Street vendors operating near the National University of Lesotho (NUL) in Roma have appealed to Prime Minister Sam Matekane to suspend their looming eviction, citing the government’s recent declaration of a national state of emergency on youth unemployment.
The vendors, who are members of the Roma Street Vendors Association, say they have been ordered to vacate their operating area by the 30th of June 2025 to make way for planned road rehabilitation works.
However, in a press conference held in Roma this week, the association’s chairperson Thabiso Mafoso urged the Prime Minister to intervene and delay the eviction, arguing that the timing is inconsistent with the government’s own acknowledgement that youth unemployment is a national crisis.
“We are grateful that the government has recognised youth unemployment as a crisis and declared a state of emergency,” Mr Mafoso said. “It is our understanding that during a state of emergency, certain decisions can be suspended. We therefore hope the government will reconsider the directive to remove us by the end of this month.”
According to Mr Mafoso, the eviction order was issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, but vendors have not been given an alternative site to relocate to. Instead, they were only informed that they would be moved to a new location “at a later stage.”
“Immediate eviction without a clear relocation plan will have severe economic consequences,” he said. “According to our records, there are 350 vendors operating along this stretch, supporting around 850 people including employees and their families. Most of these vendors are young people. Evicting them now would only worsen unemployment and deepen poverty.”
Mr Mafoso also highlighted the positive economic and social impact of vendors’ presence near the university. “Our businesses contribute to local economic growth and help improve safety around the university campus and the broader Roma community. We are not against development, and we support infrastructure upgrades, but we ask that they be implemented with dignity and fairness.”
He added that removing vendors without a clear plan would not only disrupt livelihoods, but also undermine the spirit of the youth emergency declaration, which calls for inclusive and urgent responses to youth-related challenges. “We plead with you, Ntate Matekane, to act with compassion and delay the eviction until a suitable relocation plan is in place. If not, many families will face hunger and increased hardship.”
Prime Minister Matekane declared the state of emergency on youth unemployment last week during the National Youth Dialogue held at Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru. The announcement followed sustained pressure from youth organisations and political party youth leagues, who have long demanded urgent, meaningful action to address joblessness and economic exclusion.
The vendors now argue that any action that threatens youth livelihoods, such as mass evictions without alternatives, directly contradicts the goals of the emergency declaration.
As of Thursday, the Prime Minister’s office had not issued a formal response to the Roma vendors’ appeal.
