AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | The 1993 Lesotho Election |
| Author: | Southall, Roger |
| Year: | 1994 |
| Periodical: | Review of African Political Economy |
| Volume: | 21 |
| Issue: | 59 |
| Pages: | 110-118 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic term: | Lesotho |
| Subjects: | democracy political change elections 1993 Politics and Government |
| External link: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056249408704046 |
| Abstract: | The first free general election to be held in Lesotho since independence in 1966 took place on 27 March 1993. The result was an astounding clean sweep of all 65 parliamentary seats by the opposition Basutoland Congress Party (BCP), and a subsequent handing over of power by the military regime to a civilian government headed by long-time BCP leader Ntsu Mokhehle. The scale of its defeat plunged the formerly ruling Basotho National Party (BNP) into crisis. This paper presents background information on the 1993 election, and deals with the electoral framework and the election results. Four reasons why the BCP won stand out: the large body of voters accepted that Mokhehle had been unjustly denied in the 1970 elections, and that the BNP should be punished for that injustice as well as for its abuse of power over the 20-year period of its rule; the BCP was better prepared than the BNP; BCP candidates had greater political commitment and experience; and the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system amplified the BCP's popular vote in terms of the number of seats it won. In conclusion, prospects for democracy in Lesotho are examined. A postscript pays attention to Mokhehle's problems with the army. Bibliogr. |
