CAPE TOWN, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitator Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday met with three exiled leaders of Lesotho opposition political parties in Pretoria to brief them on efforts to ensure their safe return.
Ramaphosa, who is also South African Deputy President, briefed the opposition political leaders on deliberations and outcomes of the 36th Ordinary SADC Summit held in Mbabane, Swaziland in August 2016 regarding regional efforts to assist the people of Lesotho to consolidate peace and stability, said Ronnie Mamoepa, spokesperson for Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa highlighted the SADC Summit decisions on the constitutional and security sector reform processes, efforts to facilitate the return of exiled political leaders and the deployment of the SADC Oversight Committee, according to Mamoepa.
In this regard, Ramaphosa will soon pay a working visit to Lesotho to introduce members of the Oversight Committee to all relevant stakeholders in the country, said Mamoepa.
The Oversight Committee, working in consultation with the Facilitator, will serve as an early-warning mechanism and assist the government of Lesotho with respect to constitutional and security sector reform.
Ramaphosa will also utilise the working visit to Lesotho to review progress regarding implementation of SADC decisions on the Phumaphi Commission of Inquiry and the Facilitator's recommendations on the constitutional and security reform process, Mamoepa said.
The meeting was attended by Lesotho opposition political leaders in exile. They included Former Prime Minister Tom Thabane, Theselle Maseribane, leader of the Basotho National Party and Keketso Rantsho, leader of the Reformed Congress of Lesotho who were joined in the meeting by leaders of the opposition.
Lesotho was forced into an early election in late February 2015 following an attempted coup in August the previous year. Pakalitha Mosisili emerged as the winner in the elections, becoming the kingdom's prime minister.
Following the coup, Thabane and his followers fled the country, claiming they were tipped about plots to kill them.
There have been reports that Thabane would return home in accordance with an agreement he signed with Mosisili.
But Thabane has said that if the plight of the other opposition leaders, soldiers, lawyers and journalists who fled with him were not addressed, he would remain in South Africa.
Ramaphosa has been mediating the political strife in Lesotho since the coup.
