Lesotho

National Assembly Senate

National Assembly

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 07 Oct 2022
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 14 Jul 2022
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: 31 Oct 2027
Number of seats at stake: 120
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 65

Results

About the election: Revolution for Prosperity (RFP, a new party formed by Diamond tycoon Sam Matekane in March 2022) came first but failed to win an outright majority. It took 56 of the 120 seats at stake. The Democratic Congress (DC) remained the second largest party, while Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro’s All Basotho Convention (ABC) came third, winning only eight seats, down from 51 in 2017. On 11 October, Mr. Matekane announced that he had reached a coalition agreement with the Alliance of Democrats (AD, which won five seats) and the Movement for Economic Change (MEC, four seats). On 14 October, Prime Minister Majoro tendered his resignation to King Letsie III, paving the way for Mr. Matekane to be sworn into the post on 28 October.

The newly elected National Assembly comprises a total of 32 women: 31 who are directly elected, and the Deputy Speaker, who was appointed from outside parliament (see note). The Senate, which comprises 22 Principal Chiefs, and 11 members appointed by the King, was renewed on 3 November. It re-elected Ms. Mamonaheng Mokitimi as its President.

Note:

In accordance with Articles 63(1) and 64(1) of the Constitution, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker may be elected "either from among the persons who are members thereof … [of the National Assembly] or from among other persons". Both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were appointed from outside parliament. The legislature thus comprises 122 people of whom 120 were directly elected.
Number of parties winning seats: 14
Percentage of parties winning seats: 21.5%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 46.7%
Alternation of power after elections: Yes
Number of parties in government: 3
Names of parties in government: Revolution For Prosperity (RFP), Alliance of Democrats (AD), Movement for Economic Change (MEC)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total	Majority	Proportional
Revolution for Prosperity (RFP)	56	56	0
Democratic Congress (DC)	29	18	11
All Basotho Convention (ABC)	8	0	8
Basotho Action Party (BAP)	6	0	6
Alliance of Democrats (AD)	5	2	3
Movement for Economic Change (MEC)	4	1	3
Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD)	3	0	3
Socialist Revolutionaries (SR)	2	1	1
Basotho Covenant Movement (BCM)	1	0	1
Basotho National Party (BNP)	1	0	1
Mphatlalatsane (HOPE)	1	0	1
Mpulule Political Summit (MPS)	1	0	1
National Independent Party (NIP)	1	1	0
Popular Front For Democracy (PFD)	1	0	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 88
Number of women elected: 31
Percentage of women elected: 26.1%
Women Directly Elected: 31
Women in other categories: 1
Other notes on the elections: Note on the timing of election:

Article 84(1) of the Constitution stipulates that a general election is held “within three months after any dissolution of Parliament as the King may appoint”. Given that the outgoing legislature (elected in June 2017) was dissolved on 14 July 2022 and elections were held on 7 October, the 2022 elections are considered to have been held upon normal expiry.
Sources: National Assembly (22.11.2022)

https://www.iec.org.ls/2022-results/

https://www.iec.org.ls/download/nae_2022-pr-seats-allocation/

https://www.gov.ls

https://www.gov.ls/download/lesotho-constitution/

BBC Monitoring

https://www.reuters.com

https://www.africanews.com

https://www.france24.com/en

https://lestimes.com

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 89
Total number of women after the election: 32
Percentage of women after the election: 26.4%
First-term parliamentarians: 89
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 73.6%
Date of the first session: 25 Oct 2022

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Tlohang Sekhamane (Male)
Date of birth: 30 May 1955
Date of election: 25 Oct 2022