’Marafaele Mohloboli
OPPOSITION parties have expressed their disappointment with the budget presentation for the 2018/19 financial year.
Former Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, said the budget was “a total disappointment that fell way short of what we were anticipating following a promise by the Deputy Prime Minister, Monyane Moleleki that they would present a wonder budget, which has never been seen since independence”.
“We are actually shocked because he whetted our appetites and kept ourselves in suspense. We expected better than this and for the first time we see the budget not showing any monetary allocations per ministry,” Dr Mosisili said.
He however said, the budget narrative had some good policies but it remained to be seen whether or not they will be implemented beyond the budget presentation.
Dr Mosisili’s sentiments were echoed by the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) spokesperson, Teboho Sekata.
“This was indeed a wonder budget because there is nowhere in it where the elderly people were catered for. This budget is not in the best interest of Basotho and it is just lip-service because none of the issues raised were new in any way,” Mr Sekata said.
He said now that the government also had a tendency of side-lining local contractors in construction projects and they would simply do so for the Belo Industrial Hub and the Mpit-Sekake to Sehlabathebe bitumen road projects.
The leader of Movement for Economic Change (MEC) and legislator for Thabana-Morena, Selibe Mochoboroane said the budget is not what they expected given the promise made by the Deputy Prime Minister.
“He really raised our expectations during the pre-budget presentation in parliament. I expected to see ministers work closely in designated areas per districts for implementation of developmental projects, with clear financial allocations.
“However, it’s good to note that they have good policies in place which are a beacon of hope if implemented as tabled, which I don’t think will be possible,” Mr Mochoboroane said.
