Africa-Press – Lesotho. The government of Lesotho through the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) has issued out M50 million rent relief fund to assist Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises
(SMMEs) which were impacted by COVID-19 pandemic that led to the country’s lockdown. In April 2020, the Government of Lesotho made several pronouncement regarding
relief measures intended to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 induced national lockdown and rent was amongst the measures promulgated to assist struggling businesses.
LRA was, therefore tasked with a responsibility to administer the rent relief on behalf of the government. LRA acting Commissioner General ‘Mathabo Mokoko said the Right Honourable Prime
Minister (PM) Dr. Moeketsi Majoro announced that as a way of extending a helping hand especially to small and medium enterprises, so that they do not feel the heavy load brought by the pandemic during the lockdown, the government
will allocate rent relief fund. LRA Head of Compliance Risk Management and Intelligence Bahlakaoana Shelile giving out the guidelines for the rent relief said it will cover a period of one month,
which is April, for commercial property tenants with lease agreements between themselves and commercial building owners or managers whose business were not
operating during the national lockdown. Shelile added that the relief measure excludes other types of businesses being residential property, commercial
property occupied by tenants who were operational during national lockdown, tenants to Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), Basotho Enterprises
Development Corporation (BEDCO), City Councils, government property and any other property whose owner is not in business of renting out commercial buildings.
“Whilst the rent relief is meant to assist businesses that are struggling as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic, not all businesses shall be eligible for the fund,” he said. Shelile noted that only tax compliant businesses and SMMEs shall
qualify. The other businesses that qualify are those registered with the Ministry of Trade and Industry or any competent authority, businesses that have
a sub-lease agreement with Property Owner or Manager not less than 3 months old and businesses that are up to date with their rental payments. He said the businesses eligible for the rent relief will receive rent for April
2020 and LRA will pay it directly to the property owner or manager on behalf of
the eligible tenant. He indicated that the registration form is available on LRA website to be filled by commercial property owner or manager providing
details of their property and information related to tenants. He noted that payments will not be processed without submission of registration form filled by property owner or manager.
Shelile further said upon receipt of the payment requisition form from the tenant, the LRA will issue receipt acknowledgement through an email or SMS within two
working days. “If all requirements of a claim are met, payments will be made within seven working days and a prove of payment will be sent to both a tenant
and the property owner,” he said and added that payments will be prioritized in order of receipt of payment requisition forms where forms received first will be paid out first.
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