Maseru, July. 23 — Preparations to hold consultations with political party leaders, in a bid to appoint new Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) members have begun.
This is according to a savingram from the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Advocate Fine Maemo, which follows a request from the Office of the Government Secretary (GS).
It states that consultations are intended to enable the Council of State to select and recommend candidates to King Letsie III for appointment.
It adds that consultations will involve not only leaders of parties represented in Parliament but also those outside it, indicating that the process is to be guided by the Constitution of Lesotho and related legal provisions governing the establishment and operations of the IEC.
It indicates that Section 66 of the Constitution of Lesotho, as amended by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution Act, 2001 (Act No. 4 of 2001), outlines the appointment procedures for the Chairperson and two other members of the IEC.
It highlights that under this section, the Council of State is mandated to invite all registered political parties, using a mutually agreed-upon procedure to submit a joint list of not fewer than five names within thirty days of the specified notice, citing that from this list, the Council will recommend individuals for appointment. . .
Ends/KP
