THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO COMBINED SECOND TO EIGHTH PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS AND INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA both countries have put in place measures aimed to ease movement between Lesotho and South Africa. The government of South Africa offers Lesotho Special Permit (LSP) for those who work in the informal sector such as domestic work, construction and others. ARTICLE 13: RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT Constitutional and legislative measures 99. Section 20 of the Constitution of Lesotho enshrines every citizen’s right to participate in government. This includes the right to part in the conduct of public affairs,40 vote and stand for elections.41 100. Lesotho is a democratic constitutional monarch with a Prime Minister elected by parliament following a National Assembly Elections under a system of universal and equal suffrage and secret ballot after every five (5) years. The legal framework of elections in Lesotho consist of the Constitution as well as the National Assembly Electoral Act 2011 and Local Government Elections Act 1998. Electoral model 101. At the time of submission of this report Lesotho has held ten (10) National Assembly Elections and different electoral models which were changed due to Lesotho’s turbulent political history and post-elections related violence. The first National Assembly Elections were held in 1965, prior to independence, followed by the 1970 elections, during which the then Prime Minister declared a state of emergency and took over power for sixteen years, which regime was ousted through a military coup in 1986. Lesotho restored democratic rule in 1993 although the third parliament was dissolved through what has 40 41 Constitution of Lesotho section 20(1) (a). Constitution of Lesotho section 20(1) (b). 47

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