Thoboloko Ntšonyane
Maseru – The Minister of Labour and Employment Hon Tšeliso Mokhosi condemned the state of public service, stating that its inefficiencies are stalling progress.
Despite years of complaints, successive governments have made little headway in addressing these concerns.
The Minister cited the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition struggles with ineffective civil service, which have led to failed agricultural initiatives aimed at combating food insecurity.
For the first time this year, the Ministry was allocated over a billion in the budget, yet there has been little significant progress. Farmers are still complaining about a lack of available farming inputs and extension workers to supervise their fields.
This Ministry is particularly crucial, given that the Head of State, King Letsie III, is a Champion of Nutrition for the African Union (AU) and an Ambassador for Nutrition at Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The country’s failure to achieve food security undermines these accolades.
Earlier this year, the Minister of Agriculture Hon Thabo Mofosi told this reporter that public servants in Mafeteng were reluctant to harvest wheat, a matter that was reported to him by a senior officer.
It should be recalled that the Public Service is one of the seven thematic areas earmarked for reforms, as it has long been a source of public frustration.
The Auditor-General’s reports repeatedly cite anomalies and irregularities within public service, many of which seemingly remain “unresolved”. Complaints about inefficiencies are particularly prevalent regarding Ministry of Home Affairs and Traffic departments, with allegations of corruption and poor service further compounding the issue.
“There is a good plan from the government. We have failed in agriculture due to the poor service provided by civil servants. If we could change the attitude so that the services rendered to Basotho are not perceived as something to be paid for, it would help. Corruption has become institutionalized in this country.
“While Nigeria spoke of a missing page, we seem to have reached a point where there is a missing page in Lesotho. Every service we seek faces problems. This is a critical issue, and I urge us to unite and combat it. If we can tackle corruption as civil servants, wherever we are, this country can prosper,” Mokhosi stated.
Despite interventions by institutions like the World Bank to strengthen the civil service, the desired outcomes appear to be limited. One such initiative is the Public Sector Modernisation Project for Lesotho, which aims to enhance human resources practices and improve service delivery.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in concert with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Public Service, has introduced an initiative aimed at transforming Lesotho’s public sector through executive leadership development. Launched in 2023, the programme focuses on equipping 17 Principal Secretaries with the necessary skills and vision to drive significant change in their portfolios.
This initiative reportedly combines leadership training and executive coaching, immersing the Principal Secretaries in modern leadership theories, best practices, and strategic management techniques. This approach fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering leaders to tackle complex challenges while laying the groundwork for sustainable development and inclusive governance in Lesotho.