Provides valuable services, enabling Ministerial processes to operate seamlessly thus allowing decision-makers to focus on value-added tasks and responsibilities. The Department is a conglomeration of different support units which in turn focus on disparate activities.
The functions performed by the Department include:
- Management of physical resources
- Management of events Ministerial events organisation
- Management of records and communication
- Management of budgets and plans
- Management of human resources
The Department is composed of the following units:
Responsible for obtaining and handling any monies on behalf of the Ministry, it serves a fundamental role in making financial decisions for internal and external affairs. The unit ensures the documentation and control of finances while placing compliance with accounting and financial standards and consolidation of financial data.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Budgeting and allocation of funds to different cost centres
- Facilitate payments
- Collection and banking of Ministerial revenue
- Reconcile books of accounts and produce financial reports
- Assist in the interpretation of financial regulations by liaising between Local Government and Finance Ministries
Responsible for the management of Ministerial concerns and needs as related to human capital, functioning and wellbeing of such capital. The Units maintains a record of required human capital and skills thus enabling target and transparent recruitment and training needs. It ensures well being of staff members during and beyond tenure at the Ministry.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Recruitment and selection
- Training and development
- Remuneration and benefits
- Employee relations
- Performance management
Mandated to enable operations within the Ministry via the provision of information technology-based solutions to facilitate efficacy. The objective is the provision of support activities geared at the realisation of the Ministry’s strategic direction through proper planning, provision and maintenance of information systems and infrastructure required to support the strategic direction of core departments.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Maintain technical infrastructure
- Run training exercises
- Provide and integrate IT based solutions
- Manage and protect data resources
- Configurations and network management
Mandated to evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls, risk management and governance processes in order to reduce exposure to loss of financial and non-financial assets. Provides independent assurance that risk management, governance and internal control processes are operating effectively.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Evaluate potential fraud risk and report to relevant bodies
- Ensure compliance with policies, procedures, contracts, rules and regulations
- Safeguarding assets
- Checking the accuracy of financial report
- Investigate fraud
Provides a full range of legal services to the Ministry on relevant issues, ensuring compliance with internal controls and other formalities. Manages risks in Ministerial activities, decisions and documentation. The unit serves as the legal representative of the Ministry ensuring adherence to rule of law and assisting with guidance and advice for staff members in all official capacities.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Advising on matters bearing juristic nature and requiring legal opinion
- Review and Drafting of contracts and legislation
- Provide interpretations on legal dialect
- Represent the Ministry and in legal claims and disputes
- Compiling and maintaining an archive of legal documents
Sets by ensuring alignment to national development strategy the Ministerial strategic direction in specific areas, departments, units and local government agencies. Ensures planning is realisable given required resources (time, finances and skill) by continuous plan evaluation and remapping. Aids in the development of risk identification and mitigation strategies.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Development of objectives and priorities which are in line with national plans
- Provide advice for effective and efficient project implementation
- Monitoring and mapping of national plans within the Ministry
- Monitoring of budget execution
- Distribution of capital funds to the districts for their execution in implementing programs and projects
Sources compliant services providers to cater to the needs and requirements of Ministerial activities. The unit negotiates terms of delivery of services ensuring quality, ethical and legal standards are adhered to while ensuring reduction of cost and high efficiency while contracting compliant suppliers.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Acquisition of goods/services and works
- Contract management and negotiation
- Supplier evaluation and selection
- Risk and compliance management
- Compliance with business protocols
Provides quality and timely communication services throughout the Ministry. Mandated to coordinate information and communication management issues between central and Local government sectors. Develops Ministry-wide information sharing strategies and plans. Serves as the Ministry's mouth piece in formal communication with the general public by capturing notable events and sharing with broadcasters.
The functions performed by the Unit include:
- Coordinate communication functions across Ministry.
- Promote Ministerial policies, mandated functions and programs.
- Coordinate preparation and production of articles.
- Research and facilitate the questions and answers for the Minister.
- Organise, conduct and coordinate press briefings for the Ministry.
Chieftainship is an integral part of local governance and is represented in all local authorities with Chiefs working alongside the elected local Councillors. Chiefs maintain rights to allocate lands in cattle posts and grazing areas. They are deeply involved in attesting to the ownership of assets and landed properties of people living in their areas of jurisdiction. They also affirm or attest to births and deaths and the citizenship status of people in their areas of jurisdiction. Chiefs serve as the “first police officers” and “conflict mediation officers” in their communities; as well as the custodians of the culture and traditions of the Basotho people. As such, Chiefs and Chieftaincy are very important pillars of Basotho societies.
The Directorate of Chieftainship is set up to achieve progressive objectives with Chiefs and their jurisdiction as the main focus point. This amongst others includes:
- Continuous assurance that Chiefs can fulfil their functions within conducive environments; this include but is not limited to adequate buildings and access to utilities such as electricity and water; both for consumption by the Chief and constituents.
- Consequent of the importance of land, disputes arise in which boundaries are being disputed; in such cases, the Directorate serves as a mediator and advisor in settling such, this conducted with local authorities such as District Councils and Boundary Dispute Committees.
The Department of Decentralisation is charged with the responsibility of spearheading the program of decentralisation and coordinating its implementation. The Department acts as an oversight body to ensure that the functions laid down are executed with the diligence required. It is the mandate of the department to advance the Ministerial objective of ensuring that the democratically elected Councils are empowered to carry out their legal mandate through policy frameworks and adherence to laws and regulations. In fulfilling its business, the department is obliged to implement policy directives on decentralisation and advice the Principal Secretary and Honourable Minister on legal provisions pertaining to the performance of Councils in service delivery.
The Department is sub-divided into three divisions:
- Policy Development and Legal Framework
The role of the division is to facilitate the establishment and review of the Decentralisation Policy through a consultative process with relevant stakeholders. This mandate also includes the interpretation of the policy and the creation of a platform for its implementation through the provision of necessary legislation and guidelines that are in conformity with national goals and priorities. - Capacity Building/Council Support
The division is responsible for providing guidance and support to Councils’ daily operations by making regular spot-checks and attending sittings to ensure effective operation. It communicates policy directives to Councils and attends to matters arising from Councils and communities from time to time. It is also responsible for building the capacity of councils. - Inspection
The role of the division is to establish whether there is adherence to established laws, regulations, guidelines, manuals and rules by Local Councils. The inspection also assesses the quality of services rendered and the inter-relations of different structures supporting the decentralisation process at the local level. Lastly, it assists in identifying capacity gaps at the local level and then proposes recommendations aimed at strengthening local councils.
District Administration office was created through the provision of the Local Government Act 1997 (as amended), Section 39. The office represents the central government in the district and it is manned by the District Administrator (DA). The DA reports administratively to the Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship through the PS, however, in the operational/technical function of coordinating the activities of all sector ministries in the district, the DA does not require permission or authorization from the PS or the Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship. The office of the District Administration as the representative of the Central Government is further charged with the responsibility to arrange and host National functions held in the district.
The department is responsible for assisting with planning and providing technical expertise on all Ministry’s capital projects including support to district/council technical personnel. The work of the department entails providing engineering designs and/or design alterations, drawing technical specifications, preparation of estimates, monitoring physical and financial progress, making sure that construction standards are followed and certifying work for payment and completion. Other Duties include drawing specification for plant and vehicles, assisting in effective and efficient maintenance of both plant items and trucks, and assessing skill and providing advice on training needs for district technical personnel.
The Department of Housing is responsible for the following functions:
- Develop and facilitate implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Policy on Housing.
- Formulate standards and codes and ensure compliance.
- Undertake continuous research on housing options for Lesotho.
- Improve living environments within unplanned settlements through upgrading.
- Develop regulatory framework for the housing market.
- Coordinate stakeholders on housing and human settlement matters.
- Initiate housing schemes for different income groups and deliver through LHLDC, council and joint ventures / partnerships with development partners and private and non-governmental sectors.
The department was formerly known as Lands Survey and Physical Planning, the changes came with the establishment of the Land Administration Authority (L.A.A) established under the Land Administration Authority Act 2010. The main objective of the department is to put in place an effective, efficient and equitable land management and administration system that promotes sustainable utilization of Lesotho’s land resources within a decentralized local government context.
The department has four divisions:
- Lands Division: Deals with land tenure issues, advice and community on land allocations.
- Land Valuation: Carries out evaluation and assessment of land as requested by Government, also office of the Government Valuer.
- Physical Planning: Planning for the best location for different land uses, also responsible for development control.
- Land Use Planning: Provide information on different land uses by examining soil suitability.
- Survey: Maintain national geodetic control for mapping. Custodian of survey information on behalf of the government