Issued by the African National Congress and Basotho National Party
19 February 2002
The ANC met the Basotho National Party(BNP) at Luthuli House today. Ms Mavivi Myaka -yaka Manzini, ANC Head of International Relations led the ANC delegation whilst the BNP Delegation was led by Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya. The purpose of the meeting was to receive a briefing on the national electoral preparations in Lesotho, scheduled for May 2002 and to strengthen party - to party relations with the ANC.
The leader of the BNP indicated in his opening remarks that whilst the BNP party was in government, since Lesotho's independence (1966 until 1986), they(ANC and BNP) had shared strong ties with the ANC and hoped to re-establish those ties. He further went on to indicate that the struggle waged by the ANC was a struggle that the BNP had also embraced deeply. Some of the current crop of the leadership that the country is proud of such as Tito Mboweni, the Reserve Bank Governor and Premier Ngoako Ramathlodi studied in Lesotho, whilst they were in exile. The Basotho National Party during its reign had given refuge to leading cadres of Umkhonto we sizwe such as the late Chris Hani, Tony Yengeni and Thenjiwe Mtintso.
The ANC reassured the Basotho National Party of its willingness to re -establish the historical ties cemented during the difficult apartheid days, but also showed a willingness to assist in the preparations for the national elections in May 2002. This would be in line with the objectives set up in NEPAD around the establishment of good systems of governance in the region.
The meeting ended on a positive note with a commitment to meet soon to mainly focus on the issues raised pertaining to the succesful holding of the elections in Lesotho.
For more info contact Mr Bereng Sekhonyama (BNP) at +266 - 32 7298, cell (+266 886 4257) and Ms Mavivi Myakayaka - Manzini at 082 553 0188 (ANC)