Increased funding for youth-led projects, human capital development and tackling unemployment are among key priorities outlined by Berea youth ahead of the presentation of the 2026/2027 fiscal year budget.
This emerged on Wednesday during interviews with the Lesotho News Agency (LENA), as attention turns to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr. Rets’elisitsoe Matlanyane, who is expected to present the 2026/2027 budget speech on February 18.
Commenting on expectations, Mr. Mojalefa Mokotso, who is involved in farming projects, said unemployment continues to dim the prospects of many young people.
He expressed hope that the upcoming budget will increase funding for youth-led initiatives, particularly in agriculture. Mr. Mokotso noted that although the country has vast arable land, much of it remains fallow, while many young people are eager to venture into crop production and livestock farming.
However, he said access to land remains a major challenge. He urged government to ease bureaucratic processes that hinder youth access to land for farming, and to inject funding into agricultural projects, coupled with regular training and close monitoring. Such interventions, he said, would help reduce unemployment and enhance food security.
He further stated that investing more in agriculture could reduce the country’s reliance on imports, stressing the need to support young people who have ventured into the sector. Echoing similar sentiments, Ms. Makutloano Majoro, one of the few youths engaged in food processing projects, said many young people in Berea remain unemployed, while only a handful have started their own businesses.
She observed that when investors set up businesses in Teyateyaneng, they often bring employees from other districts instead of addressing local unemployment. “We need youth-run businesses that will be obliged to hire fellow youths to facilitate skills transfer and capacity building,” she said. Ms. Majoro noted that not every young person can be absorbed into government employment, which remains the major employer in the country.
She said a budget that prioritises human development and increases allocations for youth-run businesses could be a game changer, as such support would contribute to job creation and boost local economies.
She added that economically engaged youths are less likely to engage in criminal activities, emphasising the importance of involving young people in economic activities to foster a sense of ownership in national development. Meanwhile, a Teyateyaneng youth mentor, Mr. Kamohelo Thokoane, called for a people-centred budget with strong emphasis on human capital development, particularly targeting young people as the future of the country. Mr. Thokoane also advocated for the establishment of youth resource centres across constituencies in Berea District, noting that currently only the Thakaneng Youth Resource Centre serves the area.
He said decentralising such centres would make it easier to reach young people in remote areas with programmes focused on economic empowerment and life skills development. Other youth indicated that they will also be keen to hear how much has been allocated towards infrastructure development in the upcoming budget speech.
The call by Berea youth comes at a time when Lesotho continues to grapple with high youth unemployment and slow economic growth, challenges that have disproportionately affected young people across all districts of the Mountain Kingdom.
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