US embassy cable - 05MASERU567

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000567 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FSI FOR LMS/SPS - MCMULLEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AFSI, KDEM, EAID, LT 
SUBJECT: LESOTHO:  DEMOCRACY ACTIVITIES / SUCCESS STORIES 
 
REF: STATE 182307 
 
MASERU 00000567  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
This message is in response to reftel request for success 
stories on democracy activities. 
 
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Local Elections 
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1.  The Ambassador and DCM played important roles in counseling 
both the ruling and opposition parties during the country's 
first post-independence local elections, speaking at open 
forums, donor consultations, press conferences and in private 
meetings on the importance of free and fair elections and the 
democratic process.  U.S. Embassy American and local staff 
observed voting at 10 polling stations, and took part in 
meetings with the Independent Electoral Commission.  USAID/RCSA 
funded training programs for the following groups:  Principal 
Chiefs, District Administrators, Political Party Agents and 
Representatives, officials from the Ministry of Local 
Government, and members of the media.  Embassy Maseru 
commissioned the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) 
to conduct training sessions for the above-mentioned groups. 
Funds were obtained through USAID/RCSA in Gaborone. 
 
Success:  The historic elections that took place on April 30 
were certified to be free and fair with women gaining over 50 
percent of the seats.  There was no violence.  This represented 
a huge step forward since the national elections in 1998, which 
resulted in several days of rioting in Maseru and foreign 
military intervention. 
 
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Anti-Corruption 
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2.  Anti-money laundering seminars were held by US Treasury 
Officials for a wide range of stakeholders and interested 
parties, including executive sessions held exclusively for 
members  of Parliament and banking officials. 
 
Success:   The Parliament is expected to pass anti-money 
laundering legislation shortly. 
 
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Democracy Outreach 
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3.  The following programs are ongoing post initiatives to 
promote democracy: 
 
Embassy Speakers' Program: 
 
The Embassy has initiated a speaking program for Mission 
employees.  Recent speech topics have included the Reverend 
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement.  The 
target audience has been young people, and over 200 young people 
have participated and discussed the importance of democracy and 
non-violent change. 
 
Success:  Students from around the country participated in an 
essay contest on Martin Luther King and civil liberties. 
 
Women's Month Forum: 
 
In March 2005 the Ambassador held a forum on women's issues. 
This forum provided Basotho women with the opportunity to speak 
about the pressures and discrimination they face in Lesotho 
society, and to talk about efforts to make changes in Lesotho's 
laws that would offer women more rights and better protection. 
 
Success:  Women leaders were identified and selected for the IV 
program. 
 
US Department of Labor programs (all are regional rather than 
specific to Lesotho): 
a. "Strengthening Labor Systems in Southern Africa":  $4.2 
million project covering Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and 
Swaziland.  The purpose of this project is to strengthen the 
capacity of labor ministries to enforce national labor laws and 
increase the knowledge level of both employers and workers of 
the relevant laws. 
 
b. A regional project entitled "Reducing Exploitative Child 
Labor in Southern Africa" (RECLISA)-funding FY 2005-2009.  This 
project is funded at the level of $9 million for five countries 
over the four years. 
 
In Lesotho, the aims of this project are to provide access to 
education for 2000 herd boys and OVCs, either through distance 
teaching arrangements or enrollment in local schools. 
 
c. HIV/AIDS Workplace Education Program for Southern Africa 
(Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland).  This project 
is funded (for the region) at $2,265,000 from May 2004 - April 
2007. 
 
MASERU 00000567  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
Success:  Child Protection Law is in Parliament and HIV/AIDS 
Workplace guidelines are being established. 
 
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Special Projects 
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4.  Special Self Help Programs: 
 
Lesotho Society for the Mentally Handicapped:  This group 
received a DHRF grant of $2,000 in FY 2004 and a SSH grant of 
$5,000 in FY 2005. 
 
The Society was established in 1992 with a mission to protect 
the rights of adults with intellectual abilities and children 
with either mental or physical disabilities.  The group has 
advocated for human rights and increased awareness on behalf of 
these individuals, and works to prevent or reduce levels of 
abuse by providing assistance to family members who care for 
disabled children and adults. 
 
The Society received a DHRF grant in FY 2004 to print pamphlets 
in Sesotho explaining the legal rights of handicapped people, 
particularly with regard to various forms of abuse and 
discrimination.  In FY 2005, they received an SSH grant for the 
purpose of educating disabled children and adults about personal 
hygiene, HIV/AIDS prevention, and general health issues.  The 
grant money will also be used to provide training in basic 
agricultural skills. 
 
Lesotho Child Counseling Unit:  In FY 2005, the LCCU received 
funding for its work in the area of child protection and 
advocacy.  LCCU identified orphaned and abandoned children under 
the age of eighteen and provides them with temporary housing, 
food and counseling.  SSH grant money will be used to improve 
the physical structures used for these purposes.  At present, 
the Center has no discreet area that can be used for counseling 
sessions, and construction of an addition will enable the LCCU 
staff to deal with abuse cases in a more confidential setting. 
 
Phelisanong Pitseng Disabled Group:  This is a cooperative of 
more that five hundred disabled adults and children who have 
formed a self-sufficient village.  They have trained members of 
the group to advocate on behalf of handicapped individuals who 
have been the victims of abuse.  The group, which is located in 
a village on the main road to Khatse Dam, received SSH funding 
in FY 2005 to build a craft center where they will produce and 
sell crafts. 
 
Success: These projects have helped change the perception many 
Basotho have of handicapped people, and through such projects as 
a pre-school where they have totally integrated disabled 
children with able-bodied children, they have been successful at 
gaining more acceptance in rural areas. 
 
 
 
 
PERRY