MASERU — The government plans to significantly expand its disability grant programme in the 2026/2027 financial year, nearly doubling the number of beneficiaries in a move that has drawn both praise and pointed criticism from lawmakers who say the expansion still falls far short of what is needed.
Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development Pitso Lesaoana announced the development this week while presenting his ministry’s budget request before the Committee of Supply in the National Assembly. The ministry is seeking an allocation of M1.48 billion for the upcoming financial year.
The centrepiece of the proposal is an increase in disability grant recipients from approximately 2,000 to 4,904, more than double the current base. Of those, around 3,200 persons with disabilities have already completed medical assessments and qualified for the grant. However, only 2,400 of them will be accommodated in the upcoming phase, added to existing beneficiaries to bring the total to just under 5,000.
Lesaoana was candid about the limits of the plan. Even with the expansion, some who qualify will be turned away once the budget ceiling is reached. “There are still deserving beneficiaries who will not be covered at this stage due to financial limitations,” he said, adding that the ministry remains committed to gradually widening coverage as resources allow.
Alongside the increase in recipients, the payment model will also change. Beneficiaries who previously received M1,800 on a quarterly basis will now be paid M650 per month. The shift is designed to provide more consistent and predictable support, allowing recipients to budget more reliably for daily expenses rather than managing larger, infrequent lump sums. The minister said the selection of new beneficiaries will be conducted across all districts to ensure equitable geographic distribution and address disparities between urban and rural areas.
The proposal drew support from some quarters of the National Assembly. All Basotho Convention leader Nkaku Kabi welcomed the expansion, describing it as both necessary and commendable. “This is a positive development that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many Basotho living with disabilities,” he said.
But the announcement also ignited debate. Several legislators argued that the expansion does not go nearly far enough, pointing out that a significant number of qualifying persons with disabilities will still be excluded from support. With an estimated 8,000 persons with disabilities in the country, the proposed cap of 4,904 beneficiaries would leave roughly 3,000 qualifying individuals without assistance. Some members drew a direct comparison with the old age pension, which provides universal coverage to elderly citizens regardless of means, and argued that disability should be treated with the same universality.
“There should be no discrimination in access to social protection among persons with disabilities,” one member said, arguing that vulnerability is not determined by medical classification alone.
Lesaoana framed the disability grant expansion as part of a wider effort to strengthen social welfare, noting that several grants were increased in the previous financial year, including those targeting orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly, and individuals on public assistance. “These adjustments reflect government’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable groups,” he said. Despite the legislative debate, the proposed budget allocation was ultimately adopted as part of the annual financial estimates.
The expansion marks a meaningful step forward that will bring real relief to thousands of households. But the gap between those who qualify and those who will actually receive support has placed the government’s social protection ambitions under scrutiny. As implementation begins, pressure is likely to grow on whether future budgets can close that gap, or whether the programme’s reach will remain constrained by the same financial ceilings that limited it this year.
Lesotho to Nearly Double Disability Grant Recipients — But Thousands Still Left Out
