Last Sunday the ruling party in Lesotho, LCD, had a conference to choose its executive committee. The current Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, retained his spot on top while two other men vied for the number-two role. Of course, this number-two man will be groomed to succeed Mosisili when he steps down. Of the two men competing to be the Prime Minister's successor one, Moleleki Monyane, was elected for a lower position within the executive committee: a sign of approval. The other, however, was left with nothing. He's a man who is known to be corrupt. He has been a part of the last three regimes in power in Lesotho. He got snubbed big time on Sunday evening.
Moleleki Monyane arrived home after the conference late that night, probably happy to have been given the hope of being the future Prime Minister. He stepped out of his car and gunshots rang out. He was hit in the arm.
On Wednesday the Peace Corps security assistant contacted me via my principal's cell phone to let me know about the above incident. Later, I asked some Basotho if they knew about it, and what their feelings were. They had heard. They knew it was political. They had a good idea who was behind it. Period. No disgust? I wondered. The leaders of the nation can send hitmen to dispatch their political opponents and you register no disgust? Is that just how the game is played here? The story wasn't even found on the front page of Lesotho's main newspaper this week.