Lesotho Minister highlights rising living costs

Ajouté : 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Let's see now from Lesotho's perspective. So once again, Minister, thank you so much for your time. So I would imagine it's been a very insightful discussions inside of focusing and zeroing in on on these very key issues that are facing the member states. And what just your general overview about what has transpired thus far?

[00:00:20]Yes, up to now, discussions have actually been centered around assessment of the geo climate change impacts in the region, especially as a result of the shift in in the in the geopolitics, the conflicts both in Ukraine and Russia, and also in the Middle East. And how those then actually affect the economies of the of the countries within the region. So that's where the discussions have been centered, but also looking at the the solutions that the region can actually jointly bring together the their individual synergies to reshape the region in order to enable it to withstand those shocks that are brought by the the shift in climatic area.

[00:01:11]And obviously, Minister, it's been a very tough time. I mean, you know, look at from the point of view of the terror of for so many countries, the job losses, and now it's almost like a polycrisis really for a number of countries. How's Lesotho coping under a very incredibly tough environment?

[00:01:29]Obviously, Lesotho being a landlocked country and being a small economy has actually taken quite a hit due to due to those changes. For instance, there's already been around 40 to 45% rise when it comes to prices of petrol, diesel, and the and the likes.

[00:01:47]The the the result of the of the tariff adjustments have actually hit Lesotho so hard because remember, one of the mainstays of Lesotho's economy is the production of a textile and apparel which we export to mainly to the US and coupled with the termination of the AGOA which has which had hoped that it would be it would be adjusted by 3 years and so we have only been given a year to that and it has really hit at Lesotho because you know open factory operators are now closing.

[00:02:16]They're not sure of the market and of course the future, you know, still be two of the of the textile and apparel is not assured to the operator. So that has actually affected Lesotho.

[00:02:26]The price the the increase in fuel prices has also increased the cost of inputs to agriculture and the same applies to the fertilizers.

[00:02:35]We need diesel to operate tractors. So that has really affected Lesotho. But with the debates that are going on currently at the foreign ministers retreat, we hope that as each country then starts assessing its potential and seeing how we can actually harness it within the region and not looking beyond the region would actually bring a long-term solution to the region. I mean look, if you look at SADC, it's a region with of many potentials. We have got oil in Angola, you've got gas in Mozambique, you've got maize in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa. But then also I've got textile in textile in Lesotho.

[00:03:08]In our case in Lesotho, we are pushing for the American market that is made up of about 150 million consumers. But yet in SADC we have got 400 million consumers. So if SADC countries decides to look within whenever they develop a product, they actually ought to what to invest and they look at this market within SADC.

[00:03:28]SADC can go a long way into into into building its independence of the, you know, economic shape-up. Mhm.

[00:03:35]Before we just let you go, Minister, when it comes to issues for example like migration, the ease in terms of movement, what's Lesotho's perspective in terms of ensuring that we address this issue but do away with some obstacles or impediments? Mhm.

[00:03:53]Um people-to-people movement is very important within the region. And so is a movement of a goods and services because in order to grow the economy of SADC, in order to make sure that SADC is independent of a foreign distant markets, we need to enhance and improve our people-to-people, business-to-business, goods and services movement. Now, um Lesotho is landlocked and coincidentally unfortunately it has got only one neighbor which is South Africa. There is a need for the free movement to be improved between the two countries while while making sure that each country's laws relating to migration are respected. So, Lesotho is engaging with South Africa on a bilateral basis to make sure that it it achieves free movement for its people and actually for both people of both countries. So, it's important because then it will it will increase trade, it will increase mobility, and thus leading to to to growth in the economies of both countries.

[00:04:56]We relate well with South Africa. We export water to South Africa. We do a business with South Africa. But also we have got contacts beyond South Africa.

[00:05:04]So, we need to revisit our our laws. All right. Thank you so much indeed, sir, for it. Some of course that's Lesotho's perspective amid a number of issues have been just brushed here by the foreign affairs ministers. A very critical agendas, you know, that it's all about making sure that there's mitigation in terms of religious some of these challenges but also tapping into new opportunities, whether you're looking at energy, transport, logistics, and also market integration within the SADC region. Khayelihle Khumalo, SABC News, Skukuza, Kruger National Park.

[00:06:01]>> Mhm.