This is the first of a series of weekly columns the Ministry of Local Government plans to introduce announcing and explaining developments and activities in its decentralization programme, what is happening within the community councils. For people interested in a hard copy of the articles, they will also to be carried by local weekly newspapers LENTSOE LA BASOTHO and LESOTHO TODAY. 

The local government vehicle is now on course; local government elections went on as scheduled, including their by-elections. As one of the first steps to set the vehicle in motion, the Ministry has appointed and inducted officers who will be based at the district level: the District Administrators (DA), Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Community Council Secretaries (CCS). 

Recently councillors at both community and districts levels have taken oath of and been sworn into office. These same councillors are now seen as drivers in whose hands the fate of the vehicle depends. But there is no room for fate or failure in the local government programme. As the Prime Minister always says ‘the Local Government vehicle has no reverse gear’, after all councillors are supposed to be carrying the mandate of the people. Councillors should be able to master the forward gears of this vehicle!! 

We believe, however, that we should from the onset point out some of the operational  blind spots that both the community councils and communities will have to navigate, that the Minister of Local Government also alluded to during her recent statement in both the House of Parliament and over the national broadcaster: that local government will tax people’s properties, including livestock, apartment flats, cemeteries and so on.  

Fact: this is because as the legal framework reflects, local government councils will collectively and in consultation with the community, strengthen their financial muscle by sourcing some sort of income or some means of fund-raising to sustain them through their day-to-day expenses. Section 47, (1, 2) of 1997 Local Government Act. 

Then there was the unfortunate incident of the Community Council Secretary of ‘Nyakosoba’ in the Roma Plateau, who received death threats from some Likatseng inhabitants; the hijacking of the vehicle carrying the office equipment for the ‘Telle’ council en-route-to Semonkong. 

The Minister has already condemned the activities and can only be emulated. Let us condemn the actions of these unscrupulous opportunists who are trying to tarnish this land mark initiative, poised to accomplish a positive impact on the lives of Basotho. 

Local Government for us all!!  

28 June 2005