Lesotho
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
Foreign donations are explicitly allowed.
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
Ban applies to donations exceeding M20, 000 [I$ 4,400].
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
Ban applies to donations exceeding M20,000 [I$ 4,400].
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
No data
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Art 70(2), 'A political party may, for the purpose of financing its campaign, appeal for and receive voluntary donations from any individual or organisation in or outside Lesotho and the source of every donation exceeding M20, 000 shall, within thirty days of its receipt, be disclosed to the Commission by the Secretary of the party.' (Source: National Assembly Electoral Act, 2011) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Art 70(2), 'A political party may, for the purpose of financing its campaign, appeal for and receive voluntary donations from any individual or organisation in or outside Lesotho and the source of every donation exceeding M20, 000 shall, within thirty days of its receipt, be disclosed to the Commission by the Secretary of the party.' (Source: National Assembly Electoral Act, 2011) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
No
|
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
|
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
No
|
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
|
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, in relation to campaigns
Comment
.
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
Party must have 500 members.
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal Proportional to votes received
Comment
For parties that did not participate in the previous election, distribution is equal; for those that did, proportional to votes received.
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Campaign spending
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Other
Comment
Allocation determined by EMB.
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Only to political parties |
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
No
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
No
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
No
Comment
Reporting is only required in relation to election campaigns.
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
EMB
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
No institution specified
|
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
Vote buying can lead to a fine or imprisonment.
|
