- Title: BASUTOLAND: ELECTORS VOTE IN FIRST SELF-GOVERNMENT POLL
- Date: 30th April 1965
- Summary: 1. SV POSTER PAN TO VOTERS 0.08 2. CU SYMBOLS OF VARIOUS PARTIES (5 SHOTS) 0.20 3. SV POLICE STOP AND SEARCH CAR 0.28 4. LV PEOPLE WAIT TO VOTE (3 SHOTS) 0.42 5. LV POLLING STATION 0.45 6. CU VOTERS PLACE FINGER IN INDELIBLE INK AND CAST VOTES (2 SHOTS) 1.07 7. GV PEOPLE WAITING TO VOTE 1.13 Initials DS/V/WH/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 15th May 1965 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MASERU, BASUTOLAND
- Country: Lesotho
- Reuters ID: LVADV1ZF6JHU6GVXNK3NJFDN8813
- Story Text: AN ESTIMATED 300,000 PEOPLE WENT TO THE POLLS IN BASUTOLAND, IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, ON THURSDAY IN THE FIRST ELECTIONS FOR INTERNAL SELF-GOVERNMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE PROTECTORATE. IT WAS THE FIRST STEP, PROVIDING LAW AND ORDER ARE MAINTAINED FOR ONE YEAR, TO FULL INDEPENDENCE FOR BASUTOLAND IN TWELVE MONTHS TIME. BASUTOLAND IS AN ENCLAVE WITHIN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.
THE ELECTIONS PROVED TO BE A FIGHT BETWEEN FOUR MAIN PARTIES, TWO OF WHICH - THE BASUTOLAND CONGRESS PARTY AND THE MAREMATLOU FREEDOM PARTY - ARE PROGRESSIVE AND SOCIALIST IN OUTLOOK, AND THE BASUTOLAND NATIONAL PARTY AND MAREMATLOU PARTY WHICH FOLLOW A MORE CONSERVATIVE AND TRADITIONAL POLICY.
THE POLLS FOLLOWED AN INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN BY THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION TO ENCOURAGE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO CAST THEIR VOTES. BUT DESPITE THE CAMPAIGN THE ELECTIONS AROUSED CONSIDERABLE INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM AMONGST THE POPULATION AND MOST CENTRES REPORTED A HEAVY POLL. THREE OF THE PARTIES - THE B.C.P., THE M.F.P., AND THE B.N.P., CONTESTED ALL SIXTY SEATS IN THE NEW ASSEMBLY, WHILE THE MAREMATLOU PARTY CONTESTED ONLY 23 SEATS.
MAIN ISSUES IN THE ELECTION HAVE BEEN THE POSITIONS OF THE CHIEFS IN RELATION TO THE NEW CONSTITUTION AND RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA. UNDER THE CONSTITUTION THE CHIEFS WILL HAVE LIMITED AUTHORITY WHILE THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE ULTIMATE CONTROL. THE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS OPPOSE THIS, HOPING TO VEST THE PARAMOUNT CHIEF WITH THE STATUS OF A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCH. ON THE QUESTION OF RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA, THE VARIOUS PARTIES HAVE ACCEPTED INEVITABLE ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION WITH THE REPUBLIC.
TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NO DOUBLE VOTING EACH VOTER WAS REQUIRED TO DIP A FINGER IN INDELIBLE INK BEFORE BALLOTING. THE RESULT OF THE POLLS IS EXPECTED IN A FEW DAYS, AND THE NEW HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IS EXPECTED TO CONVENE ON MAY 10, THE DAY SET FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT IN BASUTOLAND.
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