Africa-Press – Lesotho. have issued a petition of their demands to the Minister of Finance Hon. Thabo Sophonea on Monday ahead of the budget speech for the financial year 2022/2023.
It was sent as a petition to the Minister on behalf of “thousands of other frustrated young people across the country”. “Lesotho has made gains in poverty reduction over the last decade.
However, poverty remains higher than neighbouring countries. About half, or 49.7 percent, of our population lives below the national poverty and about one quarter (24.1 percent)
lives in extreme poverty. Lesotho national poverty rate is measured at the national poverty line of about M650 per adult equivalent per month,” reads the
letter. They urged the Minister to consider these interventions when he prepares the budget speech for the financial year 2022/2023, to establish youth and women fund,
lift the Value Added Tax (VAT) on telecommunications, and introduce cash grant paid to unemployed Basotho. #Bachashutdown President Tumelo Moteuli highlighted that the establishment of the youth and
women fund will benefit them in that if they want to start their own businesses they can borrow from it. “We understand that the government is planning to
implement the sin tax which will see alcohol and tobacco levies increased by 15 and 30 percent respectively. We propose that the government should establish
women and youth fund that will be funded from the proposed alcohol and tobacco levies and distributed to real empowerment initiatives,” he said. He further indicated that getting 20 percent (approximately M57 million) of the
revenue collected from alcohol and tobacco levies each year, the fund will stimulate the establishment and growth of youth and women businesses, promote
digital skills, grow the economy and foster job creation. He said when young people go out in large numbers on weekends to party, for every bottle of alcohol and a cigarette they buy, they will be contributing capital for their
counterparts to start businesses. He added that funds should not be administered by politicians but by experienced Basotho women and youth to ensure transparency and accountability.
“Taxing telecommunications makes data bundles less affordable and accessible, especially for the low-income consumers. We urge the
minister to lift the VAT on telecommunications in order to lower data costs and increase access to internet for all people and young people in particular.
Access to internet has become a necessity for modern living and is a matter of survival. Unemployed graduates have trouble accessing job opportunities
advertised online while students face barriers in remote learning conditions because they cannot afford access to high-speed internet at homes. Also, internet creates jobs, many paying higher salaries than average.
Our young people can become Instagram influencers while others can create their own YouTube channels and generate income for themselves. Those who have small businesses can conduct advertising over internet at a very low cost
while others can sell goods such as groceries over the internet (e-commerce). The number of jobs supported by internet-related activities can raise the total number of jobs in the country. However, the VAT on telecommunications limits young people’s participation in the internet economy,” notes the letter.
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