Sam Ntsokoane Matekane Returns Home to Lesotho After Successful Working Trip to Australia

Prime Minister Sam Ntsokoane Matekane has returned to Lesotho after a productive working trip to Australia, emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment, innovation, and economic independence. The visit allowed him to engage with global practices in education and industry, which he believes can be adapted to Lesotho’s development.

During the trip, Matekane visited Curtin University, a hub where research, innovation, and creativity converge to drive national growth. He highlighted the university’s focus on not just educating students, but equipping them to lead industries and create opportunities. “Standing there, I imagined what it would be like if Lesotho’s public universities were equipped with the same vision: not just to teach, but to focus on empowering; not just to produce qualified youth, but to create industries led by them,” Matekane said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the messages he receives from Basotho, particularly on social media, urging leaders to be brave and focus on economic independence. He assured citizens that their voices guide his administration’s initiatives. “Those words are not lost. I listen. I carry it with me wherever I go. And it is this spirit that fuels our work to ensure that the changes we are making today in governance, education, and production are preparing our youth to be the leaders of a bright Lesotho in the future,” he stated.

Matekane stressed that government jobs alone cannot sustain the growing workforce. He called for greater investment in youth, private sector development, and innovation. Programs such as the Baabatso initiative and modernization of markets in electricity and higher education aim to create avenues for economic independence and entrepreneurship.

The Prime Minister concluded that his journey reinforced his commitment to empowering the youth. “Our youth will not just inherit the future—they will build it,” he said. He emphasized that a nation that invests in its young people and encourages creativity can unlock limitless opportunities for growth and self-reliance.

This visit to Australia has strengthened Lesotho’s focus on combining education, innovation, and economic strategy to secure a sustainable and independent future for the country.