The Lesotho We Want

The Lesotho that We Want

The Lesotho National Vision 2020 rightly envisages that: By the year 2020 Lesotho shall be a stable democracy, a united and prosperous nation at peace with itself and its neighbours. It shall have a healthy and well-developed human resource base. Its economy will be strong; its environment well managed and its technology well established.

The Christian Council of Lesotho (CCL) has unceasingly declared that there is no peace in the country. The politicians, on the other hand, have always declared that there is peace in the country because every Mosotho is able to move freely. There have been elements here and there which indicated that there was no peace and there is still no peace. Peace is an enabling condition for development in the country. In addition, the reforms which the country is preparing to undertake needs a conducive and peaceful environment. This is why we have the SADC Prevention Mission in the country. The Christian Council of Lesotho wishes to seize this opportunity of the reform agenda in the country to actually pursue the national vision which has to be realized in the near future. However, the vision could be realized through the prescribed reforms which definitely will strengthen the democratic institutions that are weak. There has been a lack of political will to strengthen them because when they are weak they are unable to hold the government to account. On the other hand, the weak institutions become drivers of political instability and therefore Lesotho has been punctuated with the instability. For example, the country has held three elections in five years which is a period of government term as per the Constitution. Good governance ensures that every institution delivers its service accordingly.

The past two years the country had experienced lack of rule of law and promotion of impunity. People lived in fear because of the sporadic arbitrary arrest at night. The current government seems to understand that rule of law is one of the fundamental principle of democracy. This is demonstrated in the political will to prosecute those who have committed crime. World Summit Outcome (2005) asserts that “the advancement of the rule of law is essential for sustained and inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms including the right to development, all of which in turn reinforce the rule of law.” Our submission as CCL to the government was to strongly highlight the fact that the rule of law is a principle of governance whereby all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the state itself, are accountable to just, fair and equitable laws and are entitled without any discrimination of equal protection of the law.

One of the SDGs is to strengthen the governance institutions. Democratic governance is a set of values and principles that are essential to achieve sustainable development. Besides that people do participate in the shared building for their future during elections and freely choose their leaders, democratic governance provides a comprehensive system that caters for fundamental rights and guarantees for full citizen engagement, equity, inclusion and institutional accountability, while also ensuring that people are protected from arbitrary actions by government and powerful corporation.

It is critical to strengthen the democratic institutions such as judiciary, security sector, and anti-corruption agencies. Many people are questioning the independence of the judiciary. Many people have lost trust in the justice system. Access to effective, fair, responsive and accountable justice systems, including state and other forms of justice, is essential for addressing the underlying causes of lack of human security, poverty, inequality and marginalization. Access to justice, hopefully, will be enhanced by institutional reforms that address efficiency and integrity and elements of discrimination and bias. The independence of the judiciary system together with its impartiality and integrity, is an essential prerequisite for upholding the rule of law and ensuring that there is no discrimination in the administration of justice.

In the past two years we have witnessed escalating levels of murder cases. This challenge can be addressed when the government has capacity to build and sustain effective justice and security institutions which are positively linked to reduced levels of violence and to the ability of the government to establish durable peace.

The National Strategic Development Plan (2013-2017) proposes the establishment of the Peace Architecture as a peace mechanism. CCL is pursuing the government to establish such peace mechanism that should be legislated. The peace mechanism will be able to establish early warning system in order to be able to prevent violent conflict. In this way, the government will be building national and local capacities for early warning conflict analysis and conflict sensitivity, dispute resolution, dialogue and mediation which are critical for addressing drivers for conflict.

The Lesotho We Want will be characterized by, among other things, a rule of law which allows better provision of basic public services. There will be establishment of a just and fair legal framework, effective systems for enforcement of rules and procedures and reducing corruption, which will enable effective delivery of health, nutritious food, education, child protection and other social services.

 

 

Let’s build the Lesotho we want – Let’s go and vote

Lesotho is ready to consolidate electoral democracy, are you?  Cast your vote and be part of 85% voter turnout on the 3rd June 2017 in order to build the Lesotho you want.

We can change our country if we will. Remember that the change we desire can be accomplished through good governance.  One of the pillars of good governance is participation and this means we need to take part and be involved in the development process.  Men and women of this country need to participate so that the government can make informed choices.  But how will that be possible if we do not take part in elections?  One of the pillars of governance is accountability.  Government has to be accountable for it to be deemed good, however, to whom will it be accountable if we do not vote?

It is time dear nation, that we bring the change we want.  Let us all go and vote for the government and the kind of governance we want in this our mother-land.

Remember this is what you are voting for:

  1. Someone who is going to draw policies and laws in parliament
  2. Someone who is going to allocate public money
  3. Someone to monitor how public money is used
  4. Someone to monitor and follow up on the implementation of policies and laws of Lesotho
  5. Someone to hold Ministers accountable and monitor their work

 

Therefore brethren, let us be part of governance in our country and be informed about what we are voting for.  Above all, let us all pray for peaceful, free and fair elections.

 

“Come let us rebuild so that we will no longer be a disgrace” Nehemiah 2:17

Parliament Dissolution

  • “Moea oa Morena Molimo o holim’a ka, hobane o ntlotselitse ho bolella mafutsana, molaetsa o molemo. O nthometse ho thoba pelo tsa ba soabileng…” (Esaea 61:1). Re le Lekhotla La Likereke Lesotho (CCL) re rata ho leboha litho tsa mekha le makhotla a lipolotiki hammoho le baetapele ba mekha le makhotla a lipolotiki ha ba khutletse hae. Re lebohela le masole a neng a le chankaneng haele mona a lokolotsoe. Re lakatsa hore masole a ntseng a le palehong le ona a khutlele hae. Re leboha Morena Molimo ka tsena hobane ke sesupo sa litholoana tsa Jubile.
  • Re leboha kamoo Puso ea sechaba ka sechaba molemong oa sechaba e holang ka teng naheng ea rona. Sena se bonahetse ka tsela eo ntlo ea bakhethoa e sebelitseng litaba tsa eona ka teng holatela Molao oa Motheo.
  • Re lemoha hape hore Motlotlehi o amohetse khothaletso ea Tona-Kholo ea ho qhala paramente ele ho itukesetsa ho ea likhethong. Joale re ipeletsa ho baetapele ba mekha le makhotla a lipolotiki ho sebetsa ka mamello, tlhomphano, Khotso le lipuisano ha ba ntse ba itukisetsa ho ea likhethong.
  • Re ipiletsa ho Lekhotla la Likhetho (IEC) ho sebetsa ka ponahatso le bots’epehi joaloka nako e fitileng, ele hore sephetho sa likhetho se tle se amohelehe.
  • Re tsoenyehile haholo ke liketsahalo tsa ho koetela litho tsa mekha le makhotla a lipolotiki ke batho ba ikhakantseng. Empa ho makatsang ke hore ba qetella ba le liofising tsa sepolesa feela ho sena liqoso.
  • Re ipiletsa ho ‘Muso ho khalemela liketso tse joalo hobane li hatakela litokelo tsa mantlha tsa botho. Re ipeletsa hape ho litsi tsa ts’ireletso ho emisa liketso tsena le ho netefatsa polokeho ea sechaba, thepa ea sona le ts’ireletso ea naha.
  • Re ipiletsa hore lits’iea tsa puso ea sechaba ka sechaba molemong oa sechaba li baballoe, eleng bolokolohi ba motsamao, bolokolohi ba puo le tokelo ea ho phela tse teng kahara Molao oa Motheo.
  • Re qetella ka mantsoe a Jakobo a reng: “Ke mang har’a lona, ea bohlale, ea nang le tsebo? Ka boits’oaro ba hae bo botle, a ke a bonts’e hore mesebetsi ea hae e etsoa ka boikokobetso bo lumellanang le bohlale” Jakobo 3:13.

Boemo bo ka har’a naha

Boipiletso bo akaretsang ho Marena, Baetapele ba lipolotiki, sechaba le mekhatlo e ikemetseng. Rea le lumelisa ‘me re re ho lona:  “Le neoe mohau le khotso ke Molimo, Ntat’a rona, le ke  Morena  Jesu Kreste” (2 Cor. 1: 2). Re elelloa maemo a tsitsipano le ho hloka botsitso ka har’a naha ea rona.  Re hopotsa Basotho bohle litŝia tsa boleng ba rona e leng:

  1. Basotho le Lesotho pele
  2. Khotso le botsitso ba naha
  3. Tŝireletso ea rona re le sechaba
  4. Puso ea molao
  5. Ntlafatso le boiketlo ba sechaba

Ha re hetla morao re lemoha hore litholoana tsa maemo a kang ana li sulafaletsa Basotho bophelo, li leleka  metsoalle, le ho thefula moruo oa naha. Re bona tsona litŝiea tsena tseo e leng lebofe la rona li amehile haholo, ke liboka tsa baphatlalatsi le ho hasoa hoa litaba li-ea-le-moeeng. Liboka tsena ka matla a tsona li ka re thusa ho aha kapa ho heletsa litŝiea tsena tsa khotso. Paulosi ha a khalema sechaba sa Bakorinte o bua ka mantsoe ana:

“Re manģosa a Kreste ke hona, ‘me ho ka thoe ke Molimo o le

Khothatsang ka rona, rea le rapela, bakeng sa Kreste re re

Boelanang le Molimo” (2 Cor. 5: 20)

Re qetella ka ho kopa Basotho bohle le liphutheho tsohle tsa Likereke ho tŝehetsa lipuisano tsa baetapele bana ba rona ba lipolotiki ‘moho le rona Lihlooho tsa Likereke hore ho keneng lipakeng moo lipuisanong, Molimo a ke a re fe litholoana tsa katleho.

Lipolaeano tse renang ka har’a naha

Rona Baetapele ba Kereke, ba tekenetseng lengolo lena, re lumelisa balumeli bohle ‘moho le batho bohle ba maikemisetso a matle.  Re etsa joalo ka Lebitso la Morena le Mopholosi oa rona Jesu Kreste.

Re le baruti ba lona, re sa boetse re le hopotsa hore ke ka eena Kreste, Molimo a entseng topollo ea rona ka ho inkela botho ba hae, ‘me a kena har’a mahlomola le masisa pelo a lefatśe lena ka baka la rona hobane “Ka ha le eena a lekiloe ka ho hlokofatsoa, o tseba ho thusa ba lekoang”.  (Baheberu 2: 18)

Ka hoo sechaba sa bo rona, re ipiletsa ho lona bohle ho ikopanya e le hore, le ha le ka fapana ka maikutlo, le tle le ‘ne le boloke bonngoe, le ratane, le hlomphane, hape le mamellane ho sa khathalle maemo a lona a lipolotiki le phapano ea maikutlo, hobane le ban  a ba Molimo kaofela.

Re elelloa maemo a hlobaetsang a lipolaeano, ‘me re tśoenyehile haholo ke maemo ana.  Lipalo li supa hore ho tloha selemong sa 2013 ho fihlela selemong sena sa 2016, lipolaeano li ntse li eja setsi.  Morena Molimo o boletse bukeng ea Exoda hore, “U se ke ua bolaea”  (Exoda 201:13).

Malapa a rona a arohane ke lintoa.  Metse ea rona e harasoane ke lintoa.  Tumelo ea rona e lekiloe ke lintoa.  Rona, baetapele ba lona ba Moea, re na le boikarabello bo boholo ba ho arabela qholotso ena.  Lintoa li senya maphelo, seriti sa botho le tśepo ea sechaba.  Tśabo ea lintoa e lemalitse sechaba ebile e se arotse.  Lehloeo, likarohano, ho nyahama le ho se tsotelle ke khubu ea tloaelo ena e mpe ea lintoa le lipolao.

Tlamahano ea sechaba, eo Basotho ba tsebiloeng e le sechaba sa khotso, e senyehile ka lebaka la tloaelo e mpe e hlahileng ea lintoa, tse sieang batho ba bang e le bafu, ‘me  malapa a mangata a phela ka tśabo mahaeng a bona.

Sechaba sa habo rona se holofalitsoe ke maemo ana hoo ho bonahalang se iphapanyelitse boemo ba tahlehelo ea maphelo le mahlomola a bakoang ke lipolao.  Sechaba sa Basotho se hlahileng se rata bophelo, bolokolohi, khotso le thabo, kajeno se tśoenngoa ke lefu, se khoholehong ea tśabo ‘me se nyoretsoe tśireletso.

‘Muso o tlameha ho phethahatsa boikarabello ba mantlha ba ho netefatsa boteng ba polokeho, boiketlo le siriti sa sechaba.  O tśoanetse ho sireletsa maphelo a sechaba e le hore se tle se natefeloe ke bophelo ‘me se phele ka bolokolohi.  Hona ho bolela hore sechaba se sireletsoe khahlanong le tsohle tse ka ba utloisang bohloko, tse ka etsang hore ba phele ka tśabo.  Re ipiletsa ho ‘Muso ho phethahatsa boikarabello ba ona ba ho sireletsa sechaba.

Ha ho tśoanele hoba tjena.  Ho ne ho se tjena.  Re ka nena lintoa.  Re ka aha sechaba sa khotso.  Sena se qala ka kholiseho ena: tlhompho ea bophelo. Tlhompho ea bophelo e kolla bukeng ea Genese moo re bolelloang hore motho o bopiloe ka setśoantśo sa Molimo ‘me Molimo a bolulela moea oa hae ka mothong (Genese 1: 27).  Re ipiletsa ho batho ba liketso tsena tsa diabolosi ho khaotsa hang-hang.

Tsela eo re atamelang bophelo ka eona,  e re thusa ho lemoha hore bophelo ke letlotlo le fetang lintho tsohle.  Tlhompho ea bophelo e tśoanetse ho tataisa lintho tseo re likhethang re le sechaba kapa ka bo mong: lintho tseo re li etsang kapa tseo re sa lietseng, tseo re li ratang ‘me  re li jang; tseo re li tśehetsang kapa re hananang le tsona.  Tlhompho ea bophelo ke qaleho ea ho loantśa tloaelo ea lintoa le lipolao.

Re ipiletsa  hore le fetole lipelo tsa lona.  Ke nako, ka mantsoe a tsoang bukeng ea Deuteronoma 30: 19

“Kajeno leholimo le lefatśe ke lipaki tsaka tsa hore ke beile kapele

ho  lona  bophelo  le  lefu,  tlhohonofatso le thohako; ka baka leo,

ikhetheleng bophelo, e le hore  uena,  le bana ba lona, le tle le phele.

Ha re hlokemeleng hore khotso ke mpho ea bohlokoahali e tsoang ho Molimo (Johanne 14: 27).

Sechaba sa habo rona, ha re mameleng Jesu Kreste ‘me re ikemisetse ho phethahatsa thuto ea hae ka mafolo-folo a macha:  “Ho lehlohonolo ba etsang khotso; hobane ba tla bitsoa bana ba Molimo” (Mattheu 5:9).

Khotso ea Molimo e be le lona.

ARCHBISHOP G.T. LEROTHOLI OMI

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

 BISHOP A.M. TAASO

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN LESOTHO

REV. T.S. MASEMENE

LESOTHO EVANGELICAL CHURCH

IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

 

 

 

REV. M. MOKHOSI

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL

CHURCH

Polelo ea lekhotla la likereke Lesotho malebana le lipolao tsa batho ka har’a naha

Re le Lekhotla la Likereke  Lesotho re soabile le ho nyarosoa ke lefu la Ofisiri e kholo ea Sesole Monghali Maaparankoe Mahao le lipolao tse ling tse sehloho tsa batho. Re nyatsa ka matla lipolao tsena joalo ka ha lentsoe la Molimo le re “u  seke oa bolaea”, hobane bophelo ba motho e mong le e mong bo bohlokoa mahlong a Molimo.

Re ipiletsa ho ‘Muso ho batlisisa ka matla lipolao tsena le ho nka likhato tse lokelang tsa molao ka pele. Re ipiletsa ho Sechaba ho emisa lipolaeano tsena tse sehlooho.

Lekhotla la Likereke Lesotho le khothaletsa sechaba ho buisana moo ho fapanoang ka maikutlo.

Rev. T.S. Masemene

Motsatsi Oa Molula-Setulo

Bishop A.M. Taaso

Mongoli

Rev. M. Mokhosi

Setho

Rev. S. Sotu

Setho