Coup In Lesotho

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32221, 13 February 1970, Page 12

Coup In Lesotho

The trend of events in Lesotho, the former British protectorate of Basutoland, makes it depressingly clear that this “ sovereign and independent member “of the Commonwealth ” —to quote from the independence proclamation of 1966—is lapsing into a dictatorship. Westminster’s concern over Chief Jonathan’s brazen cancellation of a General Election that was clearly running against his ruling Basotho National Party will be shared, for different reasons, in Pretoria and Salisbury. Chief Jonathan has made his seizure of power complete by suspending the Constitution, putting King Moshoeshoe under house arrest, imprisoning the Opposition leader, Mr Mokhehle, and banning the Communist Party, although there is no evidence that it could play any significant part in Lesotho politics, and put forward only one candidate in the recent election. Chief Jonathan removed the young Oxfordeducated King from his position of rigidly limited authority because of King Moshoeshoe’s “ active “ interference in politics ”. It is true that the King had. for some time, pursued a rather unwise association with the radical Mr Mokhehle. Now, apparently in one stroke, Chief Jonathan is ridding himself of the two opponents most likely to threaten his own exercise of absolute power.

Whitehall will be watching very closely for signs of a change in the political relations between Lesotho and South Africa. The little kingdom is an enclave, lying entirely within South Africa’s borders. Chief Jonathan had failed to get any specific promise of monetary aid from Britain during the early period of independence. But South African assistance has been generous; and the Prime Minister’s relations with Mr Vorster, and earlier with Dr Verwoerd, were most cordial. South Africa has an obvious interest in the maintenance of friendly relations with Lesotho—and so has the white minority Government of Rhodesia.

Chief Jonathan’s rejection of parliamentary democracy and his intention to rewrite the Constitution and set up a one-party State put both Mr Vorster and Mr Smith in a dilemma: whether to support the friendly but repressive Chief Jonathan, or to withdraw their support and. perhaps see him replaced by a militant nationalist. If King Moshoeshoe’s support among the warlike Basutho people is widespread, Chief Jonathan may be unable to retain control without outside help; and Mr Vorster and Mr Smith are his most likely friends in need.