Limakatso Mokhothu

Chairwoman
Independent Electoral Commission, Lesotho
Focus Area(s)
Elections
Critical Tasks
Election schedules
Voter registration
Interviewers
Amy Mawson
Country of Reform
Lesotho
Town/City
Maseru
Place (Building/Street)
Independent Electoral Commission
Country
Lesotho
Date of Interview
Monday, February 01, 2010
Abstract
Limakatso Mokhothu discusses the challenges of organizing Lesotho’s first snap election in 2007.  She highlights the difficulties the Independent Electoral Commission faced due to the short timeframe, weaknesses in the voter registration process, inadequate technological capacity, and the lack of engagement with political parties before the poll.  Mokhothu talks about the disputes that emerged following the election, particularly surrounding informal party alliances, and the political difficulties the commission faced in deciding how to manage the problems that informal party alliances created.  
 
 

Full Interview

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Limakatso Mokhothu Interview
Profile

Limakatso Mokhothu was nominated by one of Lesotho’s main political parties to serve as an electoral commissioner in 2003.  She was one of three commissioners who oversaw Lesotho’s controversial 2007 election.  The following year she was appointed chairwoman of the commission.  Before joining the Independent Electoral Commission, Mokhothu worked on governance issues at the Irish consulate in Lesotho.

Keywords
Lesotho
Voter Registration
voter education
Election Violence
election schedules
Election Management Body
Donor Relations
dispute resolution
codes of conduct
Not specified