricultural land by poor owners to willing buyers. The agricultural lands are then converted into industrial and residential sites. Although the projects are for the betterment of the country’s economy, it is still somehow disadvantageous. The lesser the productive land we have, the lesser the sources we have for production which we may use for exports. I think indigenous Basotho should be helped to nurture land. Chinese, Indians and Pakistanis continue to trade in areas they are not allowed such as supermarkets, fish and chips shops, small-scale agriculture and others. What is shocking is the number of foreigners employed in these ventures. Chinese supermarkets are managed by the owner, the wife and the child. Will the revolution address this challenge? How many foreigners illegally occupy positions that Basotho can do yet our political elite give them permits? Will the revolution address the mining value chain, which includes everything from extracting raw material to delivering products to customers? Will indigenous Basotho be given a chance to go into this industry? Poor management has given rise to the problems of unemployment, poverty, corruption, immorality, environment degradation, price increase and people suffer even from lack of patriotism. Will the revolution have the capacity to handle our poor management? Who is this Matekane who is supposed to bring the revolution? Does he have what it takes to propel forward the revolution to victory? What change did he promise to bring? Will that change bring us true economic independence? Matekane is a product of the congress movement. Pakalitha Mosisili and Mofelehetsi Moerane intentionally empowered Basotho who had no capacity to enter into the construction industry that was dominated by white South Africans. I am very proud of what Matekane has become. Mosisili and Moerane said Lesotho belongs to Basotho, and they should benefit from it. When he announced the formation of his new political party I was envious of him. Here is our product doing so well. In congress we welcome the idea of a multi-party system. The formation of political parties is a visible manifestation of a democratic system. I wish to welcome Matekane in politics, he will give a voice to Basotho who were beginning to lose hope. I wish him well indeed. The truth does not expire. Basotho know which administration made Matekane. While the congress movement might not get enough praise for producing this icon but truth is incontrovertible. You may attack it with malice, you may choose to be ignorant about it or even deride it, but, in the end, there it is. The bitter truth shall always stand. Matekane is a product of good Congress policies. The congress government did not know his future plans exactly, but the administration of Mosisili supported him in his businesses. As a congressman I am proud of his achievements. The ideals of congress as a movement have never changed. In general, I can say the ideals of the movement have not changed. Congress will continue to develop and nurture other Matekanes in this country. It is clear the system is not working for the good of most Basotho. There are still numerous possibilities and different ways events can unfold.