Deputy President and SADC Facilitator Cyril Ramaphosa will pay his 10th visit to Maseru today.

The two-day visit is part of efforts to create a climate conducive for the holding of the February 2015 elections in that country.

During his visit, the Deputy President is expected to pay a courtesy call to King Letsie III. He will also hold consultations with various political and religious leaders, the College of Chiefs, leaders of the non-governmental sector, including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), to consolidate efforts towards the holding of free, fair and democratic elections as provided for in the Maseru Facilitation Declaration.

The decision to hold elections in February 2015 arises from the provisions of the Maseru Facilitation Declaration signed by all Lesotho's political parties and is in line with agreements reached by the Summit of SADC Troika of Heads of State and Government plus DRC and Tanzania, which met in Windhoek and Pretoria early this year.

Lesotho's Parliament dissolved on Friday, 5 November to prepare for elections set for 28 February 2015.

According to the constitution, elections should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of Parliament. As soon as the date is announced, campaigning will begin in earnest.

The IEC says it is ready and the United Nations is currently involved in the education of voters for the upcoming polls.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Tuesday welcomed Lesotho's political progress, calling for an environment conducive to peaceful and credible elections in the African nation.

A statement issued by Ban's spokesperson said the Secretary-General noted the recent announcement by King Letsie III that national elections will be held on 28 February 2015.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the progress achieved so far in the efforts to uphold democratic principles and secure the restoration of political stability and security in the Kingdom," the statement said.

Ban encouraged "all Basotho leaders to comply with the Maseru Facilitation Declaration and work together in a spirit of compromise to ensure an environment conducive to peaceful and credible elections".

Ban also reaffirmed the UN's continued commitment to support the efforts of the government and the people of Lesotho to consolidate peace in the kingdom.

Surrounded by South Africa, the small kingdom of Lesotho, held its last elections in May 2012, which ended up in an unstable coalition government.

The latest political turmoil started in June when Prime Minister Thomas Thabane suspended Parliament to avoid a vote of no confidence that was being pushed by his coalition government partners.