Leemisa Thuseho
THE government has met the country’s diplomats accredited abroad to conscientize them on how it wants Lesotho’s foreign policy to better align with emerging global dynamics.
A workshop with the diplomats convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations ran at Avani Maseru for a week until June 3 2025.
It aimed to provide ambassadors with updated mandates amidst the rapidly shifting global trade landscape characterised by punitive tariffs being imposed on poor countries by the US. Lesotho last had consultations of this nature with its diplomats in 2017.
Kutloano Pheko, the Principal Information Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, told the Lesotho Times that former ambassadors had been invited to participate in the workshop “to share their expertise, experiences, and ideas with the current envoys”.
The workshop came at a time of heightened global economic uncertainty, underscoring the government’s proactive effort to optimize Lesotho’s international relations and positioning.
During his Speech from the Throne in November 2022, His Majesty King Letsie III placed emphasis on the importance of Lesotho “deploying diplomatic professionals who can secure lucrative benefits for the country when they are deployed to foreign missions.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lejone Mpotjoane, emphasized the importance of this initiative during his opening remarks.
“Under the new leadership (of Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s coalition administration), we have not had sufficient time to consult on the new vision that the government has for Lesotho,” Mr Mpotjoane said.
The workshop was thus meant to “……equip diplomatic representatives with the knowledge and strategies necessary to promote international trade, enhance tourism, and improve productivity in the energy sector, among other priorities,” Mr Mpotjoane said.
Mr Mpotjoane noted the urgency of addressing the country’s high unemployment rates and the interconnected issues of crime and corruption that stemmed from low productivity levels.
“One of our key goals is to increase productivity, particularly in agriculture, with the support of our diplomatic missions and international partners,” Mr Mpotjoane said.
Highlighting Lesotho’s abundant natural resources, Mr Mpotjoane said the country’s potential to produce and export electricity to meet the growing demands in the Southern African region was one of its low hanging fruits to be plucked to improve prosperity levels for citizens.
He also reiterated a significant policy shift aimed at boosting tourism by offering visa-free entry to European Union citizens.
“This decision is expected to foster unparalleled growth in tourism and international relations,” Mr Mpotjoane said.
Mr Mpotjoane further underscored the need for skills exportation as one of the ways to address the high employment in Lesotho.
An estimated 39 percent of Basotho youths are unemployed, with young women bearing the brunt at 41 percent of that figure.
Mr Mpotjoane expressed the need to revise Lesotho’s foreign policy “in light of evolving geopolitical realities”.
“We must work together with you, our diplomatic missions, to navigate this changing landscape,” he urged, revealing plans to establish the Lesotho Institute of Diplomacy.
This initiative, Mr Mpotjoane said, aims to fortify the diplomatic profession and better address the challenges it faces.
In addition to tackling domestic concerns, Mr Mpotjoane addressed the impact of external factors on Lesotho’s economy, particularly recent developments regarding U.S. aid.
The USA’s decision to freeze USAID’s funding has had a devastating impact on key health programs in Lesotho with 625 jobs already lost in the healthcare sector and more expected.
Mr Mpotjoane stressed the necessity for a strategic government vision to build Lesotho’s economic resilience.
“The current environment necessitates a transformative approach to promote trade, investment, and tourism, which hold the keys to our economic diplomacy,” he said.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times last week, the Principal Information Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr Pheko, explained that former ambassadors had participated in the workshop to share their expertise, experiences, and ideas with the current envoys.
“They have been on this journey and know better, so they can provide guidance on how to successfully execute their roles,” Mr Pheko said.
When quizzed on the rumours of reshuffling of the ambassadors after the workshop, Mr Pheko said that had not been the primary reason for the consultations. However, he acknowledged that “reshuffling can happen at any time”.
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