Africa-Press – Lesotho. The hospitality Industry has expressed concern over inconsideration of the government since the advent of Covid-19 pandemic, despite the enormous contribution they make to boost the country’s economy.
Lesotho Hotels and Hospitality Association Chairperson ‘Marethabile Sekhiba reviewed that from the previous lockdown that was enforced worldwide, hospitality businesses have since been affected as international
traveling was prohibited in almost every country. “Just when we are recovering from the past shutdown, now another lockdown is being enforced,” She said.
Sekhiba said their wish is that the government can introduce another relief fund to meet them half way even though in the previous allocation not all of them received funds.
She said even those whose hotels were used for quarantine were not all paid. The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Adv. Lekhetho Rakuoane explained to this paper that the decision of
closing down the hospitality industry was not negotiated with the ministry but has always been determined by the colour coding, which explains the state at which
the country is at regarding Covid-19 outbreak. “Hotels and Bed and Breakfast (B&B) have been used for quarantine purposes to keep suspects of Covid-19,” he said.
He said they cannot be used for other business besides quarantine or keeping of Health Officials during their visits in a certain place to offer health
services. Rakuoane further explained that hotels and B&B owners whose places were used for quarantine in the past were paid. “Unless there are some whose invoices were behind but as far as I know, most of them
were paid,” he said. On the same breath, Lesotho Liquor and Restaurants Owners Association (LEROA) President Motseki Nkeane said restaurants and beverage businesses always get affected by the lockdown.
He said the problem is that they are often told to cease operation immediately, without a prior warning. Nkeane added that the government fail to realize that some
owners buy large stock that can perish if not used on time and this becomes a loss on their side. “Some of the stock expires while closed in restaurants and
it can never be used anymore when we open,” he said. He further said even when their stock has perished and expired, there is no compensation from the
government to replace their loss. Nkeane said their wish is that they should at least be given a chance to operate twice a week as this would balance the weight, saying they noticed that some owners operate in the back doors.
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