‘Mantšali Phakoana
The government has appointed an 11-member Persons with Disability Advisory Council.
The council was gazetted through the Legal Notice No 79 of 2023 titled; Disability Advisory Council (Appointment of Members). It is charged with the oversight, information flow and monitoring of disability rights in Lesotho.
Speaking at the recent inauguration of the council, the Lesotho National Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) executive director, Nkhasi Sefuthi, expressed his appreciation to the minister of gender, youth, sports, arts, culture and social development, Pitso Lesaoana, for fast-tracking the long-awaited body.
Sefuthi said the move to finally appoint the council was an indication of political will from the government, particularly Lesaoane who had been in office for less than a year.
The council has legal powers and through it, persons with disabilities will be able to voice their complaints if they feel their rights are being violated.
“The appointment of the council indicates strong political will on the part of the government to be held accountable by the citizens towards inclusion for sustainable development,” Sefuthi noted.
He added that disability rights are also human rights and their protection, promotion and respect in any country is key to end inequality and discrimination against marginalised groups in society.
“LNFOD therefore, celebrates the appointment of the council by the honorable minister Pitso Lesaoana. Indeed, this is a milestone in fulfilment of obligations Lesotho has under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which it ratified in 2008.”
For his part, Lesaoana said the appointment of the council shows that his government understands that persons with disabilities also have a role to play in the country.
