Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho Town and Regional Planning Institute (LTRPI) hosted the general elections where a new executive council was elected on Saturday March 6th 2021.
The new executive council is made up of two women and four men: Teboho Lebusa as President, Monaphathi Leholo Vice-President, Retšepile Kalaoane as Secretary, Leemisa
Matooane Vice- Secretary, Kelebone Tšilo Public Relations Officer and Tebello Putsoane as Treasurer. LTRPI stated in a press statement released on Monday this week that
the incoming executive council intend to do hold meetings with relevant stakeholders to pave a way forward and find solutions to existing problems among others being to begin the work of professionalizing the planning system
in Lesotho such that it is a legal requirement that all practicing planners be registered with the institute. They will work with similar associations to seek
their advice on the matter and how to implement it. It says they will also work to influence the reforming of planning legislation, mainly the Town and Country
Planning Act (TCPA) of 1980 as it stands, it is too old and does not adequately respond to planning realities today in Lesotho and they will work towards the
implementation of different spatial or development plans. As a professional organization, LTRPI intends to serve the public interest and to deliver value and keep
planning relevant to the societal needs. The Institute considers land-use planning to be of significant concern and that land-use in Lesotho should be
economically viable. It continues to say that LTRPI also concerns itself with the link between theory and practice, and aspires to ensure that there is
efficient and productive use of land in Lesotho as per land and planning law, and with particular reference to urban and regional planning as the only
planning profession responsible for ensuring control and management of land-use for the public good. “As the new executive council, we affirm our commitment to work with all stakeholder institutions in land
matters, in a collaborative approach to find solutions to the existing land-use problems in Lesotho, for the benefit of the public at large. We are aware of
the challenges facing the land administration and management system in Lesotho that render it ineffective and inefficient. We appreciate the work that the
previous executive committee did to try to mediate against these challenges, but there is a long road ahead of us and it takes each and every planner to
work together to create this into the institute we will all be proud of one day and all it takes is commitment, transparency and team work. ” It further said to date, the institute has had a
steady growth and some of its engagements is that it created public awareness on the need, relevance and significance of planning profession in Lesotho through
social media, local radios and newspapers. It also took part in public functions which include the urban forum that was held on October 30 to 31st 2019 and the main focus being on urban development and it held meetings with
relevant stakeholders regarding land issues. LTRPI was also nominated to be part of the Urban Sector Working Group (USWG) for Maseru 2050 urban plan and it made
Lesotho part of the global community that celebrates planning issues including an annual celebration of the World Town Planning Day (WTPD). LTRPI was established in 2015 with the aim to advance the art and science of urban, rural and regional planning in Lesotho for the benefit of the community.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
