…accuses Matlanyane of recycling last year’s budget speech
Mohloai Mpesi
OPPOSITION parties have slammed the 2024/25 national budget statement saying it had been ‘plagiarised’ from last year’s one.
The latest budget statement was not innovative and did not contain concrete steps to rescue Lesotho out of economic squalor, they charged.
The opposition described Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Retṧelisitsoe Matlanyane’s, budget speech yesterday as a “lazy and unimaginative” effort.
Three leaders of opposition parties in the parliament; Mathibeli Mokhothu of the Democratic Congress (DC), who doubles as leader of the opposition in parliament, Basotho National Party (BNP)’s Machesetsa Mofomobe and All Basotho Convention (ABC)’s Nkaku Kabi were not amused by Dr Matlanyane’s budget.
They blasted the government for failing to fully utilise last year’s allocations while public services remained lagging.
Mr Mokhothu singled out the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition which he said had “failed dismally” to provide the much-needed fertilisers and seeds to farmers despite being allocated M1.1 billion.
This year the ministry has been allocated a slightly increased M1.3 billion with the aim to bolster the agriculture sector, which has been identified as the backbone of the economy.
“There is no difference from last year’s budget which they failed to properly use. There is nothing significant,” Mr Mokhothu said.
“The ministry of Agriculture was allocated a big chunk of money more than every other ministry last year with M1.1billion.
“But the farmers were complaining about lack of fertilisers and seeds. Even this year, the same ministry has been awarded M1.3billion. My fear is that the same money is going to benefit few people.
“The minister repeatedly indicated that they are going to help businessmen and he meant themselves (ministers), hence the fertilisers and seeds would be directed to a few people who have tractors while the rest of the nation does not benefit,” he said.
He also blasted the government for not allocating any budget for the protracted national reforms process “despite their noise” that they want to complete the process.
“They maintain that they want to proceed with the reforms, but they do not indicate in their budget how much they allot for the reforms process…..?
“There are lot of things in the reforms that once implemented will need money. For instance, the reforms will see the creation of a Supreme Court…..That will require more judges. Where will the money come from?
“If you have not budgeted for these things, how will they be implemented? This budget does not reflect their interest in the national reforms process despite all their banter,” Mr Mokhothu said.
For his part, Mr Mofomobe said the decline in both the recurrent and capital budgets was worrisome.
“It is a very embarrassing budget. There is nothing convincing about this budget. There is nowhere where the minister details how the government will foster economic recovery.
“People need to be concerned about the decline in the budget. If last year’s budget was about M24 billion and this year it has declined to M21 billion and the capital budget has also declined from M7 billion to M4 billion, it is very worrisome. Where will the money for important infrastructure projects come from?
“This implies that there will not be any developments at the community level because there is no capital budget,” he said.
“All these things presented to us were said during the mid-term budget. We have also heard them from her last year’s budget speech. She continues recycling the same speech…That’s all she can do,” charged Mr Mofomobe.
He further took a swipe at the government’s inability to address the issues of the mining sector. Accusing Dr Matlanyane of protecting Prime Minister Sam Matekane whom he claimed had interest in the mining sector.
“The Minister of Finance was also afraid to tap into the issue of mines. This because the mine issue is close to the Prime Minister’s heart and there will never be a single day when we hear the Prime Minister talking about Basotho’s participation in the mining sector.
“This because Mines and Mineral Act stipulates that Basotho should participate in the mines, but the Prime Minister does not respect that law as he made agreements with the bosses of the mines to buy his plant to use in the mines as opposed to opening opportunities for Basotho as the Act dictates.
“This means the government does not have strategies on the mines, theirs is to protect the interests of the Prime Minister,” he said.
Mr Kabi said the budget was similar to that of last year which he said was never fully implemented.
“A lot of what has been said was in the 2023/2024 budget speech and majority of the issues then were never implemented,” he said.
Mr Kabi said there was no report whatsoever on what was achieved and what remained outstanding.
Mr Kabi also raised concerns regarding the budget allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Last year, the ministry was still given a lot of money to address food insecurity in the country, but we see no improvement from our food insecure status.
“What happened is, certain individuals benefited from the money through tenders which they shared amongst themselves.
“I complimented them on prioritising agriculture last year, and I am still doing so this year. But the problem is that resources won’t reach their intended beneficiaries.
The budget presentation was attended by United Nations Resident Coordinator, Amanda Mukwashi, American Ambassador to Lesotho Ms Maria Brewer, European Union Ambassador to Lesotho Paula Amadei and Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho Lei Kezhong, among others.
