MASERU — The Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship, Mr. Nkhethoa Seetsa, on Thursday held his first meeting with Principal Chiefs, saying the gathering was aimed at getting to know one another, understanding the challenges facing the institution of chieftainship and strengthening cooperation in serving Basotho.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Seetsa said he wanted to hear from the chiefs about how they carry out their responsibilities and the challenges they encounter in their daily work. He said the institution of chieftainship remains an important pillar of governance in Lesotho and pledged to work closely with the chiefs.

He said chiefs play a vital role in guiding communities, preserving the country's traditions and culture and ensuring that children grow up with respect for Basotho values. He noted that chiefs have a responsibility to lead by example and provide direction to communities, saying the country cannot progress if its traditional leaders do not fulfil their responsibilities.

Mr. Seetsa acknowledged the important role played by chiefs and said his ministry wants chiefs to be fully involved in development programmes instead of only being informed after decisions have been made.

He highlighted some of the ministry's achievements, including the construction of chiefs' offices. He said offices have already been built for the chiefs of Thaba-Ts'oeu and Likueneng in Mohale's Hoek, while four more chiefs' offices are expected to be renovated and equipped with water supply.

He added that, following assessments already conducted, more office construction projects are expected to commence during the 2027 financial year once the necessary processes have been completed.

Mr. Seetsa acknowledged challenges affecting service delivery, including a shortage of vehicles and staff, saying the Principal Secretary's office is exploring ways to address these constraints. He appealed to the chiefs to support the ministry in achieving its strategic objectives, promising that the ministry would continue supporting them in carrying out their duties.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship, Mrs Mabataung Khalane, said the minister had expressed a desire to engage all stakeholders with whom the ministry works, including the institution of chieftainship. She said the meeting was intended to establish a working relationship with the Principal Chiefs and provide an opportunity for them to share their priorities, challenges and possible solutions.

In an interview, Principal Chief of Leribe, Chief Joel Mots’oene said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss long-standing issues affecting the institution of chieftainship. He said there is still a need to improve the working relationship between local government structures and chiefs, as their respective responsibilities are sometimes not clearly understood.

Chief Mots'oene also said the Chieftainship Act of 1968 requires review to reflect current realities. He further noted that issues relating to governance reforms and the conduct of chiefs should be addressed through continuous dialogue and appropriate capacity building to enable chiefs to perform their responsibilities more effectively.