{"id":5833,"date":"2021-11-13T13:04:15","date_gmt":"2021-11-13T13:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/pushing-a-basotho-first-strategy"},"modified":"2021-11-13T13:30:46","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T13:30:46","slug":"pushing-a-basotho-first-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/lesotho\/all-news\/pushing-a-basotho-first-strategy","title":{"rendered":"Pushing a \u2018Basotho first\u2019 strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Lesotho. <\/strong><\/span>BEING a cabinet minister is far from Moshe Leoma\u2019s childhood dreams. Growing up a taekwondo player and trainer at Lesotho Higlands Project Contractors (LHPC) facility, Leoma\u2019s ambition was to be a soldier.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I wanted was to be a soldier,\u201d said Leoma who is now the Minister of Labour and Employment, citing his involvement in taekwondo as an influence back then.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a taekwondo player increased my chances of being accepted.<\/p>\n

\u201d
\nHe said he also envied two men from his village who were soldiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe environment I grew up in had an impact on me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

After completing his Form C in 1992, Leoma stayed at home for two years intending to fulfil his dream, only to learn in 1994 that entrance requirements had been set at a minimum of a Form E certificate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to return to school if I was to fulfil my dreams.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, my parents were no longer able to pay for my fees hence I resorted to selling vegetables to complete my studies at St Paul High School,\u201d said the 49-year old.<\/p>\n

Leoma said he grew up like any other Mosotho child: herding animals, going to cattle-posts, planting the fields and, like any responsible parent, his late father tried to push for their education until he died in 1991.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when poverty struck my family,\u201d he said, noting that he had to take over the role of breadwinner. He said his brother helped to pay for his first quarter in Form D before losing his job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did all I could to pay for my fees; bought potatoes and apples in bulk for resale in town and I hired some boys to sell them for me while I was at school.<\/p>\n

I even told my headmaster that at times I will not show up at school to stock up from South Africa. \u201d
\nHis ambition to be a soldier remained so he continued to apply for the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI applied and failed seven times.<\/p>\n

At the time, I still had a chance to further my studies but I didn\u2019t because all I wanted was to be a soldier; at some point I even reduced my age,\u201d he said, adding that his passion contributed to his failure to proceed to tertiary level.<\/p>\n

He described the period as his most challenging time, but he soldiered on to get a certificate. \u201cI managed to pass but clearly being a soldier wasn\u2019t for me,\u201d he said, adding that his friends encouraged him to consider alternative career prospects. He recalled the day he came up with the idea of selling trees. He said he was sitting in a hut with the door open.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was looking at a tree outside and I thought \u2018what can that tree do for me? Molimo o nyenyeletsa motho (God whispers in one\u2019s ear) because right there I remembered that there were trees sold from July-August and such trees were available at the Butha-Buthe nursery.<\/p>\n

I immediately rushed to inform my friend and we had an agreement but decided to buy them at Clarence. \u201cEach tree was M1 and we managed to get M4 000 which we used to buy a 4+1 taxi.<\/p>\n

It birthed three more for me and two for my friend. \u201d
\nHe said he worked hard to open a route from Belo to the Butha-Buthe border post. \u201cI managed to open that route and the police even arrested me based on allegations that I had a gun.<\/p>\n

But the issue was resolved. \u201d
\nFollowing the incident, he said he was selected to be part of the Lesotho Taxi Association representing 4+1 owners. \u201cThat is where I learnt leadership as I attended workshops both within the association and taekwondo.<\/p>\n

I learnt to solve disputes through talking, not fighting,\u201d said Leoma. He said his 4+1 business grew and he also became a Butha-Buthe 4+1 route committee member within the Cultural Taxi Association.<\/p>\n

He said he heard a gunshot on his way home one day, leading to events that made him take a more active role in community issues. \u201cIt was a fight between Ha-Chepeseli Chief, Ha-Mapate and Ha-Mot\u0161oane (all found within Matlakeng constituency.<\/p>\n

) I intervened by bringing youths from all the areas together. It was easier to bring them together to solve the issue as I was known in the area because of my involvement with taekwondo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe collaborated until we formed and registered T\u0161oana-Maliba Cultural Village Cooperative Society Ltd; we wore cultural clothing and it grew quickly that it represented the district on different cultural events, including during His Majesty\u2019s birthday.<\/p>\n

\u201d
\nHe said he is still seeking funding from investors to build a cultural village there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI completely resolved the fight and following that I was elected a councillor in 2011.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know what being a councillor entailed and I hated politics but villagers even sang the whole night at my home asking me to run to be the local councillor,\u201d he said, adding that he eventually agreed to be an independent candidate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI filled the nomination form but I didn\u2019t even campaign that much. But I was chosen by over 350 people, followed by one who belonged to a party with 200 votes,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

He said he was soon to be approached by both the LCD and ABC parties who wanted to lure him into their respective ranks. \u201cI agreed to join the ABC as I loved it and I won the constituency in the 2015 and 2017 elections.<\/p>\n

\u201d In 2019 he was appointed deputy minister of public works as well as that of local government after the 4\u00d74 coalition failed.<\/p>\n

Leoma said being a politician and a black belt holder in taekwondo changed his mind set a lot. \u201cI often resorted to fighting but I learnt it wasn\u2019t the wisest move.<\/p>\n

I am now using Taekwondo as a form of exercise,\u201d said the man who once hated politics. \u201cI hated politics with all my heart. My father and brother were LCD members but I hated that.<\/p>\n

I saw it as something that hurt people and in Taekwondo as we were trained by soldiers, they encouraged us to stay away from it. \u201d He said joining politics affected him mentally.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuckily, my followers supported me and helped me in the right direction until it changed my mind and life generally \u2014 it made me soft and often people get surprised.<\/p>\n

It channelled me in the narrow path,\u201d he said. Leoma added \u201csome people even said it made me a skepsel (poor one)\u201d. He said being appointed Labour Minister presented new challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter receiving my promotion letter, I was afraid to read it. I read it shaking when I saw Labour and Employment. I almost declined the offer but my wife encouraged me to take it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said he still questioned the Prime Minister \u201cwhy he was doing that to me\u201d and his response was simple: \u201cI want to see something in you. Go and work there for at least three months and if it\u2019s burdensome I will remove you.<\/p>\n

\u201d
\nHe said fellow ministers showed compassion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe day of swearing in, I wasn\u2019t myself at all,\u201d he said, remembering what they learn in orientation; working with civil servants.<\/p>\n

He said one of the biggest challenges was that he was joining the ministry at the time of the gazetting of the minimum wage, which had not been announced by the previous minister because of Covid-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople called me just to insult me and even involved my family, threatening to beat up my parents.<\/p>\n

My wife even encouraged me to give up but I didn\u2019t. \u201d
\nHe said another challenge was that of foreigners working in the country without documents. \u201cIt is a big issue and worse, they are given a chance by Basotho.<\/p>\n

\u201d
\nHe also said it is his ministry\u2019s job to protect the jobs of Basotho and intervene during strikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt becomes a problem when employers play hide and seek with us and avoid us. This challenge leads to sleepless nights,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He said another challenge was lack of resources at the Directorate of dispute Prevention and Resolution (DDPR), a situation that hindered progress. \u201cPeople approach me directly and blame me for lack of service delivery,\u201d he lamented.<\/p>\n

He also said the Labour Court lacked staff and their offices were small as well. \u201cWe have huge problems. \u201d He said Basotho were hired as labour but managed by foreigners as they sometimes failed to deliver quality services.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome owners even ask us to allow deployment of foreigners in managerial positions but looking at how many Basotho they have hire\u2026it becomes a challenge,\u201d he said. He said there is a need for a bargaining council to end the frequent strikes by factory workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should be able to discuss their issues without the ministry\u2019s engagement and this is provided for in the 1992 Labour Code review, although it is still in parliament counsel.<\/p>\n

It will help us solve such issues if passed. There are a lot of issues but we have a Bill ready to address such issues. \u201d
\nHe said currently employees meet under a wages advisory board led by the ministry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis kills us as the ministry ends up unnecessarily intervening in disagreements.<\/p>\n

The passing of the Bill will solve so many weaknesses in the labour code. Employers and employees need to be able to solve their issues amicably. \u201d He blamed partisan politics for \u201cdestroying the country.<\/p>\n

\u201d
\n\u201cI realised this when dealing with the factory workers strike. It is everywhere, even in parliament, a good thing can be rejected without valid reasons.<\/p>\n

If only certain positions like those of Principal Secretaries can be made permanent, it will help a minister to work on available long term strategy. \u201d
\nHe said the main challenge was lack of implementation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do have laws but we have to tighten our efforts towards implementation.<\/p>\n

\u201d Leoma said the ministry has realised that some Basotho \u201crelax\u201d instead of learning from the foreigners with a view of taking over the jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a permit is up for renewal we sometimes end up extending it even for months. Basotho then start to complain yet they don\u2019t put efforts to obtain the position,\u201d he lamented.<\/p>\n

He said they learnt that in other instances, certain jobs were given ka thutsoana ea \u2019mooane (on a silver platter) because of negligence. He said the operation to expose undocumented foreigners was his strategy \u201cto completely end the practice\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to stop but continue until I leave the ministry,\u201d said Leoma, who counts former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane among his role model.<\/p>\n

Leoma said he has no plans to cross to any other party. \u201cIf it comes to that, then I will leave politics. I was planning to leave this term to focus on the cultural village and farming but my supporters refused.<\/p>\n

If I win a third term then I will allow them to choose whoever they want after me. I can never cross to another party,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cLies in politics is another reason why I want to retire.\u201d<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Lesotho<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Lesotho. BEING a cabinet minister is far from Moshe Leoma\u2019s childhood dreams. Growing up a taekwondo player and trainer at Lesotho Higlands Project Contractors (LHPC) facility, Leoma\u2019s ambition was to be a soldier. \u201cAll I wanted was to be a soldier,\u201d said Leoma who is now the Minister of Labour and Employment, citing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":5832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,9,16],"tags":[233,246,343,245,253],"class_list":["post-5833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-miscellaneous","category-twitter","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-lesotho","tag-basotho","tag-lesotho","tag-soldiers"],"yoast_head":"\nPushing a \u2018Basotho first\u2019 strategy - Lesotho<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"BEING a cabinet minister is far from Moshe Leoma\u2019s childhood dreams. 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