Chinese-born businessman runs for parliament in tiny African country of Lesotho

Shanghai-born Zhenyu Shao is running as a local candidate for the parliamentary elections in the Ha-Tsolo constituency of the capital of Lesotho, Maseru. 

Shao, a businessperson, moved to Lesotho 25 years ago and naturalized as a citizen of the tiny, landlocked African state in 2006.    

Once a member of the sixth largest party by parliamentary seats, the Movement for Economic Change, Shao was denied a ticket to run in the election and broke off to form his own political movement, Basotho Pele, which means "Lesotho First."  

However, since Basotho Pele is not registered as an official political party, Shao will run as an independent candidate.  

As the leader of Basotho Pele, Shao, who goes by the English name Jason and is also known locally as 'Pule,' aims to focus on employment opportunities and reducing the country's reliance on imported products, should he be elected to parliament in the October 7th elections.    

"Lesotho should have its own firms that manufacture motor vehicles, spares, and electronic devices; we should also export items produced in the country," he said.  

Shao also vowed to improve crop and livestock farming through advanced methods, mentioning irrigation schemes, dry farming, and hybrid seed production.  

He continued by describing education as integral to the development of the economy and plans to improve education focusing on fields like engineering so the country could build better roads, dams, and buildings.  

"I will empower Basotho with relevant skills that will answer the needs of the country like artificial intelligence, automation, and blockchain technology," he further said.  

"Public safety and security of investors and their assets are key to the improvement of the economy of any country; hence, security agencies will be provided with proficient training to ensure the safety of all investments in the country," Shao went on to add, highlighting security concerns which often plague African nations.   

Shao is the first Chinese-born person to ever attempt to run for office in Lesotho and has received some pushback from local citizens who say that naturalized foreigners are still not entitled to enter politics in China, Shao's home country.   

A citizen who spoke to local media but wished not to be named said, "If Mr. Shao stands for elections, Lesotho would be opening a can of worms for other Chinese people to own everything they want and eventually take over the country."    

Another concerned Mosotho, Lehlohonolo Ramokoatsi, said, "The IEC (Independent Electoral Commission) should not have let him register in the first place, after all, his own country cannot allow any naturalized citizen to run for the presidency."   

However, Jason Zhenyu Shao is unperturbed as he looks to achieve something that no other Chinese-born Mosotho has ever done before.   

Shao is not the first Chinese-born person to make waves in African politics. Xiaomei Havard, a Chinese-born South African businessperson and an African National Congress (ANC) politician from Gauteng who currently serves as a Member of Parliament, came under intense scrutiny after she was sworn in as MP in January 2021.   

(Callan Williamson)