A newly formed party led by rich diamond magnate Sam Matekane is expected to win the most seats in the Lesotho parliament, according to preliminary results from Friday’s election.
Coup plots, party infighting, and floor-crossing have all plagued politics in the southern African country, leading to unstable coalition governments.
Over 50 of the 80 seats have reported their results, signaling a change in the political landscape. Mr. Matekane’s Revolution For Prosperity party, which he founded in March, currently holds 41 seats. The All Basotho Convention, the ruling party at the moment, has failed to gain any traction in the polls.
The Independent Electoral Commission has said it is likely to announce the final results on Tuesday. The National Assembly of Lesotho has a total of 120 seats. Eighty members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by first-past-the-post from single-seat constituencies, and the remaining 40 are elected via proportional representation.