Activities
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In March, LDP concentrated on the following objectives:

• To improve Members/Constituents’ relationships
• To increase public participation in the parliamentary process

 1. Parliamentary engagement:

• Subsequent to the Finance Minister’s Budget Speech of February 2009 in parliament, the public had different perspectives about the Budget Speech for the Fiscal Year 2009/2010. For instance, for some it is a good budget speech which has ten-pronged plan of action although they are sceptical about the implementation aspect of it. On the other hand Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) hold a view that there was nothing new contained in the Budget Speech except only that it reinforced the existing status quo and that it lacked economic stimulus elements. Further, NGOs interrogated the Budget Speech at different forums such as the event hosted by the LCN at Lehakoe on 18/02/09 where the Principal Secretary for Finance and Development Planning was invited to exchange views and radio slots. In addition to these platforms, the LCN had identified few NGOs including TRC where Lesotho Democracy Programme gave a submission to the Economic and Development Cluster Portfolio Committee in relation to the Budget Speech. The submission was made on 6 th March 2009 in the National Assembly

The sentiments expressed by the NGOs in connection with the Budget estimates for the Fiscal Year 2009/2010 have been later included in the report of the Economic and Development Cluster Portfolio which was tabled before the parliament on March 17 2009 by the Chair of this Portfolio Committee.

• Floor-Crossing: Tuesday, March 24 2009, the MP for Maputsoe Constituency, Hon Nkhetše Monyalotsa crossed the floor in the National Assembly to joint the LCD. Hon. Monyalotsa is the third MP after Hon. Tsehlana, and Hon. Mokhanohi to deflect from the main opposition party in parliament but the first to cross to the ruling party LCD as Hon. Tsehlana formed his own political party called Senkatana and later on was joined by Hon. Mokhanohi.

• LDP held lobby group meetings to deepen an understanding of MPs/Constituents with regard to parliamentary affairs and to increase public participation to that effect.

The communities seemed to have high expectations about the lobby groups from across the three constituencies -Makhaleng, Rothe and Mekaling. Likewise MPs from these constituencies seemed unease due to the formation of lobby groups regarding their roles and responsibilities. To some lobby groups were going to take over from their respective MPs.

The roles and responsibilities of the lobby groups were discussed to the larger extent with the lobby groups as well as the concerned MPs.

Some of the following requests were put forward by lobby group members in order for them to undertake their roles and responsibilities effectively:

• Training: training would capacitate them to perfect their role and responsibilities
• Parliamentary visits: they reiterated the fact that they need to visit the parliament in order for them to observe the debates and start right there to lobby their respective MPs.
• LDP support: they wished that the LDP would assist them to access their MPs
• Inter lobby groups meetings: Lobby groups found in the same constituency have pledged to work together since they are within one constituency  

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