The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, The Right Honourable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane has expressed his appreciation to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the continued support towards the restoration of peace and security in the Kingdom.
Speaking when he received a courtesy call from the Executive Secretary of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi at the State House in Maseru, Lesotho, on 5th December 2022, the Prime Minister said the Kingdom of Lesotho will remain committed to SADC’s governance principles and maintain peace in the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Lesotho successfully held National Assembly elections on 7th October, 2022 and subsequently formed a new Coalition Government.
The courtesy call is part of the SADC Executive Secretary’s programme to introduce himself to the Heads of State and Government in the region, share his ideas about a sustainable approach to expedite regional integration, achieve peace and security, as well as seek guidance and direction from the region’s leadership. The SADC Executive Secretary has so far paid courtesy calls on the Heads of State and Government for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Kingdom of Eswatini, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republics of Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s readiness to expedite the implementation of the on-going National Reforms towards the restoration of peace, and to collaborate with the SADC Oversight Committee for the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Prime Minister Matekane outlined enhancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth and private sector job creation; and building enabling infrastructures in renewable energy, which includes hydro power, wind energy and solar energy, as among his priority projects.
For his part, the SADC Executive Secretary congratulated The Right Honourable Prime Minister, and assured him of SADC’s support in the National Reforms agenda. H.E Magosi, highlighted that, among his priorities during his tenure, as the SADC Executive Secretary was to work with Member States to eliminate obstacles to regional integration, industrialisation and improve access to markets in the region.
The Lesotho Prime Minister welcomed the SADC Executive Secretary, and assured him of the Kingdom of Lesotho’s support on his ideas and the proposed approach to expedite regional integration and industrialisation in the region.
During the meeting, The Right Honourable Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Honourable Lejone Mpotjoana, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Honourable Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane and the Focal Point of SADC in Lesotho, said that his government remains committed to SADC’s Regional Integration agenda, and will participate in regional interventions aimed at improving the livelihoods of the citizens of the community.
The SADC Executive Secretary, was accompanied by Director for Planning and Resource Mobilisation, Dr Mubita Luwabelwa, the Acting Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, Ms Kealeboga Moruti and the Head of Communication and Public Relations, Ms Barbara Lopi.
H.E. Magosi is the seventh Executive Secretary of SADC who assumed his position on 1st September, 2021, following his appointment at the 41st SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Lilongwe, Malawi in August, 2021
