Marematlou Freedom Party
Encyclopedia
The Marematlou Freedom Party is a political party
in Lesotho
. It was originally formed in 1956 by Chief Seepheephe Matete and members of his Bafokeng clan as a pressure group called the Marema Tlou (Unity Party but literally: Elephant Choppers) that succeeded in installing Constantine Bereng Seeiso (King Moshoeshoe II from October 1966 onwards) as paramount chief in 1960. It won the district of Mokhotlong in the 1960 election. Later it joined with Bennet Khaketla's Freedom Party to become the Marematlou Freeom Party, a hybrid royalist and South African ANC/SACP backed party, with considerable good will from the British before the Rothe Massacre. It won four seats in the 1965 election and cost the Basutoland Congress Party (BCP) government, ushering in the Basotho National Party (BNP). It faded rapidly and in 1970 won a single seat out of sixty when the BCP candidate was prevented from registering. Clement Leepa, a disaffected police commander and MFP supporter, led initial armed resistance to the BNP coup of January 1970 but was shot dead later in the year. After the 1986 Lekhanya military coup Bennet Khaketla (a renown Sesotho writer) accepted a post as a minister. In the 2002 legislative elections
for the National Assembly
, the party won 1.2% of the popular vote and 1 out of 120 seats. It kept this seat in the 17 February 2007 parliamentary election.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
. It was originally formed in 1956 by Chief Seepheephe Matete and members of his Bafokeng clan as a pressure group called the Marema Tlou (Unity Party but literally: Elephant Choppers) that succeeded in installing Constantine Bereng Seeiso (King Moshoeshoe II from October 1966 onwards) as paramount chief in 1960. It won the district of Mokhotlong in the 1960 election. Later it joined with Bennet Khaketla's Freedom Party to become the Marematlou Freeom Party, a hybrid royalist and South African ANC/SACP backed party, with considerable good will from the British before the Rothe Massacre. It won four seats in the 1965 election and cost the Basutoland Congress Party (BCP) government, ushering in the Basotho National Party (BNP). It faded rapidly and in 1970 won a single seat out of sixty when the BCP candidate was prevented from registering. Clement Leepa, a disaffected police commander and MFP supporter, led initial armed resistance to the BNP coup of January 1970 but was shot dead later in the year. After the 1986 Lekhanya military coup Bennet Khaketla (a renown Sesotho writer) accepted a post as a minister. In the 2002 legislative elections
Elections in Lesotho
Lesotho elects a legislature on national level. The Parliament has two chambers: the National Assembly with 120 members, elected for a five-year term, 80 in single-seat constituencies and 40 by proportional representation; and the Senate, with 33 nominated members.Lesotho is a one party dominant...
for the National Assembly
National Assembly of Lesotho
The National Assembly of Lesotho is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament.The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 17 February 2007, has a total of 120 members. 80 members are elected in single member constituencies using the simple majority system...
, the party won 1.2% of the popular vote and 1 out of 120 seats. It kept this seat in the 17 February 2007 parliamentary election.