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Lesotho: Election underway, incumbent Mosisili pledges to step down if defeated
Campaigning has proceeded peacefully, but many still remember Mosisili’s rise to power in 1998 elections, which were endorsed by observers but disputed by opposition protests.
Protests turned so violent that South Africa led a regional military intervention to restore order.
“It was a nasty scene, which I don’t think anyone would want a repeat of that,” said Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi, heading the Commonwealth observer mission here.
He said Mosisili had personally assured him that the election results, expected by Monday, would be honored.
“He told me he would be the first one to congratulate the winner,” Muluzi told AFP.
“The way that I saw it, it was a personal discussion that I had with him, I think that he will accept the results.”
Voters are choosing lawmakers to represent 80 constituencies. Another 40 seats in parliament will be awarded under a proportional vote system.
Copyright 2012 AFP.
