![Lesotho attempts to amend constitution again; civil society unimpressed 1 Lesotho's government and civil society clash over constitutional reform efforts introduced by Law and Justice Minister Richard Ramoeletsi.(Government of Lesotho)](https://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/11816/866cc563df734cb2a1069190cfe29d0f.jpg)
Lesotho’s government and civil society clash over constitutional reform efforts introduced by Law and Justice Minister Richard Ramoeletsi.(Government of Lesotho)
- Lesotho’s government is seeking to amend its constitution once again, following the 2014 coup attempts.
- A civil society group argues that Lesotho needs an entirely new constitution.
- The government hopes for opposition support in parliament to pass the long-awaited reforms into law this time.
Lesotho is once again embarking on significant constitutional reforms to address the country’s political instability. However, a disagreement has arisen between the government and some civil society organizations on the approach to reform.
Law and Justice Minister Richard Ramoeletsi recently introduced the Tenth and Eleventh Amendment Bills, which failed to pass before the 2022 elections. While the government aims to amend the existing constitution, some groups, like the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC), advocate for drafting a new constitution.
The TRC accused the government of ignoring advice and creating amendments that deviate from the constitution’s original intent. They argue that Lesotho needs comprehensive constitutional changes rather than incremental amendments.
Passing the legislation will require opposition support, a challenge the government faces. Ramoeletsi emphasized the importance of the Bills for effective governance and public service delivery.