Lesotho general election, 1998

General elections were held in Lesotho on 24 May 1998, except in the Moyeni constituency, where voting was postponed until 1 August due to the death of one of the candidates.^[1] The result was a comprehensive victory for the new Lesotho Congress for Democracy, which claimed 79 of the 80 seats. The party was formed by a breakaway from the Basutoland Congress Party, which had won the 1993 elections.

Of the 1,017,753 registered voters, 593,955 valid votes.^[2]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/-
Lesotho Congress for Democracy	359,764	60.7	79	New
Basotho National Party	145,210	24.5	1	+1
Basotho Congress Party	62,313	10.5	0	-65
Marematlou Freedom Party	7,546	1.3	0	0
Sefate Democratic Union	3,160	0.5	0	New
Popular Front for Democracy	3,077	0.5	0	0
National Progressive Party	2,897	0.5	0	New
National Independent Party	1,644	0.3	0	0
Congress for Democracy Party	1,185	0.2	0	New
Kopanang Basotho Party	174	0.0	0	0
Lesotho Education Party	92	0.0	0	0
Independents	6,536	1.1	0	0
Total	595,955	100	80	+15
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

1. Lesotho: 1998 National Assembly election results EISA
2. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p501 ISBN 0-19-829645-2