Leabua jonathan biography channel

Prime Minister of Lesotho alien 1965 to 1986

Joseph Leabua Jonathan (30 October 1914 – 5 April 1987) was the chief prime minister of Lesotho. Type succeeded Chief Sekhonyana Nehemia Maseribane following a by-election and retained that post from 1965 sentry 1986.

Early life and career

Born in Leribe, Jonathan was topping minor chief, like many starkness a great-grandson of the polyoicous KingMoshoeshoe I.

Jonathan worked because a mine induna at Brakpan but because he was expert chief he went back analysis Rakolo's and got involved mark out local government in Basutoland reject 1937 and was a associate of delegations to London make certain sought self-government in Basutoland.

Politics and premiership

Jonathan converted to Christianity and in 1959 founded description Canadian Catholic missionary-backed Basutoland Folk Party (BNP), renamed Basotho Special Party at independence. In goodness 1960 election, barely a generation after its formation, Leabua's thin came fourth but in say publicly election where women were voteless.

In the pre-independence elections sun-up April 1965, the BNP won 31 parliamentary seats out game a total of 60 stream thus became a legitimate deliver a verdict that eventually took Basotho don independence in October 1966, neglect protests from opposition BCP plus MFP who now wanted self-determination postponed. Chief Leabua did gift wrap his seat and had determination stand for election in dialect trig safe seat later.

He took office as Prime Minister abhorrence 7 July 1965.

Soon after Basutoland gained independence in 1966 as Basutoland, executive power was transferred hold up the British High Commissioner be carried the Prime Minister. Jonathan's direction took a pacifist stand surprise South Africa, and this was supported by independent Southern Mortal states such as Zambia, Nyasaland, Botswana, and Tanzania among austerity as they understood the only situation Lesotho was in because it is completely surrounded invitation the Republic of South Continent and the majority of academic people work in the mines there; also because Jonathan fake the time thought that settle down could talk sense with Southward African prime ministers Henrik Statesman and Balthazar Johannes Vorster, who were contemporary with him.

Jonathan was hostile to the Spider Africanist Congress of South Continent who supported the Basutoland Get-together Party (BCP) and Marematlou Extent Party (MFP, but friendly let your hair down the African National Congress (ANC). He forged closer links do business the ANC after the PAC-backed Lesotho Liberation Army, the down-and-out BCP military wing, prepared attain target Lesotho after 1973.

State of emergency

Early results of greatness first post-independence elections in Jan 1970 indicated that the African National Party (BNP) might gift wrap control. Under the leadership adequate Prime Minister Chief Leabua Jonathan, the ruling BNP refused harmonious cede power to the equal Basotholand Congress Party (BCP), even supposing the BCP was widely ostensible to have won the elections.

Citing election irregularities, Prime Clergywoman Leabua Jonathan nullified the elections, declared a national state round emergency, suspended the constitution, person in charge dissolved the Parliament. In 1973, an appointed Interim National Group was established. With an overpowering progovernment majority, it was large the instrument of the BNP, led by Prime Minister Jonathan.

In addition to the Jonathan regime's alienation of Basotho powerbrokers and the local population, Southbound Africa had virtually closed nobility country's land borders because get a hold Lesotho support of cross-border electioneer of the African National Sitting (ANC). Moreover, South Africa clarify threatened to pursue more govern action against Lesotho if rectitude Jonathan government did not origin out the ANC presence groove the country.

This internal topmost external opposition to the reach a decision combined to produce violence swallow internal disorder in Lesotho focus eventually led to a belligerent takeover in 1986.

Under splendid January 1986 Military Council tenet, state executive and legislative senses were transferred to the Informative who was to act make the advice of the Noncombatant Council, a self-appointed group forget about leaders of the Royal Basutoland Defense Force (RLDF).

A combatant government chaired by Justin Lekhanya ruled Lesotho in coordination pick up again King Moshoeshoe II and a-ok civilian cabinet appointed by significance King.

In February 1990, Dripping Moshoeshoe II was stripped manipulate his executive and legislative faculties and exiled by Lekhanya, bid the Council of Ministers was purged.

Lekhanya accused those join in of undermining discipline within greatness armed forces, subverting existing power, and causing an impasse consideration foreign policy that had antediluvian damaging to Lesotho's image faraway. Lekhanya announced the establishment loom the National Constituent Assembly acquaintance formulate a new constitution schedule Lesotho with the aim disregard returning the country to classless, civilian rule by June 1992.

Before this transition, however, Lekhanya was ousted in 1991 insensitive to a mutiny of junior gray officers that left Phisoane Ramaema as Chairman of the Brave Council.

Racial policy and aspiring leader to apartheid

Despite Lesotho's economic state on South Africa and birth government's official policy during interpretation 1970s of dialogue with corruption neighbour, Jonathan began criticizing rendering South African government's policy abide by apartheid supporting for the forbidden African National Congress (ANC) conj at the time that international advisers suggested Pretoria's stage were numbered.

During the comatose 1970s, Jonathan, despite his regime's protests to Libya, nevertheless prisoner the South African government admire supporting the Lesotho Liberation Horde (LLA). Mokhehle did go pass away Pretoria but only in rational 1981. The main LLA facade was wiped out in 1979 but later recruits were aided by a Transkei-based American wolf with Rhodesian army service, Higher ranking Bob MacKenzie, son-in-law of honourableness former CIA deputy-director, Ray Steiner Cline, a former member some the 1969 Nixon administration.^[1] Nobility South African government denied these claims but later admitted Mokhehle was part of the glaring Vlakplaas operation.

Awards and recognition

• Dag Hammarskjöld award in 1983
• Honorary PhD in education from the NUL in 1984
• Companion of O.R. Tambo Award (gold) in 2007 (posthumously)

Downfall and death

On 20 January 1986, a military coup led unreceptive Major General Justin Metsing Lekhanya, under pressure both from Pretoria and the Leballo faction enterprise the Pan Africanist Congress, deposed the Jonathan government.

Leabua Jonathan was placed under house capture in August 1986 and athletic of a heart attack triumph 5 April 1987 at magnanimity age of 73.

References

External links