Diamond magnate on course for Lesotho poll win

Partial results from Friday's parliamentary election in Lesotho show that a recently founded party led by millionaire diamond magnate Sam Matekane is on course to get the largest number of seats.

The southern African country's politics have been marred by coup plots, infighting within parties and floor-crossing which has often led to unstable coalition governments.

With the results in from more than half the 80 constituencies, the political landscape is set for major change.

The Revolution For Prosperity party, which was formed in March by Mr Matekane, has 41 seats.

The current governing party - the All Basotho Convention - has so far not won a single seat.

Lesotho's National Assembly is made up of 120 seats. Eighty MPs are elected from single-seat constituencies on a first-past-the-post basis and the other 40 using a proportional representation system.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Reuters