1970 Lesotho general election

General elections were held in Lesotho on 27 and 28 January 1970, the first since independence in 1966. They were won by the opposition Basutoland Congress Party,[1] but without announcing the results, the ruling Basotho National Party carried out a coup d'état by declaring a state of emergency, annulling the election, dissolving parliament and suspending the constitution.[2] King Moshoeshoe II was sent into exile after expressing disapproval of the actions.[2]

Leabua Jonathan then dictated the country until 1986 when a military coup d'état led by Major General Justin Lekhanya deposed him. Lesotho was not returned to democratic rule until the 1993 elections, which were again won by the BCP in a landslide victory.And this elections were also held in 1960 by the district council which were contested by the BCP ,MFP,BNP.The elections were won by the BCP which won 32 seats out of 40 seats and the remaining seats were shared by the MFP and BNP. And the BCP had a landslide victory.

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p. 502. ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  2. ^ a b Lesotho: Authoritarian rule, 1970-1991 EISA