Ramaphosa to return to Lesotho

Johannesburg. — South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Lesotho for a two-day visit, his office said yesterday. Ramaphosa, the Sadc facilitator, will visit the country today and tomorrow to continue his efforts to help return the country to constitutional normalcy, spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said. “The visit comes in the context of Sadc’s double troika mandate for Deputy President Ramaphosa to help create dialogue among all Lesotho’s political and other role players with a view to addressing their current political and security challenges.”

He would be helped by Sadc deputy executive secretary Themba Mhlongo, who was leading the regional body’s team of experts, and members of the secretariat including Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana.

During the last two visits to Lesotho, Ramaphosa briefed King Letsie III and met, among others, members of the coalition of political parties including Prime Minister Tom Thabane, opposition parties, the council of churches, the college of chiefs, and members of the NGO sector. — Sapa.