Maseru - The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) has won Lesotho's first democratic local government elections held on April 30 this year.
The results of the elections were announced on Monday by the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, Leshele Thoahlane.
Only 30 percent of the 830 000 people registered to vote actually did so.
"Elections have gone very well. As far as we are concerned the percentage of people who voted in these election was very good considering that they were the first elections of their kind in this country.
"There was a lot of work to do in these elections than in the general elections. Logistics were a major challenge for us since we had more polling stations than we normally have in the general elections," said Thoahlane.
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He said the campaign by seven opposition parties to have the elections postponed on grounds that there were some irregularities and discrepancies in the preparations for the elections may have had some influence on the low voter turnout.
While precise figures were not yet available, it was clear that the ruling LCD led by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili had won the elections by a large margin.
Independent candidates did the next best, followed the Basotho National Party, the Lesotho People's Congress and smaller parties.
Thoahlane said there were failed elections in about 15 electoral divisions.
"The failed elections were caused by deaths of candidates in those electoral divisions. We intend to elections in those areas as soon as possible. We cannot put the date now. But we intend to hold them before the end of June.
"In the case of failed elections political parties will have to nominate new candidates and elections can only be held after that," he said.
Prior to the elections, opposition parties in and outside Parliament expressed concern about the lack of civic and voter education and absence of detailed electoral regulations. - Sapa
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