SAAYE MEDIA TEAM
LESOTHO, MASERU – Since its inception in 2017, the Southern African Alliance on Youth Employment (SAAYE) Lesotho has been actively advocating in the mountain Kingdom for the government to declare a state of emergency against youth unemployment.
SAAYE’s roots trace back to 2016 when it was established as a regional coordination body by the Economic Justice Network with the support of the Commonwealth Foundation.
Through persistent efforts, SAAYE successfully convinced Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s administration to declare a state of emergency as per the Disaster Management Act of 1997.
Last month, the government officially gazetted the Declaration of National State of Disaster concerning the socio-economic effects of high youth unemployment and job losses in Lesotho.
This document was signed by the then Acting Prime Minister, Justice Nthomeng Majara.
In light of this development, SAAYE Lesotho’s National Coordinator, Tšepo Masupha, stated that Matekane’s decision to declare a state of emergency is a victory for young people.
However, he urged that modalities such as funding and a dedicated task team need to be instituted promptly.
“We welcome the decision since we have been advocating for it for years,” Masupha said. He added, “There needs to be actions on the ground that acknowledge the severity of the issue as announced by Matekane.”
Masupha further emphasized the need for youth inclusion in decision-making processes, especially regarding unemployment, which government statistics show stands close to 40 percent.
“Our commitment has always been to prioritize youth concerns; during the National Reforms in 2018, we ensured that unemployment issues were at the forefront of discussions, advocating for the state to declare youth unemployment a disaster.
We have fulfilled our part and implore the government to take necessary actions; we will fully celebrate once the measures outlined in the DMA Act are enacted. Nevertheless, it is a bold step for the state to heed the voices of the youth.”
As a regional organization within the SADC region, SAAYE comprises various non-state actors, including church groups, trade unions, and youth-led organizations that strive to advocate for youth employment and empowerment.
