BASOTHO HAVE COME A LONG WAY - SEKATLE

The Minister of Local Government, Dr. Ponts'o Sekatle says Basotho have come a long way since the 1998 political disturbances which interrupted a programme of deepening democracy in Lesotho through the implementation of the 1997 Local Government Act. Briefing heads of diplomatic missions in Lesotho on the programme embarked upon in preparation for the implementation of local government at a session held at the Ministry on Thursday12 September,2002 Dr. Sekatle said the ministry has drawn a map for a road to a democratic local government, which among others portrays the social contract for eradication of poverty between the government and the people.

She said it marks the pursuit of the commitments contained in the manifesto of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) with regard to the establishment of the democratic local government, and added that the concept of a democratic local government is also entrenched in the Constitution of Lesotho.
"The Parliament enacted the Local Government Act in 1997 to give effect to
this constitutional commitment" she added.

The Minister said she was aware of the tremendous assistance provided by Diplomatic Corp's countries in famine relief programmes, adding that the government's goal is to achieve sustainable eradication of famine. Dr Sekatle said no amount of support, whether being from government or co-operating partners would replace the value and sustainability of a people driven and people based initiative.
She said the key to poverty reduction is the people and people are found at community level, and showed that the framework for dialogue with communities is a democratic local government.

"The success of the recent general elections was only the beginning of a journey which will only be completed with the realisation of the democratic local government' she added. The Minister stated that her ministry in the meantime continues to drive development at  community level, focusing on basic infrastructure like access to roads, footbridges, water supply, rural electrification and the
development of appropriate technologies. She said while the country is now beset by famine and agricultural productivity is at an all time low, substantial arable land continues to be consumed by unplanned settlements and added that this trend will be curbed but government cannot succeed without positive participation by the people.

Dr Sekatle said it is why local government is needed as it will unify and enhance the strength of the government. She showed that her ministry will need support in the mainstreaming of the local authorities in the development process Meanwhile, the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government, Mr Makalo Theko outlined the ministry's programme in preparation for the holding of the local government elections sometime next year. He said the purpose of holding the elections is to take development to the people, saying that the country can only develop, if development is people driven.

Present at the occasion were heads of the diplomatic missions in Lesotho and the senior staff of the ministry.

12 September,2002