[Hon. Nthomeng Majara, deputy prime minister. Photo credit: Joseph Ntakha]
There’s an old joke that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” While it may draw laughs, the underlying truth is more sobering. Time and again, government intervention has proven not just ineffective, but often counterproductive, making life harder for the very people it claims to assist. In reality, governments around the world are plagued by inefficiency, waste, and bureaucracy, rendering their ability to “help” little more than a costly illusion.
Just this week, the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) revealed that the Lesotho government is facing a staggering M2 billion shortfall in funds required to feed its population. Initially, the government budgeted M3.7 billion to combat what it termed the “unprecedented hunger crisis.” Yet, it has only managed to scrape together M1.7 billion, leaving over 700,000 Basotho—33% of the population—facing hunger and starvation. This crisis is not new, but rather a culmination of years of poor planning, lackluster execution, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
The root causes of this failure go far beyond the “El Niño-induced droughts” and “crop pests” that the DMA CEO Reatile Elias mentioned at a press conference. Yes, the weather plays a role, but the real problem is the systemic inability of the government to anticipate and address crises. This pattern of failure extends across various sectors, where promises are made but seldom fulfilled.
Consider the agricultural sector. According to Elias, the 2023/2024 planting season saw a 32% decrease in the area cultivated compared to the previous year, resulting in the lowest yields since 2018. National maize production dropped by 52% from 2023 to 2024. The consequences of these failures have been felt far and wide, with food prices skyrocketing and inflation eroding household incomes. A typical household of four now needs M3,897.89 just to cover basic expenses, up from M2,600 in 2023. These numbers reveal a government scrambling to respond to the consequences of its inaction.
When a government fails to manage something as fundamental as food security, it raises serious questions about its capacity to govern effectively. Instead of focusing on long-term resilience and self-sufficiency, the government continues to lurch from crisis to crisis, appealing for international aid while its own programs falter.
Take the “Tsoha o Iketsetse” initiative, a program where citizens are paid to work on community infrastructure projects. Participants earn M500 every two weeks for six months. While the program may provide temporary relief, it does little to address the underlying issues of poverty and unemployment. It’s a Band-Aid solution in a country that desperately needs surgery. Government projects like these may give the illusion of assistance, but they’re merely short-term fixes to long-term problems.
Meanwhile, the government’s appeal to international partners for funds only reinforces the cycle of dependency. Forty percent of the needed funds are earmarked for humanitarian assistance, with the rest divided between resilience and development programs. These funds are essential, yes, but they won’t solve the deeper issue: the state’s chronic inability to manage its resources effectively.
The truth is, when government steps in to “help,” it often exacerbates the problem. Government agencies like the DMA may be well-intentioned, but they are hamstrung by inefficiency, corruption, and the slow-moving machinery of bureaucracy. Promises of subsidies and social protection schemes sound good on paper, but in practice, they are plagued by delays, mismanagement, and an inability to reach those most in need.
For example, the government claims it is supporting local farmers by purchasing grains and beans, but the impact has been minimal. Without timely provision of agricultural inputs and subsidies for suitable crop varieties, farmers are left to fend for themselves in an increasingly hostile environment. The call to “intensify integrated catchment management” to protect water sources is commendable, but again, it’s just another promise that will likely remain unfulfilled.
This pattern of failure is not unique to Lesotho. Across the world, governments over-promise and under-deliver. Whether it’s in disaster management, agriculture, healthcare, or education, the track record of government intervention is abysmal. Bureaucracies are bloated and ineffective, and politicians are more interested in photo opportunities and short-term gains than in long-term solutions. The result is a system that is more focused on sustaining itself than on actually solving problems.
Perhaps the most telling example of government’s inefficacy is its own finances. Lesotho, like many countries, is grappling with a massive budget shortfall. Despite the critical need to address hunger, the government is struggling to raise funds, relying heavily on international aid and loans. This cycle of borrowing and spending has left the nation drowning in debt, with no clear plan for fiscal responsibility. When the government itself can’t balance its books, how can we trust it to solve the complex problems facing its citizens?
The lesson here is clear: government, in its current form, is ill-equipped to help. The more we rely on the state, the more we become trapped in a cycle of dependency and stagnation. The time has come for a radically limited form of government, one that focuses on its core functions—protecting individual rights, enforcing contracts, and maintaining public order. Everything else should be left to the private sector and local communities, where innovation, competition, and personal responsibility can thrive.
The private sector, not government, is where real progress happens. In a free market, individuals and businesses are incentivized to find solutions, create value, and drive innovation. Entrepreneurs, not bureaucrats, are the true engines of prosperity. When governments step aside and allow the private sector to flourish, societies become more resilient, adaptable, and prosperous.
At the end of the day, the best help the government can offer is to get out of the way. If we continue to look to the state for solutions, we will only be met with more failure, more dependency, and more disappointment. The real path forward lies in empowering individuals, families, and communities to take control of their own lives, free from the heavy hand of government.
So the next time someone says, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you,” remember that the best help you can get is the freedom to help yourself… running tell them, “if this is the best help you can provide, then I don’t want it!”
