Marematlou Freedom Party

Lesotho

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The Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP) is a political party in Lesotho.

History

The party was established in December 1962 by a meger of the Freedom Party and the Marema-Tlou Party (MTP).^[1] Soon after its formation several members of the Basutoland Congress Party defected to the MFP.^[1]

When former MTP leader Seepheephe Matete was replaced as party president by Seth Makototko he broke away to re-establish the MTP as a separate party.^[2] Both contested the 1965 general elections, with the MFP winning four seats with 16.5% of the vote and the MTP no seats with 2.2% of the vote.

In the 1970 general elections the party's vote share fell to 7%, resulting in it being reduced to a single seat.

When multi-party democrarcy was restored in the 1990s the party contested the 1993 elections, receiving 1.4% of the vote and failing to wni a seat. It remained seatless after receiving 1.3% of the vote in the 1998 elections. Despite its vote share falling to 1.2% in the 2002 elections, the party won a seat due to the new proportional electoral system. It retained the single seat in the 2007, 2012 and 2015 elections.

References

1 2 Scott Rosenberg, Richard F Weisfelder & Michell Frisbie-Fulton (2003) Historical Dictionary of Lesotho, Scarecrow Press, p222
↑ Rosenberg et al., p223

Political parties in Lesotho

Lesotho Congress for Democracy Democratic Congress National Independent Party All Basotho Convention Lesotho Workers' Party Alliance of Congress Parties Lesotho People's Congress Basutoland African Congress Basutoland Congress Party Basotho National Party Basotho Democratic National Party Basotho Batho Democratic Party Popular Front for Democracy Marematlou Freedom Party

Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Lesotho

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