Tensions at Lesotho Football Federation ahead of Electoral Commission elections
With the Electoral Commission elections scheduled for November 9 just days away, the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) is rocked by internal tensions. Salemane Phafane, the association’s president since 2005, is facing growing opposition, while FIFA plans to send a delegation to monitor the situation on the ground.
A presidency under pressure
A lawyer by profession, Phafane is one of the most experienced federation presidents in southern Africa, especially since Walter Nyamilandu’s defeat in Malawi last year. Re-elected with a large majority in 2021 for a fifth term, he is already preparing for the 2025 elections. However, the mood within the LeFA is tense ahead of the appointment of the members of the electoral commission, a key step for the future of his presidency.
Division at the top of the LeFA
Tensions escalated when Phafane took the electoral commission nomination files home, an act that greatly upset First Vice President Khiba Mohoanyane. Mohoanyane, now the leader of the internal opposition, denounces the president’s methods and intends to report the incident to higher authorities. The appointment of the electoral commission is now a crucial issue for both sides, each seeking to position people who are favourable to their interests to influence the upcoming elections.
FIFA intervention
In this tense context, FIFA sent an official letter to LeFA to confirm the sending of a delegation, aimed at ensuring the transparency of the electoral processes. Other cases could still come to light between now and the 2025 elections, heralding new twists and turns in this battle for control of the federation.
Conclusion
At the Lesotho Football Association, the upcoming Electoral Commission elections are crystallising tensions between President Phafane and his opposition. FIFA’s intervention underlines the importance of transparency in the process, as the future of the LeFA leadership could be redefined.
