The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will send a facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho to work with that country’s coalition government, as well as an observer team following reports of a “coup”.

At a SADC Troika meeting on Monday with the coalition government, SADC agreed to send a SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho to work with the Coalition Government as they implement the agreed roadmap.

“SADC further agreed to deploy an Observer Team on Politics, Defence and Security as a matter of urgency,” said the SADC Troika and the Coalition Government in a joint statement.

On Monday, South African President and SADC Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation Jacob Zuma met with the delegation of the Coalition Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The  Coalition consisted of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, the Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing and Morena T J Maseribane, Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation.

The meeting, which was held in Pretoria, discussed that country’s recent political and security developments where the Troika reiterated its commitment to remain seized with developments in that country.

The meeting reiterated the commitment in the Windhoek Declaration in which leaders of the coalition government committed to working together to restore political normalcy, stability, peace and security and law and order.

“The leaders of the coalition government agreed to expeditiously implement the declaration, by removing the Parliament prorogation, in particular. They agreed on the roadmap with clear timelines on how to remove the Parliament prorogation, which shall be submitted to the King,” said the SADC Troika and leaders.

The SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax also attended the meeting.

The meeting between the Chairperson of the Organ and the Leaders of the Coalition Government was preceded by the Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika plus Zimbabwe which is the Chair of SADC Council.

The meeting reviewed the political and security situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho on which the leaders of the Coalition Government highlighted that the political and security situation had deteriorated which needed immediate intervention and support from SADC.

Chairperson of the Organ welcomed the joint commitment of the leaders of the Coalition Government and pledged to render the SADC Troika full support with a view to speedily restore the stability and security in that country.

President Zuma appealed to the people of Lesotho to support the leaders as they work together to re-establish the political stability, security, and law and order.