By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU- The Ministry of Justice and Law has affirmed its commitment to working closely with all stakeholders, including the media, to ensure that the objectives of the programme, ‘Support for the Reform and Strengthening of Governance in Lesotho Program’ are fully realised and that Lesotho emerges stronger in its reforms journey.
This was highlighted during a recent media briefing on the progress of the programme.
Journalists were recently briefed on the progress and ongoing rollout of the Support for the Reform and Strengthening of Governance in Lesotho Program, a significant initiative funded by the European Union (EU).
Funded with EUR 8.5 million about M168 million by the EU Lesotho through its 11th European Development Fund (EDF), the four-year programme is envisaged to promote the rule of law, good governance, human rights, and gender equality in Lesotho.
The program, which is implemented under the Ministry of Law and Justice, aims to enhance the country’s governance structures and ensure that democratic institutions are both resilient and effective in addressing the needs of the people. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in Lesotho.
The programme was launched on September 20, last year in Mafeteng.
On behalf of the Principal Secretary for Justice and Law, Matingoe Phamotse said this programme will see the improvement of good governance in the administration of justice particularly to indigent such as women and girls, sexual minorities.
“This initiative aims to improve the apparatuses which are supposed to guarantee respect of human rights, gender equality and the rule of law. It is focusing on reinforcing the capacity of the justice sector, to ensure improved service delivery, increasing provision of legal assistance for people living in poverty and for persons in vulnerable situations while seeking solutions of legal remedies,” he said, adding that there has been a noticeable improvement since the commencement of this project.
He said there has been organisational capacity building activities of the justice and governance institutions which include manpower training and development, systems and institutional reforms, increased legal aid, crime prevention campaigns and court sessions that have disposed of “a good number of cases” that were pending in a conventional justice system.
Phamotse further showed that there have been efforts to decentralise the key service and purchased some of the office furniture for the partnering institutions.
He said everyone is obliged to make necessary efforts for the attainment of the reforms overarching message “Lesotho we want”.
For his part, Director Planning within the Ministry and Imprest Admin, Seoaholimo Phorisi said the programme mission include inclusiveness, transparency and people centred approach.
He said it aligns with the Lesotho’s National Strategic Development Plan as extended especially on the part of good governance and integrated systems.
“It is undoubtful that our systems are faced with several challenges which have become crippling to the development of Basotho nation,” he said.
The program’s rollout has generally been met with optimism.
Journalists were encouraged to continue reporting on the progress of these reforms, as public awareness and engagement are crucial to their success.
Dr Julius Munthali, Senior Governance expert
said the media is the very key stakeholder in this programme hence the need to engage them.
He said this programme is designed to address the plight of the marginalised and people in vulnerable situations.
One of the participants, from Modern Times, Margret Mokete said the briefing meeting has shed light because she now appreciates that legal aid can also be extended to both victims and alleged perpetrators alike.
She pointed out that the lawyers should be accountable to the suspects they represent who are under the legal aid assistance as they do not usually meet with their legal representatives to bring them up to speed on the status of the case where they are party to.