By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Lesotho Prime Minister-elect Sam Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party, a party set up only six months ago, won 56 out of 120 seats in Lesotho’s Parliament in recent elections.
The millionaire businessman, turned politician was sworn in as Lesotho’s next prime minister on Friday during a ceremony to be attended by leaders from across the continent at the Setsoto Stadium in Maseru.
Matekane vowed to introduce a raft of measures to “make Lesotho great again” by attracting investment and replenishing the government’s coffers at the ceremony.
Matekane said the new government will pursue six key strategic goals, which includes enhancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth and private sector job creation, strengthening the human capital, building an enabling infrastructure, strengthening national government and accountability system for improved service delivery, strengthening climate risk management resilience and adaptation, and strengthening public financial management.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the inauguration of Prime Minister-elect Matekane.
Ramaphosa and Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema hugged it out in Lesotho today, much to either the delight or ire of South Africans.
Both politicians attended the inauguration in Maseru on Friday.
Earlier this week, while addressing delegates at the 3rd Provincial People’s Assembly of the EFF in KwaZulu-Natal, Malema remarked on Ramaphosa’s “big nose”.
Malema also said the president “must not be allowed to speak”, as it is a Royal Family matter, and not an ANC conference.
Addressing attendees at the event, Ramaphosa congratulated the prime minister and reflected on the ties between Lesotho and South Africa.
“For many, [Lesotho] became a place of refuge and safety… We acknowledge with gratitude the solidarity and the hospitality of the Basotho.”
“We, therefore, welcome the commitment of the incoming government to give priority to the finalisation of this important work,” Ramaphosa concluded.
In 2021, the diamond magnate was named the richest citizen of Lesotho with a net worth of $10 billion in 2021.
Speaking to the media recently, Matekane said he had great ambitions for the country, including not drawing a salary.
Lesotho has an array of social challenges ranging from corruption and nepotism, climate change challenges which affects food production and agriculture, ongoing political instability and growing poverty.
Former Lesotho foreign minister Tlohang Sekhamane has been elected new speaker of the country’s parliament following elections that took place on Tuesday.
The speaker elections took place during the televised first sitting of Lesotho’s 11th parliament following the elections.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.