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The
making of Local Government continues… |
In the year 2005 Lesotho
saw the introduction of the Local Government System. There is no
doubt that the beginning of the system, in a country where poverty,
unemployment and HIV/AIDS are a problem, that it raised some hopes
to the poor and marginalized who have never enjoyed government
services, since Lesotho’s independence. Nine months since the
introduction of the local government system, the NGO web had a round
of interviews with District Secretaries in the Quthing and Thaba
Tseka District Councils, and a visit to Phuthiatsana Community
Council in a view to find out the following.
To what extent do people understand the system?
How functional are the councils?
What progress has been made since April, 2005?
People’s understanding of Local Government System
In general terms the term “Local Government” is known to many people
who chatted with the reporter. However, what seems to be an issue
was that people were not even aware as to where the local government
councils’ offices were. In some instances people were not even aware
of whom their councillor was.
A classic example was that of Ha Mamathe, where people individually
and in groups were asked about the location of the offices of their
community council. Three women who were later found to be primary
school teachers, did not know the place where the council works
from. They did not know the name of their councilor. A group of
mixed boys and young men playing Morabaraba just by the council
office were not aware that one of Chieftainesses Mampota Masupha’s
offices was used by the council.
Two high school boys walking along the road to Mampoteng, about 4
kilometers away from the council offices, knew the office, but they
could not say who their councilor was. How functional are the
councils?
Evidently the district councils have been frequently sitting. The
issues that were on the table it seems were Range Management,
Community Action Planning and AIDS/HIV. Thaba Tseka District Council
has completed its Consolidated District Plan which ranks clean
water, roads and toilets high in the development of the district.
Quthing District Council, applying Quick Smart Planning Exercise (QSPE),
is drawing up a Community Action Plan. Though the plan is still
shaping up, it appears that roads and water, followed by schools
rank high in the district priorities.
In the two district councils, there have been a number of workshops,
meetings, seminars and public gatherings that were aiming at
sensitising communities about the Local Government System in a view
to improve peoples appreciation and participation in the running of
the councils.
HIV/AIDS is also a concern that triggered a number of initiatives
that are aiming at addressing its consequences.
In the Thaba Tseka District Council, the main challenge is land
allocation as the former Interim Development Councils did not do a
good job. In addressing the problem, the council is holding Land
Allocation training.
In the Quthing District Council poverty and unemployment are the
challenges. It is hoped that the District Action Plan will have some
answers.
What progress has been made since April, 2005?
The above section on functionality of the two district councils
indicates some steps forward. Between April and July, 2005 most of
the councils were stagnant. However, August and September, 2005 saw
progress in a number of activities that range from public gatherings
to training for councilors and public in varying platforms.
Obviously the making of local government is hectic. The challenges
range from lack of appreciation by some secretaries of the councils.
In most councils, secretaries were not staying within the boundaries
of the council, which makes it difficult for them to identify which
challenges face their own councils. An example was made in one
seminar where a secretary could not stay in a council that she was
working for because there was no mobile phone signal in that
council. Many council offices, except when the council was to sit,
were constantly closed.
Another challenge was lack of telephones as a mode of communication
between Community Councils and District Councils. Communication with
secretaries, especially community councils, was through personal
cell phones. Worse still was that even the numbers of those phones
were not indexed by the Ministry of Local Government or District
Councils for ease of reference by either the Ministry, public or any
authority that may need them.
Undoubtedly there is progress in the running of the councils.
However, evidently there is a need for intensive civic education on
a whole range of issues encompassed in the local government system.
The civic education should include the functions of the councils
and, roles and responsibilities of the people in the day to day
running of councils.
The scheduled meetings of the councils must be publicized. Records
of the meetings’ proceedings must be distributed within the
boundaries of those communities.
The offices of the councils must have clear billboards with their
names. In each office there has to be a list of names of councilors
and their full addresses – this must include a list of their cell
phones or what ever easy way of contacting the councilors.
Councilors should remember they are representing their constituents
and make themselves available for consultation with the public.
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