The Local Government elections will be run by the office of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as the Local Government Act of 1997 states. This was said by the Minister of Local Government Dr. Pont’so Sekatle when addressing workers for the first time at the Lesotho Cooperative College (LCC) on Wednesday 10 July, 2002.

Dr. Sekatle said by the look of things it is not possible that Local Government elections would be held this year. She explained that no budget has been made by the Ministry and she is still to meet the IEC office to find out if they have made any preparations for holding of such elections. The Minister stated that the Local Government elections were supposed to be held immediately after holding of by- elections in the constituencies of Hlotse and Moyeni but preparations seem not to be in place yet.

Dr. Sekatle urged the workers to prepare for such elections now since many political parties, which contested the 2002 elections and failed to go to parliament are eager to use the Local government elections to test their strength.On the other hand the Minister told the workers to work in providing services to the people they serve since they are paid through the public taxes.She stated that people need low income housing as many Basotho cannot afford to build mansion houses like those at Lower Thetsane where people are charged exorbitant prizes for acquiring sites only.

The Minister said the Lesotho Survey and Physical Planning (LSPP) should make proper plans in the towns throughout the country to make them accessibly for roads constructions, water and electricity supply as well as election of street lighting.Dr. Sekatle said plans should not only be made and left in the offices but they should make a timetable, which they must stick to it.

She said that loans are available from the Urban Development whose task is to improve the lives of people but people in villages do not know about this opportunity, saying it is up to the workers of this department to let the communities know about it.The Minister called on chiefs to make sure that people do not build their houses on arable land as that affect harvest, adding that many fields in the districts of Qacha’s Nek, Quthing and Mohale’s Hoek should not be left uncultivated.

Workers from the departments of LSPP, Urban Development, Housing, District Secretariat, USIT and ATS among others attended the occasion.

10 July, 2002