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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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General elections were held in Lesotho on 26 May 2012. The incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's newly formed Democratic Congress won a majority of single-member seats. He also won his seat by the second-largest margin of victory.[1] However, they only had a plurality in the overall tally and coalition talks are taking place.
Background
As a result of the impact of the Arab Spring in 2011, protests occurred against the government in regard to unemployment, poverty and low salaries. The protests eventually had the support of taxi drivers, unions, students and opposition political parties. They also demanded to meet Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, who had at times refused to do so.[2][3][4][5]
Following a dispute over the allocation of the proportional seats in the 2007 elections, the electoral system was amended, with the National Assembly Elections Order 1992 repealed and replaced by the National Assembly Elections Act 2011. The previous system of casting separate votes for a constituency candidate and a national party list was replaced by voters casting a single vote for a party, which was counted for both the constituency candidate and the national party list.[6]
Parties and campaign
Before the election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy suffered a split because of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's refusal to cede power.[7] He then founded a new party called the Ntsu Democratic Congress, in reference to the founder of the LCD Ntsu Mokhehle. The LCD's secretary-general Mothetjoa Metsing then moved to lead the LCD.[8]
Tom Thabane leads another faction that broke away in 2006, the All Basotho Convention, which is expected to benefit from the infighting of the other two parties. Voters' primary demands were reportedly job creation and an improvement in "basic services."[9] The LCD's Metsing said that he would not take part in a national unity government.[10] In like measure ABC ruled out working with LCD.[11]
Opinion polls
Most polls predicted a plurality for the Democratic Congress. One tribal chief, Mohato Bereng, said that he would vote for change in supporting the Lesotho Congress for Democracy.[9] Incumbent Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili had an approval of rating of 39% a month before the election.[7] Two days before the election, Mosisili said that DC would get a simple majority.[12]
Conduct
Former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, who headed the Commonwealth of Nations' electoral observer team, said that despite a history of coup d'etats he was assured by the army and police that there would be no interference.[13] There were also electoral monitoring teams from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.[14]
Results
Voting centres were opened from 7:00 at 17:00. Vote counting started at the vote centres in Maseru before they closed. The official results were expected the day after the vote due to the remoteness of some communities.[9] Maliako Ralejoe of the Independent Electoral Commission said at the end of the day that: "Currently most of the urban areas have been counted, which is a good indicator. We have had challenges with the rural areas as some areas are still counting, but Maseru is complete. We estimate that we will be able to announce the final verdict."[15] On 27 May, the IEC suspended the electoral count because of "serious logistical problems."[16] This caused tension in Maseru and opposition parties led by ABC pressured the IEC to release the result.[17][18]
Voter turnout was 564,451 or 50.04%.[19]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPTP | PR | Total | +/– | |||||
| Democratic Congress | 218,366 | 39.58 | 41 | 7 | 48 | New | ||
| All Basotho Convention | 138,917 | 25.18 | 26 | 4 | 30 | +13 | ||
| Lesotho Congress for Democracy | 121,076 | 21.94 | 12 | 14 | 26 | –3 | ||
| Basotho National Party | 23,788 | 4.31 | 0 | 5 | 5 | +2 | ||
| Popular Front for Democracy | 11,166 | 2.02 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +2 | ||
| National Independent Party | 6,880 | 1.25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | –19 | ||
| Lesotho People's Congress | 5,021 | 0.91 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Basotho Democratic National Party | 3,433 | 0.62 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Marematlou Freedom Party | 3,300 | 0.60 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Basutoland Congress Party | 2,531 | 0.46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Basotho Batho Democratic Party | 2,440 | 0.44 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Lesotho Workers' Party | 2,408 | 0.44 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –9 | ||
| All Democratic Corporation | 1,933 | 0.35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Lekhotla La Mekhoa le Moetlo | 1,691 | 0.31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Areka Covenant Front for Development | 1,227 | 0.22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Sankatana Social Democratic Party | 1,081 | 0.20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| African Unity Movement | 714 | 0.13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| White Horse Party | 252 | 0.05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Independents | 5,502 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 551,726 | 100.00 | 80 | 40 | 120 | 0 | ||
| Valid votes | 551,726 | 97.75 | ||||||
| Invalid/blank votes | 12,725 | 2.25 | ||||||
| Total votes | 564,451 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 1,127,980 | 50.04 | ||||||
| Source: IEC[permanent dead link], IEC, AED | ||||||||
List of elected MPs
| Constituency Number |
District | Constituency | MP[1] | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Maseru District | Abia | Motsoahae Thomas Thabane | ABC |
| 33 | Maseru District | Thetsane | Mamothibe Bernice Chaule | ABC |
| 35 | Maseru District | Lithotheng | Majoro Nephtali Mohapi | ABC |
| 34 | Maseru District | Qoaling | Chalane Clatus Phori | ABC |
| 32 | Maseru District | Maseru## | Edward Haae Phoofolo | ABC |
| 55 | Mafeteng District | Mafeteng# | Temeki Phoenix Tsolo | ABC |
| 24 | Berea District | Teya-Teyanang# | Prince Maliehe Maliehe | ABC |
| 5 | Butha-Buthe District | Butha-Buthe# | Motlohi Maliehe | ABC |
| 28 | Berea District | Khubetsoana | Thabiso Masenkane Samuel Monyatsi | ABC |
| 2 | Butha-Buthe District | Hololo | Teboho Charles Letsela | DC |
| 58 | Mohales Hoek | Mohale's Hoek# | Retselisitsoe Masenyetsi | DC |
| 57 | Mohales Hoek | Qhalasi | Palo Alphoncis Leteete | DC |
| 4 | Butha-Buthe District | Qalo | Thabang Linus Kholumo | PFD |
| 53 | Mafeteng District | Likhoele | Khotso Letsasi | DC |
| 14 | Leribe District | Tsikoane | Khotso Matla | LCD |
| 15 | Leribe District | Maputsoe | Mampho Marystella Mokhele | LCD |
| 23 | Berea District | Khafung | Motlalepula Khaahloe | LCD |
| 30 | Maseru District | Motimposo | November Pitso Maisa | ABC |
| 38 | Maseru District | Thaba-Bosiu | Boomo Frank Sofonia | ABC |
| 49 | Mafeteng District | Kolo | Paul Teboho Lehloyenya | DC |
| 54 | Mafeteng District | Qalabane | Motlalentoa Letsosa | DC |
| 18 | Leribe District | Kolonyama | Lebesa Maloi | LCD |
| 17 | Leribe District | Peka | Tlali Khasu | ABC |
| 16 | Leribe District | Likhetlane | Timothy Thahane Thahane | LCD |
| 8 | Leribe District | Thaba-Phats'oa | Mahala Molapo | ABC |
| 9 | Leribe District | Mahobong | Mothejoa Metsing | LCD |
| 11 | Leribe District | Matlakeng | Mafalatsi Joyce Lekhatla | LCD |
| 22 | Berea District | Malimong | Magents Leshoboro Joseph Mohlajoa | ABC |
| 25 | Berea District | Tsoana-Makhulo | Joseph Tsoeu Molise | ABC |
| 29 | Berea District | Mabote | Paul Sekhulumi Ntsoaole | ABC |
| 42 | Maseru District | Koro-Koro | Thabiso Enerst Litšiba | ABC |
| 48 | Mafeteng District | Thaba-Phechela | Molahlehi Malefane | DC |
| 52 | Mafeteng District | Thabana-Morena | Selibe Mochoboroane | LCD |
| 56 | Mohales Hoek | Taung | Phallang Monare** | DC |
| 71 | Qachas Nek | Tsoelike | Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili | DC |
| 12 | Leribe District | Leribe | Leketekete Victor Ketso | LCD |
| 27 | Berea District | Berea | Matela Solomon Khojane | ABC |
| 20 | Berea District | 'Makhoroana | Charles Nyebe Tsibela | ABC |
| 13 | Leribe District | Hlotse# | Makabelo Priscilla Mosothoane | LCD |
| 3 | Butha-Buthe District | Motete | Tumaole Clement Lerafa | DC |
| 50 | Mafeteng District | Matelile | Maimane Philemon Maphathe | DC |
| 26 | Berea District | Thupa-Kubu | Tsietsi Ezekiel Lethole | ABC |
| 1 | Butha-Buthe District | Mechachane | Apesi Ratsele | LCD |
| 10 | Leribe District | Pela-Ts'oeu | Solomon Montsuoe Lethoba | LCD |
| 59 | Mohales Hoek | Mekaling | Kamoho Joseph Moroeng | DC |
| 41 | Maseru District | Maama | Mankoe James Maime | ABC |
| 36 | Maseru District | Lithabaneng | Matebatso Doti | ABC |
| 6 | Leribe District | Maliba-Matso | Francis Mokoto Hloaele | DC |
| 7 | Leribe District | Mphosong | Bataung Leleka | DC |
| 31 | Maseru District | Stadium Area | Moshoete Mophato Monyake | ABC |
| 39 | Maseru District | Machache | Monyane Moleleki | DC |
| 43 | Maseru District | Qeme | Kali SeitLheko | DC |
| 44 | Maseru District | Rothe | Manthabiseng Arcylia Phohleli | DC |
| 45 | Maseru District | Matsieng | ’Matšepo Ramakoae*** | ABC |