The South African Council of Churches wishes to congratulate the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho on the successful completion of their General Election this week, trusting that the country will now look forward to being part of the New Plan for Africa's Development.

The weekend poll saw the ruling party, Lesotho Congress for Democracy win the election. But the expanded parliament, as a result of the newly introduced proportional representative system, will ensure that smaller political parties enjoy representation in parliament.

The General Secretary of the SACC, Dr Molefe Tsele, today congratulated all stakeholders responsible for the successful election in Lesotho: "We want to congratulate the electorate for going to the polls, the Independent Electoral Commission for the role they played to ensuring that the will of the people of Lesotho was expressed through the ballot box, and the Christian Council of Lesotho for being the voice and the conscience of the people in these difficult times."

Head of the SACC Justice Ministries Mr Eddie Makue, who was invited by the Christian Council of Lesotho to represent the SACC as part of the Observer's Team, said: "We salute the electorate of Lesotho for the commendable behaviour during the process leading up to the General Election. Again the ordinary people of Lesotho have shown their commitment to peace."

In so far as NEPAD was concerned, Makue said it was the expressed hope of the CCL and the SACC that NEPAD will contribute to the establishment of regional peace, with justice and prosperity as the "cornerstone of our democracies".

For more information call: Father Joe Mdhlela, Head: Communications at 082 456 5548.