By Neo Kolane
A grouping of young people has written a letter to the incoming prime minister on behalf of ‘thousands of other frustrated young people across the length and breadth of the mountain Kingdom’.
The president of BachaShutDown Movement Tumelo Moteuli says the letter which was written this week reflects many years of not being heard and or included, especially in matters that concern them as there is nothing to be done without their participation.
Moteuli explained that Lesotho has made gains in poverty reduction over the last decade. However, poverty remains higher than that seen in other southern African countries.
He also disclosed that about half, or 49.7 percent, of Lesotho’s population lives below the national poverty and about one quarter (24.1 percent) lives in extreme poverty.
He showed that the Lesotho national poverty rate is measured at the national poverty line of about M650 per adult equivalent per month.
Moteuli explained that in real terms, this translates to about a million people (994,000) living below the poverty line and about half a million (484,000) living in extreme poverty. These are the most recent estimates, he added.
Within the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) and neighbouring countries, Lesotho’s poverty rate is among the highest.
“Poverty is due to factors outside of individual’s control, including the districts where individuals grow up, serious health problems and environmental shocks, among others. Unemployment is one of the most important contributors to poverty.
“The facts are that half of the working age population in Lesotho is not participating in the labour market, does not have a job nor is looking for one, with young people being disproportionally affected by joblessness.
“Employment statistics have recently worsened in our country due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impacts. The senseless lockdowns that were imposed by government from March 2020 come to mind.,” he regretted.
He further added: “Given that COVID-19 worsened unemployment, closed young people’s businesses, and further increased food insecurity, you as the incoming government, are faced with a large challenge to respond to.
“This is why today we have decided to table a set of interventions to break the back of high youth unemployment and poverty in Lesotho (urgent and others that we would love to see their implementation immediately when the 2023/2024 fiscal year begins).”
The manifesto of the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) which is one of the parties of the incoming government states that it will create jobs as a social safety net against poverty and social exclusion
The manifesto further states that the RFP government will focus on adopting a job creation strategy aimed at ensuring that no Mosotho will be left unemployed.
“Offering a job guarantee scheme as part of job creation strategy. The scheme will not only be aimed at providing jobs for all but also at achieving specific developmental project deliverables within the broad strategic objective of achieving economic sovereignty.
“It is also expected that by solving the problem of joblessness, the tear in the Lesotho social fabric as indicated by many symptoms such as crime, poverty and human trafficking will be mended,” the manifesto reads.
