Commonwealth Secretariat Assists Lesotho to Set Up Independent Electoral Commission
17 March 1997
The Commonwealth Secretariat is assisting Lesotho to set up a new, powerful Independent Electoral Commission to conduct Lesotho's general election scheduled for 1998.
This follows an urgent request to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth by the Government of Lesotho, in October 1996, for assistance in developing a credible electoral framework within which to conduct the election. The request was prompted by a unanimous decision by all the political parties in Lesotho on the urgent need for such a body.
In response, the Secretariat sent a team of two legal drafters and an electoral adviser to Lesotho in November to formulate and draft the constitutional and legislative amendments. Technical and logistic support were provided by the British Government. In addition, an election expert from the Commonwealth Secretariat, Professor Reginald Austin, has visited Lesotho three times in recent months in the same connection.
The constitutional amendments which will make possible the establishment of the Independent Electoral Commission are expected to be enacted by the end of this month. The new electoral laws should provide Lesotho with a powerful electoral commission, responsible for all essential electoral management tasks, including delimitation, registration, polling and counting, as well as public education on democracy and elections.
The new laws will also provide, among other things, for the introduction of the registration of political parties contesting the 1998 election; a 'high integrity' Voter's ID Card; clear guidelines on the election campaign; and a capacity in the Commission to deal immediately with complaints.
Above all, it is hoped that the new, Independent Electoral Commission will assist the consolidation of democracy and the growth of a new political culture in Lesotho, which all the political leaders have agreed is vital.
97/12 17 March 1997
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