Mothetjoa Metsing

Political career

Before the 2012 general election, the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy suffered a split because of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's refusal to cede power. Mosisili then founded a new party called the Ntsu Democratic Congress, in reference to the founder of the LCD, Ntsu Mokhehle. LCD Secretary-General Mothetjoa Metsing then moved to lead the LCD. Tom Thabane leads another faction that broke away in 2006, the All Basotho Convention. The LCD's Metsing said that he would not take part in a national unity government. In like measure the ABC ruled out working with the LCD. Yet after the election, the two parties, along with the Basotho National Party, were part of a coalition government.

Attempted coup d'état

Following political tensions and the suspension of parliament over the controversial change of the head of the army from Lieutenant General Kennedy Tlali Kamoli to Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao, an alleged attempted coup d'état forced Thabane to flee the country. He then returned under cover of South African and Namibian police, who guarded him around-the-clock. Under the auspices of the SADC, mediation led by South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa resulted in a call for an early election. Lesotho's King Letsie III set February 28, 2015, as the date for the election. Thabane was backed by the national police, while his deputy Metsing was backed by the army, which refused to recognise the change in army leadership.

On June 5th, 2017, upon losing the latest round of National elections, Mr. Metsing made the following statement; "The LDF would need to be “protected” from Prime Minister-elect Thomas Thabane who sealed an agreement yesterday with three other parties to form government.". The former deputy premier said the army needed to be “protected” for their role in propping up the outgoing government. Mr Metsing has been accused of collaborating with the LDF in his political fights, although he and the military have vehemently denied the allegations. ABC leader and former premier Thomas Thabane accused Mr Metsing of helping to plan an LDF raid on three key Maseru police stations on the morning of 30 August 2014 which the former described as a coup attempt. The raid, which left one police officer dead, triggered a chain of unsavoury events that led to the collapse of the Dr Thabane-led coalition government and intervention by the international community in an effort to avert a complete breakdown of the rule of law in Lesotho.

Foreign honours