Countdown to 2001 elections

As part of the countdown to Lesotho’s 2001 general elections, the first of two international experts to be attached to the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) arrived in Maseru on Thursday, UNDP told IRIN. Canadian technical advisor Barbara Reinhardus, who is sponsored by UNDP, is expected to be joined by Swedish election expert Jorgen Elklit, as part of a December all-party agreement to strengthen the capacity of the IEC in the run-up to elections slated for March/April 2001. Given the political violence that engulfed Lesotho following disputed elections in 1998, the credibility of the new IEC is seen as vital to the successful running of next year’s poll, a UNDP official said. Lack of preparation and political wrangling forced the postponement of the elections originally scheduled for April this year. The UN agency last month launched a US $250,000 governance and democratisation programme. “The project aims at supporting the democratisation process, peace-building, and national efforts to prevent the violent conflict that erupted after the announcement of the results of the general election of 1998,” a UNDP statement said. “It will assist the government of Lesotho to implement capacity building activities among supportive public institutions such as the public service, the army, the police and the judiciary to promote the rule of law,” UNDP said. Part of the funds will go towards supporting Lesotho’s all-party Interim Political Authority - formed in the wake of the 1998 political unrest - to promote “peace, reconciliation and political stability”. The IEC will also be assisted towards “consolidating Lesotho’s return to peace”.