Maseru
In an effort to accelerate Lesotho’s national reforms, the Parliament of Lesotho and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a crucial agreement aimed at reinforcing parliamentary functions and driving positive change for the people of Lesotho.
The formal signing ceremony, held at the Parliament House on Wednesday was attended by key stakeholders, including Dr Jacqueline Saline Olweya from UNDP and ‘Mamonaheng Mokitimi, President of the Senate. The agreement is designed to support the Parliament in its implementation of the reforms program, ensuring that members are better equipped to fulfil their legislative, oversight, and representative roles.
Recognizing the need for external expertise and resources, the Parliament of Lesotho reached out to UNDP for assistance. This partnership is expected to accelerate the reforms process, enabling parliamentarians to work more effectively for the benefit of the Basotho.
Olweya highlighted the longstanding support UNDP has provided to Lesotho’s national reforms. “UNDP has been supporting national reforms in this country for quite a while. Jointly with funding from the EU, we supported the assessment of key governance institutions, including the Parliament and judiciary,” Olweya stated.
The institutional governance assessment identified Parliament as a pivotal partner in need of enhanced support to perform its core functions more effectively.
“We are doing this through various modalities, including capacity building, reviewing the code of conduct, and facilitating national exposure among others. We have supported this program with $500,000 for the period of 2024/25,” Olweya elaborated.
Olweya also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved, “I want to thank everyone for their support and collaboration with UNDP, to ensure this partnership is a success.”
Mokitimi underscored the importance of the agreement, “UNDP and the entire UN family have travelled this journey with us for a long time. They saw us stumble and fall, but stood by our side, encouraging us to soldier on. What a loyal and faithful partner we have in you,” Mokitimi remarked.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey. It is with immense gratitude and appreciation that I extend our heartfelt thanks to UNDP for their generous support and commitment to our programs,” she added.
Mokitimi emphasized that the Memorandum of Understanding represents more than a formal agreement. She showed that this MoU represents not just a formal agreement but a profound partnership rooted in shared values and common vision for a better future for Basotho.
The support extended to Parliament is expected to play a crucial role in enabling lawmakers to implement impactful programs that will drive positive change and uplift the lives of citizens.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in making this partnership a reality. Your hard work, perseverance, and collaboration have laid the foundation for what promises to be a transformative alliance. We promise to work hard and achieve the results UNDP expects, ” Mokitimi concluded.
