Maseru – SADC Facilitator and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has, today Wednesday, 15 October 2014, arrived in Maseru ahead of the reconvening of the country’s Parliament by His Majesty, King Letsie III scheduled for Friday, 17 October 2014.

The reconvening of Lesotho’s Parliament by His Majesty, King, Letsie III, comes against the framework of the recently signed Maseru Facilitation Declaration on 2 October 2014 facilitated by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and signed by all Lesotho’s political parties.

In terms of the Declaration, His Majesty, King Letsie III is to reconvene Parliament on 17 October 2014 to discuss the budget and all other related matters regarding the holding of elections.

In this regard the Maseru Facilitation Declaration further provided that Parliament is to be dissolved at the beginning of December 2014 to prepare for the holding of the National General Elections scheduled for the end of February 2015 and on a date to be set by His Majesty, King Letsie III.

During his visit, the Facilitator and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will continue to be supported in his regional facilitation efforts by a team of SADC experts and members of the Secretariat from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe led by SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Dr Themba Mhlongo.

The Facilitator and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and his team are expected to return to South Africa on Friday, 17 October 2014.

For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Issued by: The Presidency on behalf of SADC Troika