I present my respects to His Majesty Letsie III and Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate,

The Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane,

Honourable Ministers in His Majesty’s Cabinet, in particular the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Justice Nthomeng Justina Majara,

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Developing Planning, Honourable Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane,

The Honourable Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Honourable Lebona Lephema,

His Lordship the Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane,

Heads of Justice Sector Institutions,

The Registrar of the High Court,

Representatives of UN Agencies and other Development Partners,

Representatives of Government Ministries,

Representatives of the Academia,

Representatives of Civil Society Organisations,

Representative of the Media,

Bo-‘M’e le Bo-Ntate,

Khotsong,

I am glad to have the opportunity to address all participants of the Justice Sector Coordination Forum, the first of its kind. Today’s forum brings together the key actors in Lesotho’s Justice System to exchange ideas and agree on the way forward.

Today’s forum is supported under a new EU-financed programme titled “Support for reforms and strengthening of governance in Lesotho programme”.  The overall objective is to foster rule of law, good governance, human rights and gender equality.  One of its key elements is access to justice for girls, women and marginalised groups.

Under the programme, two technical experts from Malawi are deployed and based in the Ministry of Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, directly supporting the Ministry. In addition, the European Union has mobilised funds of more than LSL 38 million to benefit Justice Sector institutions and oversight bodies. These funds will be implemented from this month onwards over the next three years. The support will notably allow the beneficiary institutions to expand their services outside Maseru and make them accessible where they are needed but not available at the moment. The programme responds to the commitment of the EU not to leave anyone behind, bringing justice and redress to rural areas and vulnerable groups.

It is not the first time the EU support the justice sector. Almost one year ago, I witnessed the launch of the Judiciary Strategic Plan for 2022-2027 and the Judiciary’s website, part of a programme implemented by the UNDP with EU support.

The current project has first been designed in 2020 but only commenced in March of this year. This made it necessary to adjust the programme to the new circumstances and align it to the priorities of the new authorities.  To do so in the last months the Ministry of Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, with support of the technical experts held individual meetings with all your institutions to understand how the programme could be adapted to the present context.

I want to underline that the EU’s support is tailored to the needs expressed by your institutions. I am grateful and commend all those involved for the active participation, commitment and readiness to cooperate and coordinate. The presence of the Right Honourable the Prime Minister, of the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, other cabinet ministers and heads of Justice Sector institutions underlines the importance you all attach to the topic

We sincerely hope that the programme will help foster citizens ‘trust in the institutions. According to the Afrobarometer survey, 2022 citizen’s trust in key state institutions has eroded over the last 15 years. Only 42% and 30% of citizens declare to have trust in the work of the courts and the police respectively.

To change these negative perceptions, the commitment and actions of your institutions and organisations as well as individuals are needed.

The success of the programme, however, also depends crucially on the adoption of the constitutional reforms, that provide the framework for the planned initiatives. Strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the justice system and of the oversight bodies. Once the courts would decide on the pending legal challenges, I sincerely hope that the Parliament can complete the reform process in line with the wishes of the people of Lesotho.

In concluding, I would like to thank all the national institutions and individuals that contribute to today’s forum and in particular, the Ministry of Justice, Law and Parliamentary Affairs under which umbrella this event takes place.

I wish you all stimulating discussions and a fruitful meeting.

Kea Leboha.

Khotso! Pula! Nala!