Mafa Moleko
Following his new assignment as Ambassador to Italy, Chief Thesele ‘Maseribane will be replaced in the national assembly by bubbly youth activist and former Youth league leader ‘Machere Seutloali as Member of Parliament for co-ruling Basotho National Party (BNP).
‘Maseribane who served as cabinet Minister since the first coalition government following a hung parliament with no outright winner resulting from the 2012 National Assembly General elections, rescinded both his ministerial portfolio as well as his parliamentary seat in order to facilitate his new role for which he received commissioning from His Majesty King Letsie III this week.
At the time of his resignation, he was Minister of Small Business Development Cooperatives and Marketing a post which had been preceded by appointments to ministries of Communication, Science and Technology as well as Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Newsday last night, Seutloali expressed her elation at getting a chance to represent her party and people in the house of legislators.
She said however, that the role comes with too cumbersome a responsibility especially having to fill a vacancy left by such great a man as ‘Maseribane whom she lauds as leader and political elder, adding that as a politician one has to be ready to take up any role to represent their people.
“From the time I decided to run in politics, that’s when I became ready for this position, I believe in the bettering the lives of my people and this is a chance to do just that,” she said.
She said that as a woman more so a young one, it is a very strenuous journey attempting a career in politics as one needs to continually put in more than extra effort as the odds are already stacked against them.
Seutloali said in the remaining time before the National Assembly General elections slated for next year, she has a responsibility to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the people are prioritized over everything and ensuring that plans on paper as party and government manifesto are implemented fully.
“We already have the youth plans in the government so we don’t need to come up new ideas but see to the implementation of the already available ideas to address education, innovation, agriculture and youth unemployment,” said Seutloali.
