Adv. Fine Maema KC, National Assembly Clerk
The UK MPs arrived at the right time when clearly the 11th parliament was in the middle of a mammoth task of the 5-year period and this in itself. From the October elections last year there has been a lot of turnover with about 90 percent of the MPs constituting new members, mostly of who are not well aware how parliament works. At the same time, they come from different professions and sectors, so it was very important that other than the induction we had at the beginning of the year we now have a thorough seminar that encompasses everything on how parliament works. What the functions and powers of MPs are as well as how to go about the parliament processes. Having the partnership with the UK CPA branch is the most appropriate because we follow the Westminster system and now for our people to appreciate and get to understand what is meant by separation of powers in terms of parliament in as far as making of laws and being an oversight body over government executive. That itself is very important undertaking. Having people from outside as these with their expertise and their stature being MPs from House of Commons and House of Lords, they get plenty of experience from them. I have clearly seen our MPs quiet happy with that they have learnt a lot with that short space of time.
Chief Khoabane Theko, Principal Chief of Thaba Bosiu, MP-Senate
We have since been affiliated to the UK also using the Westminster style of parliament. They are here to strengthen our parliamentary bodies to help us note the aspects we have perhaps taken for granted for a long. The bodies which are ministers, committees, the MPs. We had totally lost the gist of the work that we are supposed to do due to the differences in our parties. What is critical is that we must put differences aside and have cross-party committees and every party should be involved in it.
MP Honorable Ramakatsa,
The UK MPs from CPA have brought extreme insight to us new MPs. In particular government and opposition MPs working closely with each other. Since being an MP five months ago it has not been as easy as said. We have been equipped to move forward as a country working tighter to overcome our challenges.
Head of EU delegation to Lesotho, Ambassador Paola Amadei
In the two years I have been in Lesotho I have seen the parliamentarian delegation coming over. It is a very positive sign seeing continuity of work from the British parliament to the Lesotho parliament.
The RH Tlohang Sekhamane, Speaker of National Assembly,
The presence of the CPA UK MPs for the three days has made my job much easier in that interaction between our partners from the UK and MPs in Lesotho was so warm and went very easy in terms of sensitive issues that our new MPs really wanted to know about.
The Lord Michael German OBE, House of Lords, UK Parliament
As the CPA we have come to ensure that parliament is the engine of the country, it performs at its best and as fast as it possibly can and the timing is right looking the number of new MPs. There is an instruction book in front of them which is the standing orders but they have to understand it to make full use of the parliament and later a powerful parliament. What I sensed is that the MPs feel there is a need to make unanimous progress as a country. They genuinely need to build their economy; they need to develop their services. The challenge is they are new members of parliament and they don’t know how to go about making it happen or the steps to take. They are learners true but they are leaders they must not forget that they have been elected to lead. There is no rule book on learning how to become a politician. There is a toolbox they need to use to make being a politician as effective. People are realizing that they have more power to determine what they want to do also what they want to achieve, lastly how they are going to go about it. The power vested in the MPs is however not to disregard their leaders or party rulings but it’s the power to work with each other. If they want to get thigs done, they must learn to make partnerships across all sides of the house and work collectively.