Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project (PSCEDP) launched the capacity building program for the office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) last Thursday.
During the launch, to give Basotho a priority and empower them economically, World Bank offered 11 computers and monitors, 15 iPads, a server, two printers and will soon provide 31 desktops, heavy duty computers, 3 in 1 computer and a networking devices to the Parliamentary Counsel.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry through its Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project (PSCEDP) is providing support to the office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) in order to ensure the sustainability of ongoing reforms and to entrench capacity within Lesotho to generate further reforms needed.
The main objective behind this support is to strengthen the capacity of the office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) and accordingly expedite the legislative reform agenda that underpins the project. Principal Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr.
Mochaba Soaile said poverty reduction improves investment climate, economic diversification climate and the gifts offered to Lesotho are a motivation to a country at large, thus will add more effort to people who are to utilize them for the country’s benefit.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chaba Mokuku, Project Manager Private Sector Competitiveness said Lesotho faces choric challenges that include poverty, unemployment, and inequality which he believes the equipment would solve.
“World Bank has been in partnership with Lesotho from 2007 up to this far and through its support, we believe poverty situation in Lesotho will be eradicated,” he said. He further indicated that World Bank creates and enable business environment, streamlining and simplifying projects to start new businesses.
“Parliamentary counsel is a critic partnership that lacks technology, access to internet that makes work more effectively, but World Bank came to their rescue not only for parliamentarians but for other business as well,” he said.
Ms. Janet. K. Entwistle, World Bank representative said it is her honor to participate at the launch of the Capacity Building Program for the office of the Parliament Counsel. She said World Bank supports various ministries and institutions in Lesotho.
“I am pleased to announce that our support is extending through Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project, to the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs.
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“Acknowledging this important role, the World Bank financed Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project has launched a series of Support initiatives to the to the legislative process in Lesotho.
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She further indicated that the Digitalization of the legislative process in Lesotho aims to unlock the potential of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Attorney General and Government Printing Office, so that the flow of the Bills and Regulations can facilitate and match Government’s vision and policy reform.
“Moreover, this support to the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs and its department will open the way to modernization in multiple sectors including the Financial Sector to improve access to finance, Public Partnership to bring much needed investment, the investment Climate and the Doing Business Environment.
“This will also facilitate the delivery of business and financial services to those who require them the most- Basotho entreprenues, small and Medium Enterprises and foreign investors-all of whom can bring much needed jobs.
“The commitment will further strengthen through upgrading the technical quality of Bills and regulations, and fully utilizing the skills of the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs staff and various working groups across related sectors and agencies in Lesotho, the World Bank support will allow the Office of the parliamentary Counsel and Attorney General staff to use state of the art,” she said.
She said this digital system will address the challenges and bottlenecks currently faced, and will help strengthen the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs as a reform champion in Lesotho.
Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, Hon Tšolo Temeki said the gifts could be perceived as a simple launch of a capacity building program for the Parliament Counsel or an event to handover Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to the Ministry of Law and Constructional Affairs.
He said the event was special and has far reached implications on the success and sustainability of the national reform agenda. “Many of you are aware that our country has embarked on the path of recovery from the painful past through a comprehensive and courageous reform program to deepen Lesotho’ democracy and to strengthen the country’s publication institutions,” he said.
