Summary:
Sam Matekane founded the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party in March, and as of October, it had gathered 56 seats, the bare minimum needed to win a simple majority.
On Friday, October 7, 2022, the Lesotho General Election was held to choose the 120 members of Parliament.
During the weekend as election results started to trickle in, Revolution For Prosperity (RFP) party supporters shouted in celebration outside Lesotho’s Manthabiseng National Convention center.
According to figures from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which has tallied results from nearly 80 percent of constituencies, Revolution For Prosperity (RFP) scored 56 out of a total of 80 constituencies, humiliating the current ruling party, All Basotho Convention (ABC), which had won no seats so far.ย
A victory for the RFP opens the door for a change in leadership in a southern African nation plagued by political unrest, stagnated ABC policy changes, and widespread public annoyance with political wrangling, corruption, and governance inertia.
Revolution For Prosperity (RFP)
Early findings from the election commission showed that the newly founded party, which is led by millionaire diamond magnate Sam Matekane, appeared to have enough votes for a simple majority and was therefore likely to win the parliamentary election in Lesotho.
The RFP, a newcomer to the Lesotho political scene, has won 56 constituencies, compared to the Democratic Congress’s (DC) 18 as of Monday afternoon.
The results of the 52 political parties that competed for votes in 79 out of 80 constituencies were announced by the Independent Electoral Commission, which made it clearer which party was trendy with Basotho voters.
The RFP, led by businessman Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane of Mantonyane in the Thaba-Tseka district, was established in March of this year, just six months before the general elections of 2022.
The party has committed to putting a strong emphasis on food security, agriculture, expanding healthcare, manufacturing pharmaceuticals, and good governance.
Lesotho general elections 2022 results
Final results (79/80 seats attributed)
RFP (liberal): 56 (new)
DC (centre-left): 18 (-8)
AD (centre-left): 2 (+1)
SRP (left-wing): 1 (new)
