Lesotho: National Assembly, 3 June 2017

At stake in this election:

• 120 seats in the National Assembly

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Thomas Motsoahae Thomas THABANE (since 16 June 2017)
• Assembly: bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate with 33 seats and the National Assembly with 120 seats

Description of electoral system:

• The king is the hereditary chief of state.
• 80 members of the National Assembly are directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 40    are directly elected through proportional representation. All members serve 5-year terms.

Last Election:

• The Democratic Congress won the largest share of seats in the National Assembly, followed closely by the All Basotho      Convention. In the upcoming election, some new parties will stand to gain seats for the first time.

Main candidates in the election:

• Democratic Congress
  • Leader: Pakalitha MOSISILI
  • Seats won in last election: 47
• All Basotho Convention​
  • Leader: Motsoahae Thomas THABANE
  • Seats won in last election: 46
• Lesotho Congress for Democracy 
  • Leader: Mothetjoa METSING
  • Seats won in last election: 12
• Alliance of Democrats
  • Leader: Monyane MOLELEKI
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• Movement for Economic Change
  • Leader: Selibe MOCHOBOROANE
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• Basotho National Party
  • Leader: Thesele MASERIBANE
  • Seats won in last election: 7
• Popular Front for Democracy
  • Leader: Lekhetho RAKUOANE
  • Seats won in last election: 2

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 1,958,042
• Registered Voters: 1,253,540

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 292,155
• Is Lesotho a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)
• Has Lesotho ratified CEDAW: Yes (22 August 1995)
• Gender Quota: Yes
• Female candidates in this election: Yes
• Number of Female Parliamentarians: 27
• Human Development Index Position: 160
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low

Disability Data:

• Is Lesotho a signatory to CRPD: No
• Has Lesotho ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (2 December 2008)
• Population with a disability: 292,155