Activities
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1. Meeting with Lobby groups in Butha Buthe Constituency

Date : 19 th -20 th May 2009

Objectives : To improve a record of parliamentary engagement with Basotho including constituency feedback on parliament and information on parliament and government.

Attendance : At least 5 committee members in each village

Issues : Lobbying and advocacy were debated with particular attention on lobbying of decision makers so as to respond and assist constituents' needs that is developmental needs, constituency clinics and feedbacks, MPs and Councils performance, national issues and relations between decision makers in different tiers of government.

Outcome and meaning of meeting:

Representation and constituent relations : Because LPD constitutes forum and network for gathering, exchange and dissemination of information; so as to strengthen civil society and parliament relations; issues such as MPs good rapport with electorates including consultative meetings and frequent reporting of bills debated in parliament including Appropriation Bill, are central and play a pivotal role in Basotho lives, which the MP performs as mandated. Most constituents commended the usage of constituency offices which is utilised effectively. However, similar to Hlotse constituency councils under performance dominated the debate especially in constituents' developmental needs, relations with MPs and chiefs, corruption and discrimination in many projects within the constituency. Lobby groups overemphasised need to report back to public so as constituents needs are addressed and they be enlightened on their needs and responsibility of each decision maker. The main challenge with Lesotho councils is insufficient funding/resource which incapacitate councils to function efficiently hence an outcry about service delivery and constituents' needs at village level . In addition, councils reporting is nonexistent or just few in a year however, councillors maintained that they can only report when execution would be implemented shortly or electorates would regard them as unreliable and incompetent decision makers. District councils too add to challenges as they seem to have controlling powers over local councils and are not truly representative of each local council.

On the side of parliamentarians, it should be instilled and strengthened to MPs that they link individuals and groups to their government and parliament. They should do this by informing citizens about MP and parliament activities, by providing citizens and groups a voice in public policy – including in national budgets , and by assisting constituents with their individual concerns. Collectively constituents are concerned about growing number of laws which are imposed on Basotho without their involvement. However, this depends on a number of modalities such as nation's electoral system, its political environment, and the parliament's capacity. But centrally, i nforming citizens about the activities of individual MPs and the parliament; responding to constituents and f inally, providing parliaments and government linkages to citizens is a major need of most constituents and LDP emphasis is on these matters.

However, unlike other countries in SADC region, Lesotho unsatisfactory parliamentary resources support to MPs, in responding to constituent requests, needs improvement and robust working on for better linkages, confidence and trust on their respective MPs. Nonetheless, most MPs in Lesotho cut through the “red tape” that keeps constituents from receiving normal government benefits, and speak to government ministries and ministers on behalf of constituents. It is found out that constituent services have been a problem for MPs in Lesotho where constituents have come to expect MPs to provide services, even from their own resources even though they are not mandated to provide services but to make laws, oversee and budget and be representative of constituents. It is evident that MPs elected through constituency-based electoral systems are likely to be quite conscious of constituents needs as is the case in Lesotho, and to desire to provide good constituent services however, being in the opposition does not help much as most ruling party's constituencies are often favoured over them. While MPs on the list (which is determined by one's party), MPs will be especially responsive to their party, and feel less pressured to serve constituents than their single-member district counterparts. LDP always advises that MPs should serve all constituents regardless of political affiliations and demand of party line.

Oversight and Budget : In this respect one cannot overemphasise need for parliamentarians as the peoples' representatives to effectively carry out their oversight functions in ensuring availability of resources for an adequate response to electorate needs, and to actively monitor the utilisation of resources, both domestic and external. Resources available should be directed and applied to the intended activities and programmes. As most constituents are dissatisfied with councillors and MPs in their respective areas, Members should lobby for, and be central to defining legislation (reform) that helps to facilitate and formalize more meaningful roles in budget formulation, monitoring of expenditure and in accessing relevant information on issues of concern. However, one can observe that the Government also has responsibilities that include the provision of sufficient funding which often is regarded as inadequate. This is an area with which parliament is still grappling. For any effective oversight to be exercised, the bodies that have responsibility for that oversight must be able to control the Budget and monitor department expenditure in respective ministries. As LDP objective, parliamentarians need to be capacitated with the necessary skills to deal with the intricacies of budgeting though there are still challenges in that regard as most CSOs are still regarded as opposition by government and barred from assisting parliament. Civil society, including the media has an important role to play in ensuring effective oversight. However, it is evident that Lesotho not only is most of the media in Lesotho not well informed, that it is trapped in an archaic paradigm of sensation and is scandal driven, but also civil society which is poorly organised and coordinated at the formal CSOs level. Notwithstanding, it is important to have both media and CSOs play a fundamental role in oversight functions.

2. Debate on Education Bill 2009

Date : 21 st May 2009.

Objective: To increase public participation in parliamentary and governance activities

Issues and proceedings:

Representation and public participation: MP for Likhetlane invited teachers, chiefs, councillors and TRC to a meeting to participate in the Education Bill, 2009. The main objective was not only to incorporate the views and aspirations of different sectors representing the Basotho society in the new land law but also to effectively engage a stakeholder that is teachers in laws that would affect them on daily basis. The purpose of the Bill however, is to provide for free and compulsory education at primary level in conformity with Section 28 of the Constitution of Lesotho. The Bill further clarifies the roles and responsibilities of persons and institutions tasked with administration of education. Most importantly, the bill abolishes corporal punishment at schools in accordance with Section 8 of the Constitution which provides that a person shall not be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading punishment. Further, registration of schools is required according to specified categories and appointments of principals in public schools would be contractual period of five years. In addition, Teaching Service Commission is charged with responsibility to appoint, promote, transfer and remove from office teachers whose salaries are paid by government and may advise the minister on any matter related to the Teaching Service.

Outcome and meaning of workshop:

As LDP constitutes a forum where MPs inform civil society of parliament activities, its forth coming programme be it green or white papers or any bill that may come before parliament, and to increase public policy engagement in parliament; mainly, legislatures are the people's branch of government, the institution where citizen interests and preferences are expressed and transformed into policy, and the point which, at least potentially, people most closely engage their national government . As such, legislatures are key to achieving the democratic potential embodied in free and fair elections. But if the voices of those most affected by government policies are not heard in the policymaking process, those policies will not be as successful as they can be. They represent people and groups, reflecting and bringing their needs, aspirations, problems, concerns, and priorities to the policymaking and policy-amending process ; this a major challenge faced by both MPs and public as public do not feel are truly represented by their MPs as laws are passed without their participation. MPs make laws , the rules that govern a nation; and they practice oversight, assuring that laws and programs are carried out legally, effectively, and according to legislative intent however, constituents are never satisfied with them.

Public policy involvement : LDP objective is to capacitate civil society to effectively engage with parliament and enhance public participation in parliamentary issues. Likhetlane constituency is fortunate as their MP makes himself more available to the public – especially to his own constituents – than do other government officials. In addition, personal contacts between MPs and constituents is visible at this constituency; as he reaches out and provide information to the public, through: e nabling citizens and groups to impact government policy and incorporate constituents contribution . However, as a member of parliamentary portfolio committees, they are facing a mammoth task of increasing public participation in parliamentary issues but, there is a challenge of holding public hearings in public policy engagement such as resource scarcity and not performing as mandated by the revised Standing Orders. Only certain districts were engaged initially however, at small scale and coverage.

Teachers were concerned about matters of discipline and human rights protection because children would be compelled to attend learning institutions even when they detested going to school- free and compulsory seem to be contradictory. The minister seems to have absolute and majority powers even in petty and insignificant issues which could be left at discretion of teachers, principal and school boards such as suspension and expulsion of learners which need concurrence/consent of the Minister. Teachers and principals were dissatisfied with abolition of corporal punishment ; the bill is likely to destroy discipline and good order in schools by so doing and such clause should be reformulated or be deleted from the bill. The bill evidently concentrates on learners' rights and totally neglects teachers' rights in school environment. Teachers' rights and learners responsibilities should be considered. It was agreed that learners should be punished not tortured. On the other hand, the age of six years as school entrance period is more challenging in mountainous, cold and daring conditions and proves to be problematic. The word ‘parent' should be clearly qualified for purposes of clarity and responsibilities they go with. In addition, women were dissatisfied with the notion of being nominated without consideration of ones integrity, qualifications and capabilities , it was insisted that they be appointed on merit not just by minister on the basis of gender quota. Moreover, councillors should not be included in school boards as they might find difficulty in remaining apolitical on school issues. Most participants were concerned about imposition of laws on Basotho and they welcome and applauded MP's and LDP efforts to enhance public participation in parliamentary issues especially in law making processes.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR SEPTEMBER

•  Hold public hearings at Likhetlane constituency on Education Bill

•  Continue to update LDP webpage

•  Hold a meeting between electorates and Parliamentarian at Likhetlane

•  Monitoring and managing Lobby committee in Butha- Buthe and Hlotse

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