Maseru---The Prime Minister says government needs a substantial increase  in aid to boost national development. Mr Pakalitha Mosisili was speaking at the official opening of the 9th > Donor Round Table Conference on Sustainable Economic Growth and Poverty  Reduction which opened at the National Convention Centre today.

The five day conference is expected to end with a clear strategy for increasing the effectiveness of aid in the context of national development planning. In attendance are donors, ministers and government officials and  representatives from the private sector.

The Prime Minister said the period of political stability Lesotho has  enjoyed since 1998 is a sign that the country is ready to address its development challenges more effectively.

In the same vein Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr Tim Thahane told the conference that government had a credible plan for economic growth and poverty reduction which needed donor support.

But assistant administrator and deputy director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Jeffrey Avina said donors had a right to insist that funds were used for the purposes of which they were allocated.

Mr. Avina is a co-chairperson of the conference which ends on Friday.
 

SOURCE: LENA