Lelala v Basotho National Party and Others (CIV/APN 156 of 98) [1998] LSCA 39 (6 May 1998)

CIV/APN/156/98 IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In the matter between:- T S O LO L E L A LA A P P L I C A NT and B A S O T HO N A T I O N AL P A R TY R E T S E L I S I T S OE S E K H O N Y A NA L E S E T E LI M A L E F A NE 1 ST R E S P O N D E NT 2 ND R E S P O N D E NT 3 RD R E S P O N D E NT J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by the H o n o u r a b le M r s. Justice K. J. G u ni on the 0 6 th d ay of M a y, 1 9 98 T h e re is a dispute regarding the elections for B MP N o m i n a t i on for c a n d i d a cy to stand for the c o m i ng general elections at HA M A A MA constituency. It a p p e a rs only t wo candidates entered the race in that p r i m a ry elections. T he applicant herein is o ne of the contestants in the said primarily elections. He describes h i m s e lf in his F o u n d i ng Affidavit as a m e m b er of the B NP M A A MA C o n s t i t u e n cy N o . 4 0. He is also a m e m b er of t wo other C o m m i t t e es of B NP i.e the E x e c u t i ve C o m m i t t ee a nd (the W o r k i ng C o m m i t t e e. 2 T he other contestant in the p r i m a ry elections h e ld at HA M A A MA C o n s t i t u e n cy is the 3 rd respondent herein. He is d e s c r i b ed in the applicant's F o u n d i ng Affidavit as the m e m b er of B NP M A A MA C o n s t i t u e n c y. A p p l i c a nt a nd 3 rd r e s p o n d e nt w i sh a nd are desirous to be elected a nd /or n o m i n a t ed to stand as BNP c a n d i d a t es at HA M A A MA C o n s t i t u e n cy in this c o m i ng general elections. T h e re are quite a n u m b er of facts w h i ch are in the c o m m on c a u se in this present applicant. 1. It is established that on 5/04/98 a nd 14/4/98 the elections for n o m i n a t i on to stand as a B NP candidate in this c o m i ng general election at HA M A A MA constituency w e re held. 2. It is also established that in the c o n d u ct of the said elections, on the 5th a nd 14th A p r i l ' 98 there w e re s o me errors w h i ch w e re c o m m i t t e d. A t t e m p ts w e re m a de to rectify s o me of t h em t h o u gh n ot successfully. T h e re is therefore a n e ed to finally rectify those m i s t a k e s. 3. T h o se m i s t a k es m u st be rectified w h e re they o c c u r r ed by the p e o p le w ho are m o st c o n c e r n ed a nd h a ve a right to do so. T he p r o p o s ed m a n n er by either party for rectification of t h o se errors differ significantly. T he court h as d e c i d ed to f o l l ow its o wn route different f r om a ny route s u g g e s t ed by e a ch party in their prayers. Y ou m ay w o n d er a little w hy a nd h ow c an the court give y ou w h at y ou h a ve n ot specifically a s k ed for in y o ur p r a y e r s. L et me hasten to a dd that T he a n s w er will be f o u nd in fact in y o ur p r a y e r s. E v e ry litigant r e c o g n i s es t he p o w er a nd authority of t he court to d e c i de as it thinks fit. E v e ry litigant c o n c l u d es his or h er p r a y e rs by a s k i ng the c o u rt to grant further a n d / or alternative relief as it s e es fit. It is in the light of t h o se p r a y e rs a nd the c i r c u m s t a n c es of this c a se that w h en this application w as initially p l a c ed b e f o re H o n o u r a b le Mr Justice S P E E TE AJ he forth w i th i s s u ed o ut the rule in the f o l l o w i ng t e r m s :- T h at the I N D E P E N D E NT E L E C T O R AL C O M M I S S I ON is h e r e by interdicted f r om filing in a n o m i n a t i on for the M A A MA C O N S T I T U E N CY relating to the parties herein p e n d i ng finalisation h e r e of 2. T he matter is p o s t p o n ed to the 2 9 th d ay of April, 1 9 9 8. 3. Applicant is authorised to file s u ch further s u p p l e m e n t a ry affidavits by the 21st d ay of April, 1 9 98 as m ay be necessary. 4. R e s p o n d e n ts are permitted to file s u ch o p p o s i ng affidavits as m ay be necessary by Friday the 24th April, 1 9 9 8. T he parties h a ve filed as o r d e r ed the appropriate p a p e r s. T h o se p a p e rs h a ve b e en thoroughly p e r u s e d. T he m a t t er w as h e a rd on 2 9 / 4 / 98 as o r d e r e d. T he a r g u m e n ts m a de on 2 9 / 4 / 98 by the c o u n s el for applicant a nd r e s p o n d e n ts h a ve b e en m o st eloquent a nd helpful. T he time is n ot on o ur side. T he n u m b er of d a ys within w h i ch the n o m i n a t i o n s, of candidates for 1 9 98 general elections s h o u ld be m a d e, is steadily diminishing. I h a ve therefore f o u nd it expedient to allow the p e o p le of HA M A A MA C o n s t i t u e n cy w ho are the final a nd ultimate authority as regards the d e t e r m i n a t i on of w ho s h o u ld represent t h em to exercise their right w h i ch e n a b l es t h em to participate in g o v e r n m e n t. T he S u p r e me L aw of the land " 1 9 93 constitution of L e s o t h o" so d e m a n ds by enshrining e v e ry citizen's right to v o te his or h er representative to parliament. T he R u le N I SI issued out by H o n o u r a b le Mr Justice S P E E TE AJ on 18th April 1 9 98 is finally d i s c h a r g ed a nd the following o r d er is m a de as a final o r d er in this matter.. It is ordered that:- 1. T he C o n s t i t u e n cy C o m m i t t ee of HA M A A MA is directed to a r r a n ge for n ew constituency elections of candidates following to the letter a nd spirit the provisions of Legal Notice N o 38 of 1 9 98 m o re particularly constituency b o u n d a r i es as s h o wn in that notice. 2. T h o se p r i m a ry elections m u st be held within s e v en d a ys f r om the date of this order. 3. T he 3 rd respondent is recused f r om his m e m b e r s h ip of the constituency c o m m i t t ee of HA M A A M A, only in the preparations for that constituency's p r i m a ry elections w h i ch are to be held following this court order for the n o m i n a t i on of the candidate to represent B NP at this c o m i ng general elections.. 4. A p p l i c a nt a nd 3rd r e s p o n d e nt should contest the said p r i m a ry elections in that constituency of HA M A A M A, on the date w h i ch m u st o c c ur within s e v en d a ys of this order. T h at date of Constituency elections to be held following this order m u st be a n n o u n c ed by the election officer appointed to c o n d u ct s u ch elections. T h at a n n o u n c e m e nt m u st be m a de at least t wo d a ys before the said constituency elections take place. 5. T he electors should satisfy the election officers that they qualify to v o te in that HA M A A MA constituency in this c o m i ng general elections. T he contestants of the said elections or their agents m u st also be so satisfied that those taking part in that election are p e o p le w ho are entitled to vote in that particular constituency. 6. T he Executives C o m m i t t ee of 1st r e s p o n d e nt ( B N P) is directed by this order to appoint i m m e d i a t e ly at least w i t h in 48 h o u rs of this o r d er a p e r s on or t wo p e r s o ns w ho in its opinion are of h i gh calibre a nd integrity to c o n d u ct the said c o n s t i t u e n cy p r i m a ry elections. 7. T he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e nt is o r d e r ed to f o r go a ny p o w e rs w h i ch he m i g ht h a ve as a leader of B NP in t e r ms of B NP Constitution, to v a ry or v e to the o u t c o me of the aforesaid elections. 8. T he constituency elections to be h e ld m u st be c o n d u c t ed by secret ballot. T he voters m u st n ot be subjected to the voting m a n n er that e x p o s es t h em to intimidation a nd other electoral m a l p r a c t i c es s u ch as lining b e h i nd the c a n d i d a te of y o ur c h o i ce or s h o w i ng by h a nd or a ny gesture that a v o t er h as or i n t e n ds to v o te of a ny particular candidate. In all respects the c o n d u ct of the elections as o r d e r ed by this court m u st be in a c c o r d a n ce w i th the constitution of B NP in so far as it is consistent w i th the 1 9 93 L e s o t ho constitution. In t e r ms of section 2 0 ( l ) ( b) constitution of L e s o t ho 1 9 9 3, " E v e ry citizen shall e n j oy t he right to v o te or s t a nd for election at periodic elections u n d er this constitution a nd u n d er the s y s t em of universal suffrage a nd secret ballot." 9. T he s e c o nd r e s p o n d e nt s h o u ld forthwith or at least w i t h in 48 h o u rs of receipt by h im of the election results, f o r w a rd the n a me of the d u ly elected c a n d i d a te to the I n d e p e n d e nt Electoral C o m m i s s i o n. 1 0. I n d e p e n d e nt Electoral C o m m i s s i on is h e r e by o r d e r ed to register forthwith s u ch candidate as duly n o m i n a t ed by First r e s p o n d e nt and/or on its behalf a nd publish s u ch n o m i n a t i on accordingly. 11. E a ch party m u st bear its o wn costs. K . J . G U NI J U D GE M a y, 1 9 98 F or the Applicant: Mr M o s i to a nd M e t l ae F or the C r o w n: Mr Ntlhoki