Lesotho Parliament |
By Staff
reporter, Maseru LESOTHO
An influential non-governmental organisation has
called for the postponement of the 2020/21 budget speech to prevent “any
possible (negative economic repercussions) caused by the uncertainty
surrounding the planned departure of Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.
Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro is expected to
present the budget speech on Wednesday in parliament but the Transformation
Resource Centre (TRC) says it must be deferred at least until after the
successor to Thabane has been agreed.
Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro |
Thabane first announced on 16 January that he was
stepping down due to old age and on Thursday he said he would retire at the end
of July this year.
Ever since the announcement of his impending
departure, his All Basotho Convention (ABC) has held several meetings and
nominated party chairperson Samuel Rapapa, deputy spokesperson, ‘Matebatso Doti
and Health Minister Nkaku Kabi as the three candidates to succeed him. Other
party stalwarts like Dr Majoro are also said to be eying the top job and so
far, the party has failed to agree on the successor.
This, according to the TRC, has bred uncertainty
which could affect investor confidence hence the need to postpone the budget
speech at least until after the new premier has been named.
The TRC also believes it is necessary to postpone
the budget speech so that when it is eventually presented, it will be informed
by the programme of action of the new prime minister.
“Whereas Transformation Resource Centre (TRC)
understands complexities that have recently characterised political landscape
of our country, the Centre wants to appeal to all roles players to be careful
of any possible economic repercussions inherent in transition which has been
stimulated by prime minister’s announcement on his resignation as Head of His
Majesty’s Government,” the TRC says in its Friday statement. The statement is
titled: ‘Postpone budget speech, prioritise government stabilisation and
accelerate succession process in order to stop political and economic
uncertainties hurting development’.
“Concerned that there is no indication of consensus
among stakeholders both at prime minister’s party level and national assembly
multi party level on selection of the next prime minister, the nation and
international community hitherto have been held on suspense for a very long
time without a reasonably justification… TRC calls for budget speech to be
postponed until there are efforts in place to facilitate stabilisation of
government and installation of a new prime minister.
“Stressing that the budget speech dated 26th
February 2020 should be delayed until government attains stability. Although
the incumbent prime minister for quite a number of times has public declare his
waning strength to continue running the government, there is also a belief that
the presentation of the budget will be promoting corruption and
maladministration of the public resources whilst the head of government is
endlessly helpless without authority and control of the state affairs.
“…Why should we continue to prepare a budget speech
that is not informed by programme of action of new prime minister, particularly
in this kind of situation where there is instability emanating from the
prolonged resignation period of the prime minister including subsequent
transition that has been created to satisfy egos and ulterior motives of
politicians?”
The TRC said while it was time for the national
budget estimates to be presented in parliament for approval, there were perceptions
that the instability within the ABC may lead to a situation where the budget
was not being approved by the house “because of its legitimacy deficit”
The TRC also said since Dr Majoro was a prime
ministerial hopeful, his budget speech could also be seen by some as part of
the “experimentation of his premiership aspirations just like other candidates
who are also canvassing to succeed the incumbent prime minister”.
“The TRC recommends that all role players, be it
the government or opposition that they should address the challenge of
instability as a collective and deploy the best strategies to alleviate the
tensions and confrontations prevailing at different political levels. There is
no urgency to present 2020/2021 budget before the incumbent prime minister
resignation is swiftly concluded. Subsequently there must be an assurance that
operations and functions of government are not disrupted…,” the TRC said. -
Africa
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