The Coalition of Youth Organisations is pressing the government to act decisively on its declaration of youth unemployment as a national disaster. In a letter addressed to Minister Limpho Tau and copied to the CEO of the Disaster Management Authority, the coalition expresses concern over the lack of concrete steps following the official declaration three weeks prior.
This latest communication follows previous advocacy efforts by the coalition, as highlighted in earlier reports, where they successfully pushed for recognition of youth unemployment as a critical issue requiring urgent attention. Building on these efforts, the coalition is now focused on ensuring that the declaration translates into tangible action and that the government adheres to the Disaster Management Act of 1997.
The letter underscores specific areas of concern:
Lack of Coordination
The task team of ministers coordinating the disaster response has not been formed or officially announced.
Absence of Leadership
The CEO of the Disaster Management Authority has not been appointed as the National Coordinator, as mandated by the Disaster Management Act.
No Clear Plan
There is no published disaster response plan, timeline, or mechanism for involving youth in the planning and implementation process.
The coalition reminds the government of its duty to facilitate the state of disaster with urgency, as per Gazette 102 of 2025. It points out that failure to act could be a violation of the Lesotho Public Service Codes of Good Practice. They highlight that Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane directed relevant officers to complete the declaration on June 18, 2025.
The Coalition demands the immediate formation and gazetting of the Ministerial Task Team, urgent appointment of the National Coordinator and a public update on the roadmap, implementation plan, and how youth voices will be included.
The coalition has given the government seven working days to demonstrate tangible progress, warning that failure to do so will result in them invoking legal provisions to protect the interests of the youth and it remains open to further engagement and collaboration.
