Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Lesotho will remain excluded from the national budget estimates until an advisory body is established to guide the government on disability-related issues. This is according to the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) Executive Director, Advocate Nkhasi Sefuthi.
Speaking in an interview, Adv. Sefuthi expressed concern over the continued absence of disability-focused allocations in the 2025/26 budget estimates. He stated that the Ministry of Finance has repeatedly failed to address the needs of PWDs due to a lack of structured guidance on the matter.
“The government always misses an opportunity to include the needs of PWDs when making the budget because there is no advisory body to highlight priority areas,” he said.
The establishment of a dedicated advisory body is expected to help bridge this gap by ensuring that issues affecting PWDs are adequately addressed in budgetary planning. LNFOD has consistently advocated for inclusive policies that cater to the social and economic needs of persons with disabilities, emphasizing that financial provisions are crucial in promoting accessibility, education, and healthcare services for this marginalized group.
As discussions on the 2025/26 budget progress, disability rights activists are urging the government to expedite the formation of the advisory body. They argue that without dedicated representation in budget planning, PWDs will continue to be sidelined in national development efforts.
