The end of the road for ABC

THE ABC finally imploded this week following a vicious power struggle that had played out behind the scenes over the last two years. We are not surprised that matters have finally turned out this way. When the ABC had an opportunity to respect its own democratic processes, it prevaricated and ignored the will of the people. Instead of dealing with the succession matter at its explosive elective conference two years ago, the party fumbled through the process, effectively kicking the can down the road. Now it must face the consequences. We also think that this split was inevitable. Instead of facilitating Thabane’s departure from the scene, it left him in a powerful position as party leader. We are not surprised that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had trouble reining him in. With the latest developments, Professor Nqosa Mahao is now likely to lead a new party that is said to command the support of at least 25 MPs. By walking away with such a large group of MPs, Mahao has dealt a mortal blow to a party that he should rightfully have led after he romped to victory at the party’s elective conference in 2019. But the hawks within the ABC never allowed him to lead, viewing him as a mafikizolo. This week’s events, a political earthquake of sorts, will probably mark the end of the ABC as we know it. It could also mean that the party will head into the next election in 2022 as two separate entities. The ABC has now delivered a sitter to the Democratic Congress leader, Mathibeli Mokhothu. As we survey the wreckage of the ABC and pen this political obituary for the great party, it would be remiss not to critically assess the role that former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has played in the collapse of his own party. After Thabane was ousted as premier in May last year, he remained bitter. His shadow continued to loom in the background, as he continued to pull the strings behind the scenes. That is why ABC hawks continued to “pay homage” at his home in Makhoakhoeng. It is our considered view that Thabane should have retired in peace having served his country with distinction for over 50 years. As we have argued in previous editorials, Thabane is way past his sell-by date. Instead there was a perception that he continued to meddle in the party’s NEC’s deliberations. But it is not just Thabane who should shoulder the blame for the split. ABC activists we have spoken to say Prime Minister Majoro must also come in for the flak. As premier, Majoro will now wear the unwanted tag as the Prime Minister who presided over the most damaging split to ever hit the ABC. That could be fatal for his reputation. While the events of this week will have devastating consequences for the ABC, it is the wider implications that we are concerned with. The current coalition government might go up in smoke. The ABC will not have the majority of MPs to form government. We could therefore see a new coalition government being cobbled up in Parliament to take over the reins. That is very disruptive. Brilliant projects that had been set in motion by Majoro will likely collapse. That is not good for Lesotho. This constant merry-go-round will never be good for our stability and growth as a country. As usual, it is our skewed perception politics that always comes back to haunt us as a nation.