Lesotho’s new prime minister promises a range of reforms within his first 100 days

• Ramaphosa hopes Matekane will push ahead with SADC set agenda for reforms in Lesotho.
• Matekane sets 15-100 day targets to turn around Lesotho’s economy and social fabric.
• New PM promises to fight corruption.

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It’s the dawn of a new era in the Kingdom of Lesotho with the inauguration of businessman Sam Matekane as prime minister, and for SADC, there’s hope that the new leadership will forge ahead with reforms for transitional justice, social cohesion, and reconciliation.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, President Cyril Ramaphosa, SADC’s special envoy to Lesotho’s facilitation team, said he hoped reforms which had not been passed by the 10th parliament would now sail through.

“The reforms contained in the Draft Omnibus Bill lay a solid foundation for the future of the Basotho. We, therefore, welcome the commitment of the incoming government to give priority to the finalisation of this important work,” he said.

Lesotho’s so-called Omnibus Constitutional Bill sought to bring order to the kingdom’s fractious politics.

However, bickering between parliament and the senate delayed the reforms pushed for by the SADC and the European Union – which is a major funder of emergency relief responses such as food, nutrition assistance, education in emergencies, and disaster preparedness.

There were some last-minute manoeuvers, such as a state of emergency and the reconvening of parliament to pass the amendments before elections.

Unfortunately, they were challenged at the High Court and reversed.

But, expressing renewed hope, Ramaphosa said: “We believe that the issue of justice and reconciliation is within the grasp of the Basotho.

“With the completion of the work of the SADC Facilitation Team, I am confident that the government of Lesotho and all stakeholders will give the same support and cooperation to the Oversight Committee that was established by the 42nd SADC Summit to oversee the implementation of the national reforms.”

Matekane makes promises

In his speech, Matekane made a series of promises which he said he intended to fulfil within 15-100 days. 

He said he would be preparing performance contracts for himself and his ministers. There would also be contracts for senior government employees and they would be made public within a month.

Matekane also vowed to “develop a system through which citizens can monitor and report on the performance of the public sector”.

He pledged to deal with corruption and the Auditor-General’s queries within 100 days, adding that part of his corruption fight would entail a “theft and embezzlement amnesty programme.”

Matekane assumes office at a time when citizens are not happy with the police and security sector in the country. 

In response to this he said he would “develop, publish and implement a crime control programme in 30 days”.

His reform agenda stretches across all sectors of the economy and the country’s social fabric.

–News24

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