UNDP Chief Elections Advisor Shalva Tskhakaya in cooperation with the IEC Legal Director Mr. Lehlohonolo Suping conducted a 2-day roundtable discussion workshop with the IEC Electoral Tribunal on the International Standards and best practices of election dispute resolution.  

The goal of the Workshops was to enable the Electoral Tribunal to understand the international standards and obligations of Lesotho in election dispute resolution, to practice the important aspects of hearing processes including collection and evaluation of evidence, distributing burden of proof, collecting witness and expert testimonies, making determinations and drafting decisions, communicating the decisions to stakeholders and general public.  

The Workshop was inaugurated by the IEC Director of Elections Adv. Mpaiphele Maqutu who thanked UNDP for supporting the election process and in particular supporting the tribunal with acquiring requisite skills for adjudicating disputes based on mandate given to the tribunal under the National Assembly Election Act 2011.

Director of Elections also stressed the importance of the independence of the tribunal, noting that the recruitment of the tribunal was outsourced to ensure minimal engagement of the IEC. 

UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Betty Wabunoha thanked the tribunal panel for serving in such a necessary and demanding role and noted that UNDP continues its support to consolidate IEC’s institutional and human resources capacity for the implementation of the electoral process which will ensure the free, fair and credible elections in Lesotho. 

Three panel members and IEC secretariat legal staff benefited from the workshop which included topics related to Hearing procedure, decision drafting, legal standing, burden of proof and standard of evidence, adequate remedies and sanction, it also included practical exercises on educating stakeholders on election dispute resolution as well as distribution of duties among the tribunal panel members.  

The Workshop is part of the UNDP election assistance efforts for the upcoming National Assembly elections of October 7, 2022.