CAR AT BORDER BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND LESOTHO: MASERU TOWNSHIP: ELECTION SCENES: VOTERS AT POLLING BOOTH: CHIEF JONATHAN INTERVIEWED.




Initials PK/VS/JF/BJ



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Background: THE PRIME MINISTER OF LESOTHO, CHIEF LEABUA JONATHAN, HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN THE COUNTRY AND SUSPENDED THE CONSTRUCTION IN THE WAKE OF THE FIRST ELECTION SI??? INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN IN 1966 CHIEF JONATHAN TODAY (FRIDAY) ARRESTED OPPOSITION LEADER NTSU MEKHEHLE WHO CLAIMED THAT HIS BASUIDLAND CONGRESS PARTY HAD WON THE ELECTION.

CHIEF JONATHAN, WHO HEADS THE RULING BASOTHO NATIONAL PARTY, ANNOUNCED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND SUSPENSION OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN A NATION-WIDE BROADCAST.

CONFUSION SURROUNDED THE ACTUAL POSITION IN THE ELECTION, IN WHICH POLLING BEGAN THREE DAYS AGO.

THE ELECTION WAS SEEN AS CRUCIAL IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL BALANCE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.

A VICTORY TO MEKHELE'S BASUTOLAND PARTY COULD TURN LESOTHO AWAY FROM CHIEF JONATHAN'S POLICY OF CO-OPERATION AND CO-EXISTENCE WITH SOUTH AFRICA, ONTO A NEW COURSE OF PAN-AFRICANISM.

ABOUT 374,000 PEOPLE WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR 164 CANDIDATES CONTESTING 60 SEATS IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT.