President Hage Geingob has told prime minister of Lesotho Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane to govern with principles and deliver the promises he made for the Basotho who voted him into power last month.

Matekane, who was inaugurated eight days after winning the election last month, visited President Geingob at State House yesterday.

Geingob informed Matekane that all leaders are elected to deliver.

“You were announced the winner and after that, you invited us to come witness. I was there and I heard what you are going to do. You told me that you have already started implementing some of the promises,” said the President.

Geingob also told Matekane to ensure there is progress in terms of peace, unity and delivering houses for the people, as every leader is expected to perform better in those aspects.

Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity has formed just six months ahead of the election. Its campaign message was centred on governance and economic growth.

The party surprisingly won 56 out of 120 seats.

Matekane, who made his first official visit to Namibia, said within his first eight days in office, he managed to fix potholes in the tiny mountainous country and his government would strengthen human capital and build enabling infrastructure.

“I have already started delivering. When you visited us, our electricity was off. We have started with lighting. Within the next six weeks, the town will have the lights on,” he explained.

He made promises to improve the country’s macroeconomic position, tap into and realise the potential economic returns of the existing positive investment environment and provide access to quality services for all.

The prime minister also promised to move Lesotho from a growth model that depends almost entirely on the public sector to one that is driven by a strong and competitive private sector “that is export-oriented”.

“Our ability to achieve these strategic goals will be largely dependent on the actions that the government will take in the first 100 days of its tenure,” Matekane said.

He told President Geingob that although the country only had seven ministries, he increased them to 15 ministries.

Matakane is a well-known businessman and millionaire in that country.

- ljason@nepc.com.na