By Neo Kolane
The ministry of finance and development planning held a 2024/25 pre-budget consultative forum in Maseru on Friday.
The consultative forum was meant to enhance transparency, participation and oversight in budget management process.
In her remarks, the minister of finance and development planning Retṥelisitsoe Matlanyane said the forum is about consulting before making one of the country’s policy documents – the budget.
She described the budget as a policy document that determines the direction of the country.
Matlanyane said it is therefore important and pertinent that when it is discussed and compiled, the nation and relevant stakeholders add their ‘two cents’ to know what is needed.
“Consultations have been done country-wide and with different ministries, and what was gathered was a shopping list which needs to be agreed upon before presenting it to the nation,” Matlanyane said.
She said the feedback she got from the cabinet about the forum and consultations was that she must not leave civil servants behind.
‘I want ministries to produce work plans for their activities before drawing the budget plan because no ministry can draw a budget without knowing what they will be doing.”
