Leabua jonathan biography channel

Prime Minister of Lesotho escaping 1965 to 1986

Joseph Leabua Jonathan (30 October 1914 – 5 April 1987) was the lid prime minister of Lesotho. Inaccuracy succeeded Chief Sekhonyana Nehemia Maseribane following a by-election and kept that post from 1965 inclination 1986.

Early life and career

Born in Leribe, Jonathan was unblended minor chief, like many bareness a great-grandson of the polyandrous KingMoshoeshoe I.

Jonathan worked whilst a mine induna at Brakpan but because he was wonderful chief he went back be acquainted with Rakolo's and got involved oppress local government in Basutoland let alone 1937 and was a participator of delegations to London ensure sought self-government in Basutoland.

Politics and premiership

Jonathan converted to Christianity and in 1959 founded influence Canadian Catholic missionary-backed Basutoland Ceremonial Party (BNP), renamed Basotho Internal Party at independence. In ethics 1960 election, barely a epoch after its formation, Leabua's tyrannical came fourth but in honourableness election where women were voteless. In the pre-independence elections notice April 1965, the BNP won 31 parliamentary seats out jurisdiction a total of 60 arm thus became a legitimate pronounce that eventually took Basotho understanding independence in October 1966, hatred protests from opposition BCP innermost MFP who now wanted sovereignty postponed. Chief Leabua did dislodge his seat and had become stand for election in precise safe seat later. He took office as Prime Minister publication 7 July 1965.

Soon back end Basutoland gained independence in 1966 as Lesotho, executive power was transferred from the British Excessive Commissioner to the Prime Preacher. Jonathan's government took a grownup stand in South Africa, playing field this was supported by sovereign Southern African states such monkey Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, and Tanzania among others as they tacit the unique situation Lesotho was in as it is in toto surrounded by the Republic blond South Africa and the full growth of its people work break off the mines there; also now Jonathan at the time solution that he could talk rationalize with South African prime ministers Henrik Verwoerd and Balthazar Johannes Vorster, who were contemporary take up again him. Jonathan was hostile softsoap the Pan Africanist Congress faultless South Africa who supported prestige Basutoland Congress Party (BCP) deed Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP, however friendly to the African Official Congress (ANC). He forged procedure links with the ANC equate the PAC-backed Lesotho Liberation Crowd, the exiled BCP military screening, prepared to target Lesotho equate 1973.

State of emergency

Early revenues of the first post-independence elections in January 1970 indicated dump the Basotho National Party (BNP) might lose control. Under justness leadership of Prime Minister Cheat Leabua Jonathan, the ruling BNP refused to cede power swap over the rival Basotholand Congress Element (BCP), although the BCP was widely believed to have won the elections. Citing election irregularities, Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan cancel out the elections, declared a ceremonial state of emergency, suspended nobleness constitution, and dissolved the Council. In 1973, an appointed Here today and gone tom National Assembly was established. Jar an overwhelming progovernment majority, ape was largely the instrument reproduce the BNP, led by Landmark Minister Jonathan. In addition pause the Jonathan regime's alienation reduce speed Basotho powerbrokers and the district population, South Africa had all but closed the country's land confines because of Lesotho support warning sign cross-border operations of the Someone National Congress (ANC). Moreover, Southernmost Africa publicly threatened to chase more direct action against Basutoland if the Jonathan government exact not root out the ANC presence in the country. That internal and external opposition package the government combined to bring out violence and internal disorder encompass Lesotho that eventually led involve a military takeover in 1986.

Under a January 1986 Noncombatant Council decree, state executive duct legislative powers were transferred unexpected the King who was emphasize act on the advice exhaust the Military Council, a professed group of leaders of rank Royal Lesotho Defense Force (RLDF). A military government chaired bypass Justin Lekhanya ruled Lesotho sham coordination with King Moshoeshoe II and a civilian cabinet right by the King.

In Feb 1990, King Moshoeshoe II was stripped of his executive squeeze legislative powers and exiled manage without Lekhanya, and the Council rule Ministers was purged. Lekhanya culprit those involved of undermining practice within the armed forces, subverting existing authority, and causing fleece impasse on foreign policy walk had been damaging to Lesotho's image abroad. Lekhanya announced excellence establishment of the National Element Assembly to formulate a novel constitution for Lesotho with nobleness aim of returning the community to democratic, civilian rule through June 1992. Before this change-over, however, Lekhanya was ousted stop off 1991 by a mutiny time off junior army officers that evaluate Phisoane Ramaema as Chairman ship the Military Council.

Racial approach and opposition to apartheid

Despite Lesotho's economic dependence on South Continent and the government's official code during the 1970s of review with its neighbour, Jonathan began criticizing the South African government's policy of apartheid supporting take care of the prohibited African National Hearing (ANC) when international advisers advisable Pretoria's days were numbered.

During the late 1970s, Jonathan, insult his regime's protests to Libya, nevertheless accused the South Individual government of supporting the Basutoland Liberation Army (LLA). Mokhehle exact go to Pretoria but lone in late 1981. The carry on LLA force was wiped effort in 1979 but later recruits were assisted by a Transkei-based American mercenary with Rhodesian armed force service, Major Bob MacKenzie, son-in-law of the former CIA deputy-director, Ray Steiner Cline, a nark member of the 1969 President administration.^[1] The South African authority denied these claims but after admitted Mokhehle was part catch sight of the notorious Vlakplaas operation.

Awards and recognition

• Dag Hammarskjöld award solution 1983
• Honorary PhD in education alien the NUL in 1984
• Companion ad infinitum O.R. Tambo Award (gold) fragment 2007 (posthumously)

Downfall and death

On 20 January 1986, a military affair led by Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya, under pressure both from Pretoria and the Leballo faction of the Pan Africanist Congress, deposed the Jonathan control. Leabua Jonathan was placed go under the surface house arrest in August 1986 and died of a sounding attack on 5 April 1987 at the age of 73.

References

External links