Background

The Department of Local Government and Chieftainship is within The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police (MoLGCHP). This Department was formerly a stand-alone Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship (MoLGC) and was later (2022) combined with the former Ministries of Police and Public Safety as well as Home Affairs. MoLGC was established in 1994 post The country’s elections of 1993 that restored democratic governance. The Ministry was established to drive the decentralisation agenda and prepare a level ground for implementing a system of local government. The glaring task at the time was to facilitate the enactment of legislation and policies that would enable the implementation of the programme.

Vision

A Nation with a well-functioning decentralised local government system that delivers improved services to the people, promotes people’s participation in development and provides the enabling environment for economic growth and poverty reduction.

Mission

To promote, deepen and consolidate a sustainable and effective system of local governance for improved service delivery and enhanced quality of life.

Mandate

Chieftainship

The role of The Department is to facilitate capacity building of Chieftainship Institution to enable Chiefs to partake effectively in matters of governance that includes decentralisation dispensation.

Decentralisation

The Department coordinates and oversees the implementation of the decentralisation programme in the country. The key objective is to enable local governments to be responsible for service delivery and development within their jurisdictions.

Housing

The Department is mandated to facilitate the delivery of affordable housing and shelter for Basotho.

Land

The Department is mandated to put in place an effective, efficient, and equitable land management and administration system that promotes sustainable utilisation of Lesotho’s land resources within the decentralised context.

Objectives

  • To support and strengthen councils in the provision of quality services to the nation through a well-defined policy framework and adherence to laws and regulations.
  • To monitor operations of councils in relation to their powers, functions, duties, service delivery standards and general performance.
  • To promote effective and sustainable land management and administration, rural and urban development in Lesotho as provided for under relevant legislation and national policies.
  • To facilitate the delivery of affordable quality houses to Basotho within properly planned settlements.
  • To support a service – oriented Chieftainship institution that is adaptive to the decentralisation and local governance.
  • To contribute towards prevention, treatment and mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS.
  • To ensure adequate human and institutional capacity for policy formulation and decentralised planning and implementation.

Our Leadership

Minister

Hon. Lebona Lephema

Principal Secretary

Mr. Pokello Mahlomola

Deputy Principal Secretary

Ms. Likonelo 'Majoel Hlasoa