Silence, chaos, and collapse: the price of ineffective communication in coalition governments in Lesotho

Effective communication is vital for stable coalition governance, particularly in fragile democracies like Lesotho. Since the emergence of coalitions in Lesotho in 2012, three successive governments have collapsed prematurely, exposing communication inefficiencies. This study examines how ineffective communication in coalitions destabilises governance and disrupts development. The research adopts a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with political actors, civil society, media, and government officials, alongside document analysis of coalition agreements, manifestos, and media outputs. The data were collected between 2023 and 2024 and analysed thematically. Findings indicate that ineffective communication fosters factionalism, weak coordination, and public distrust, which, in turn, disrupt development activities such as infrastructure and service delivery. Guided by the coalition, public sphere and crisis communication theories, the study proposes a sustainable communication model to strengthen governance in fragile coalitions. This research contributes new insights into how ineffective communication impedes development and offers practical strategies for achieving stable, development-oriented governance.