Thoboloko Ntšonyane
Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Senate had yesterday passed the motion calling for all sides both in government and opposition to give priority to the national reforms and priority to passing the 11th Amendment to the Constitution famously known as the Omnibus Bill.
The motion was moved by the Principal Chief of Leribe Joel Mots’oene. He was seconded by the Principal Chief of Tajane ‘Mako Mohale. The Upper House has appealed to all members of parliament (MPs) to give priority and treat with urgency the national reforms that are expected to address the long time challenges grappling the country.
This motion was unanimously agreed to by the Senators. He said the contents of the 11th Amendment to the Constitution famously known as the Omnibus Bill proposes the change in how governance should be conducted.
Originally this Bill contained about 90 constitutional amendments but the 10th parliament had since expunged some saying “not everything should be contained in the Constitution”
They said there will be Acts of parliament that will be enacted to operationalise some of the things, a stance which the present government had since adopted.
There are seven thematic areas which are media sector reforms, economic reforms, judiciary reforms, public service reforms, security reforms, parliamentary reforms and constitutional reforms.
The National reforms are expected to create lasting political stability. They are to be passed by both chambers of the parliament- the National Assembly and the Senate. When passed, the country will also have accountability, good governance and economic growth for the “Lesotho we want”.
This Friday, the Court of Appeal is scheduled to hand down the ruling on Kananelo Boloetse’s case challenging the resuscitation of the reforms by 11th parliament, he argues that this parliament cannot use the Standing Order 105 B which says the “Business that has elapsed with dissolution or prorogation of Parliament may be reinstated by resolution of the House and will be resumed in the National Assembly at the stage it had reached in the previous Parliament “.
The Leribe Principal Chief said whereas the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) calls for an end to poverty, this aspiration is unlikely to be realized as people are building in the fields where they are supposed to produce the crops intimating that reforms have the part to addressing these anomalies.
He said if the legislators can resolve to serve the nation, Lesotho will transform. The Leribe Principal Chief suggested that Lesotho finds herself in choppy waters due to the “actions” of the politicians.
“The country is where it is because of the politicians. Kamoli is now in prison because of some of the politicians,” he said.
He admonished the members of security institutions to not give into being used by the politicians. He further pointed out that “some had ruled the country since from when we were children, do the pockets ever get filled”.
He lambasted at those who are seeking to change the government and seek for opportunism. “It would seem this is a government of the nation on behalf of certain individuals not for the people.
” Principal Chief Mots’oene said the Omnibus Bill sets tone. He said the development partners would experience the “donor fatigue” as they have invested in reforms but the implementation is lagging. He said some of the proposals contained in the Omnibus Bill were made for self-serving purposes.
Senator Monatsi said it is about 18 times that the then Speaker of the National Assembly Rt Hon Sephiri Motanyane adjourned the house citing that the then Leader of the House, Hon Mathibeli Mokhothu had not brought the reforms work.
He blames the former Leader of the House who now wants to become a Prime Minister that he failed to bring the reforms work for the 10th parliament to debate them.
“We are here for this country to have a bright future for the benefits of our children and future generations,” he said.
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