Africa-Press – Lesotho. In a continued effort to tackle the growing challenge of unemployment in Lesotho, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development, through the Department of Cooperatives, has called on Basotho to establish cooperatives within their communities as a sustainable means of creating jobs and boosting local economies.
In an interview with the Agency on Monday, Senior Cooperatives Officer Mrs. ’Maboitumelo Lethunya explained that the department is intensifying its outreach with the aim of empowering citizens to become economically active through cooperative enterprises.
She said that the department provides free education, training and technical support to individuals and groups interested in forming cooperatives, as well as skills development programmes designed to strengthen the operational capacity of existing cooperatives.
Mrs. Lethunya highlighted that cooperatives, when properly governed and managed, have the potential to make a significant contribution to national development adding that they offer inclusive economic opportunities, particularly for groups that are often marginalized in mainstream economic activities.
“Cooperatives are unique because they allow people to pool their resources, talents, and ideas for a common economic purpose and this model can help communities create employment for themselves instead of waiting for jobs that are scarce,” she said.
She added that cooperatives can thrive in various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, retail, savings and credit, and creative industries.
She further explained that the department’s training programmes include cooperative formation procedures, business management, leadership skills, financial literacy and compliance with cooperative legislation.
