…as PM admits government is struggling to create jobs
Moroke Sekoboto
THE Coalition of Youth Organizations has taken aim at Prime Minister Sam Matekane for what it describes as his government’s failure to curb unemployment, following his admission over the weekend that the state is struggling to create jobs.
Mr Matekane made the remarks while addressing elections of the Revolution for Prosperity Student Tertiary League, where he acknowledged the limitations the government faces in providing employment for young people.
The comments have drawn sharp criticism from the Coalition of Youth Organizations, which says the Prime Minister’s remarks signal a lack of commitment to tackling the unemployment crisis.
The youth organisations behind the call included Bacha Shutdown, On-Point Foundation, Youth AIDS Free Foundation, Youth in Action, Social Reformers Initiative, People’s Matrix, Lesotho Network Development of the Blind, Lesotho Youth Summit, and Voice of Youth Society. Political party youth leagues involved were from the Democratic Congress (DC), All Basotho Convention (ABC), Basotho National Party (BNP), Socialist Revolutionaries (SR), Basotho Action Party (BAP), and United African Transformation (UAT).
In July 2025, Mr Matekane declared youth unemployment a national disaster at the National Youth Dialogue, announcing that the government would facilitate the creation of more than 62,000 jobs as part of the national response.
However, in a statement released this week, the coalition said the Prime Minister’s latest comments undermined both the spirit and substance of that declaration.
“The Coalition of Youth Organizations expresses deep concern and disappointment at recent remarks by the Prime Minister at the Revolution for Prosperity Student Tertiary League elections, where he stated that creating jobs is difficult and that the government cannot create employment for all young people,” the statement said.
“These remarks directly contradict the spirit and commitment of the government’s own declaration of youth unemployment as a national disaster—a declaration that acknowledged the severity, urgency and exceptional nature of the crisis facing young people in Lesotho.”
The coalition reminded Mr Matekane that, when announcing the disaster declaration at the National Youth Dialogue, he made a clear public commitment that the government would facilitate the creation of more than 62,000 jobs.
“This commitment was already the bare minimum, given that Lesotho has more than 310,000 unemployed youth. Even if fully implemented, the promise would address only a small portion of those affected.
“It is therefore unacceptable for the government to now shift the narrative towards the limitations of job creation after having raised the hopes of young people through a national disaster declaration and specific commitments.”
The coalition said leadership demands consistency, accountability and delivery.
“The declaration of youth unemployment as a disaster was not a symbolic gesture; it was a commitment to urgent and extraordinary action. It cannot now be followed by statements that suggest retreat from responsibility,” the statement said.
They stressed that having declared youth unemployment a national disaster, the government must act accordingly. It said Mr Matekane’s commitment to create just over 62,000 jobs— a modest figure relative to the scale of the crisis—must be fully implemented.
“Young people will not accept lowered expectations, shifting commitments or reduced urgency in addressing a crisis that affects their survival, dignity and future,” the coalition said.
It also called on the government to demonstrate seriousness in the upcoming national budget through clear and substantial allocations for youth employment, particularly for interventions contained in the completed National Response Plan, in whose development young people were stakeholders.
In addition, the coalition demanded a detailed implementation framework for the 62,000-job pledge, including measurable targets, clear timelines and transparent reporting mechanisms, as well as continued inclusion of youth stakeholders in the National Response Plan processes.
“Youth unemployment remains one of the greatest threats to national stability, economic growth and social cohesion. The government must match its declarations with decisive action and measurable results. The Coalition of Youth Organizations will continue to stand with the youth in holding the government accountable to its commitments and in advocating for the interests and future of young people in Lesotho.”
