28 June – 01 July 2022, Maser, Lesotho – The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) led by Prof. Eddy Maloka, undertook a sensitization mission to the Kingdom of Lesotho from 29 June to 01July 2022. The objective of the mission was to revitalize the APR process, re-establish and re-energize the APRM National structures that are required to initiate the self-assessment exercise and ultimately successfully complete the peer review process.Lesotho acceded to the APRM in July 2004 at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa and was part of the first cohort of African States that started the APRM process. So far, the Kingdom of Lesotho has successfully completed its first Country Review in 2009 and submitted its First Progress Report in 2010. Following a period of moderate participation in the mechanism, Lesotho is now set on reembarking on its journey in the APRM.
The delegation firstly met with the Focal Point of the APRM in Lesotho Honorable ‘Matŝepo-Molise Ramakoae, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. The mission notably also paid a courtesy call to the Prime Minister of The Kingdom of Lesotho, The Rt. Hon. Dr Moeketsi Majoro and discussed issues of mutual interest. During the meeting the APRM CEO thanked Hon. Prime Minster for the very warm hospitality and welcome accorded to him and his team since arrival in Maseru.
As part of stakeholder engagements the APRM met with the member of the government including, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Sephiri Enoch Motanyane, the Minister of Development Planning Hon, Mr. Seliber Mochoboroane. The mission also met with development partners, and the private sector and this included; the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Lesotho Diplomatic Corp, as well as the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organizations, business sector organizations and the prominent research institutions.
The CEO indicated APRM’s wishes to support the ongoing governance reforms in Lesotho. He stated that the APRM tools and processes can help deepen democracy by strengthening participation of a wide range of stakeholders in governance debates, it brings to the fore problems that might have been neglected or overseen and contributes to building national consensus and political trust.
Furthermore, the CEO extended an invite to the Kingdom of Lesotho to participate in Third Africa Governance Report (AGR-23) which will focus on “unconstitutional changes of government on the Continent’ as a case study to showcase best practices for successful transition from previous unconstitutional changes of government as well as for the kingdom to be a discussant during the Peer review of the Republic of Kenya during Extraordinary Summit of the APR Forum, as a virtual meeting, on 28th of July 2022. These requests were welcomed by the government of Lesotho.
The mission to Lesotho was concluded with a stakeholder seminar held on the 1st of July 2022. The seminar aimed at sensitizing stakeholders on the APRM and the country review exercise and discuss ways of reviving the APRM process and National structures in the country. It was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN) and Women’s Law Clinic.
