- lays down plans for remaining 2 years
Mohloai Mpesi
PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has vowed to throw his weight behind his Cabinet to complete outstanding projects within the remaining two years of his term.
Mr Matekane was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Cabinet retreat in Mohale’s Hoek on Thursday this week where his entire Cabinet gathered to celebrate three years since romping to victory in the 7 October 2022 elections.
The retreat gave Mr Matekane’s cabinet the opportunity to take stock of their work over the last three years far from their busy offices, while also mapping the way forward on how best to complete in the remaining two years.
Mr Matekane said that although they came across many challenges, they remain determined to deliver on big projects to ensure that Basotho lives improve.
He warned his Cabinet not to listen to people who want to discourage them, urging ministers to focus on the remaining plans they have on the table.
He assured his Cabinet of his full support in every endeavour.
“There will always be challenges where people work. Leave those who speak to speak, just work because people who speak try to divert you from your direction. Let’s not allow ourselves to be misdirected by people who don’t know what they are saying. We have discussed what we want to complete in these remaining two years. Let’s go and do that so that when our five-year term ends, the public would judge.
“You all know how much each and every one of you is determined. You have my full support,” he said.
“We are determined to work hard in these remaining two years,” he added.
“Some people will be happy for you, while others may not be happy. But people will always have different judgments about you. We are determined that in these five years, we should complete the mandate we are given,” Mr Matekane said.
He said coalition governments have been collapsing after two years since 2012, asserting that will never happen again. He said elections drain public coffers unnecessarily, while Basotho continues to suffer.
“Since 2012, coalition governments have been falling after two years and a new one coming in. You will never see that again. We are here to ensure that we deliver to Basotho within the five-year term that we have been given and I promise you it will be like that.
“When these half-time things happen, it is Basotho who suffer. we know how much elections cost and waste public coffers. We are not going back there; we are looking forward,” he said.
He reminisced that he took over governance during difficult times when the murder crime rate was high, but they worked hard to stabilise it.
“We took governance during the time when there were challenges like escalating murder crimes, but we tried to ensure that we stabilise that situation and find peace for this country and we have indeed found that peace, we are only left with maintaining that peace,” he said.
He noted that the country is endowed with mineral resources which they are going to use them to benefit Basotho.
“This country has been blessed with a lot of things. You can talk about natural resources like minerals and abundant water which other countries wish they had.
“As Cabinet, we are determined to use all these resources to improve the livelihoods of Basotho and Lesotho. We want to see the property of this country working towards improving and developing this country. We will do that,” he said.
He added that when they came to power, there were projects pending from as far back as 2010, but they are going to complete these within the remaining two years.
“When we assumed office three years ago, there were incomplete projects from previous regimes. Some of these projects started in 2010. I assure you that within the remaining two years, we will ensure that those projects are complete.
“I assure you that you will see changes; you will see developments. We are determined to do that. We have projects that we want to do to improve Basotho lives so that they benefit from. They are big projects,” he said.
He highlighted the passage of the 10th Amendment to the Constitution Act, 2025 as one of their achievements during the three years in office, adding that they are going to work on the 11th Amendment and Referendum.
“Some of our successes is that when I assumed governance on the 28th of October 2022, I promised Basotho that where national reforms were, we will continue with them. We did just that.
“I thank everyone that contributed to ensuring that we pass the 10th Amendment to the Constitution Act. I thank all the Members of Parliament and Senate who spoke with one voice to ensure that the reforms are completed. We are still on the first leg, the 11th Amendment and referendum still remain.
“After successfully passing the 10th Amendment, I went to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and informed SADC that we had passed the 10th Amendment and they should remove us from the SADC Troika agenda,” he said.
He added that his regime was elected to the Deputy Chairperson position at the United Nations General Assembly.
“We went to United Nations General Assembly in New York, America, where we were appointed to the position of deputy chairperson of United Nations. There was competition that started in May this year for that position,” he said.
He said they are going to work hard on improving road infrastructure, including boring a tunnel from Ha-Moloi to Ski Resort on the way to Mokhotlong.
“We will work even for the last Mosotho in the remotest areas to ensure that he or she gets the development they need. We will ensure we do everything we have to do, so that people living in remote areas get roads.
“We will bore the mountain from Ha Moloi up to the Ski resort travelling underground, only within these two years. You will see service delivery come in full force under this Cabinet,” he said.