Mokhothu defends funeral attendance
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Pascalinah Kabi
DEPUTY Prime Minister Mathibeli Mokhothu says he attended the funeral of former prime minister Metsing Lekhanya to represent the government in line with a cabinet resolution since the event was a state funeral.
Because of Major General Lekhanya’s profile and place in the history of Lesotho, it would have been irresponsible for the government not to be represented at his funeral, especially after it had designated it as a state funeral, said the DPM.
DPM Mokhothu spoke in response to calls by three prominent youths activists and social media users to have him and other ministers who attended the event at Ratjomose Barracks prosecuted for violating Covid-19 restrictions. Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro had announced just a day before the Major General Lekhanya’s funeral fresh regulations limiting attendances at funerals to 20 people comprising of 10 relatives and 10 others responsible for digging the grave.
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MASERU- PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro says he was surprised and shocked when he saw on TV a huge crowd at the funeral service of Major General Metsing Lekhanya and his wife last week.
MASERU- PRIME Minister Moeketsi Majoro says he was surprised and shocked when he saw on TV a huge crowd at the funeral service of Major General Metsing Lekhanya
Lekhanya dies
MASERU-MAJOR General Metsing Lekhanya, who toppled the Leabua Jonathan-led government in a bloodless coup in 1986, has died.
He was 82.
Lekhanya toppled the BNP government on January 20, 1986 and imposed a military regime that ruled Lesotho for the next five years.
Major General Lekhanya, who was diabetic, died at the Makoanyane Military Hospital in Maseru.
He also suffered from high blood pressure.
His family says they are still awaiting post mortem results to ascertain the cause of death.
The family spokesman, Tšepo Lekhanya, said the former army commander suffered from chronic illnesses.
“He was the backbone of the family. He was our father,” Lekhanya said.