By Neo Kolane
A grouping of young people has submitted a list what they call ‘interventions to break unemployment and poverty in Lesotho’ to the minister of finance Thabo Sophonea, who is expected to deliver the 2022-2023 budget speech next week.
In a letter delivered to Sophonea today, the group which calls itself the ‘Concerned Youth’, urge the minister to consider interventions such as lifting value added tax on telecommunications when preparing for the budget speech for the financial year 2022-2023.
The president of the BachaShutDown Movement, Tumelo Moteuli said Basotho are taxed 12 percent on telecommunications which is a basic necessity.
Moteuli said taxing communications makes data bundles less affordable and accessible, especially for low-income consumers.
“We urge the minister of finance to immediately lift VAT on telecommunications in order to lower data costs an increase to internet for all people and young people in particular.
“Access to internet has become a necessity for modern living and is a matter of survival.
“Unemployed graduates accessing job opportunities advertised online while students face barriers in remote learning conditions because they cannot afford access to high-speed internet at homes,” Moteuli said.
His sentiments were echoed by another Concerned Youth Kananelo Boloetsi, who urged the government to implement a monthly cash grant to Basotho who are struggling to make ends meet.
