Youth Organizations Demand National Emergency Declaration on Unemployment Crisis in Lesotho

A coalition of youth organizations and political party youth leagues in Lesotho has called on the government to declare youth unemployment a national emergency. The groups, alarmed by the staggering 38 percent unemployment rate among young Basotho, held a press conference in Maseru this week to demand immediate action on the growing crisis.

The coalition, which includes influential youth-led groups like Bacha Shutdown, On-Point Foundation, Youth AIDS Free Foundation, SAYYE, and several others, announced plans to petition Prime Minister Sam Matekane. They expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s failure to address youth unemployment, which they claim has left young people trapped in poverty and despair while those in power continue to enjoy privileges at their expense.

The youth organizations declared they were done waiting for promises and action, demanding that the government treat youth unemployment as a national crisis. Their call to action included three key demands: the declaration of youth unemployment as a national emergency, the establishment of an emergency youth employment fund, and placing young people at the center of national planning and budgeting.

The youth leaders are also pushing for the restructuring of government commissions to allow for greater representation and participation of young people in policymaking processes.

The 38 percent unemployment rate was highlighted in a 2025-2026 budget speech by Finance Minister Dr. Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, with young women disproportionately affected at a staggering 41 percent. In response to this crisis, the government has allocated M400 million to invest in youth-led businesses. Additionally, just weeks ago, Prime Minister Matekane unveiled another M400 million initiative aimed at boosting the private sector, aligning with recommendations from the World Bank for the government to promote private sector-driven economic growth.

Despite these efforts, youth speakers at the press conference expressed disappointment with what they perceive as the government’s lack of urgency and concrete plans. They criticized the slow pace of action and called for more direct interventions to support youth employment and entrepreneurship.

Francis Rapeane of the Basotho Action Party (BAP) expressed frustration, saying, “We are done waiting. We are done pleading. We are done being ignored. Youth unemployment in Lesotho is a ticking time bomb, and the government is not doing anything.”

Molise Rasello, Chairperson of Bacha Shutdown, emphasized that youth unemployment was not just a development issue but a national emergency. He painted a stark picture of the situation, describing young graduates wandering the streets, unemployed and disillusioned, struggling with poverty and mental health issues.

“Young people are being pushed to the margins. They are becoming economic orphans in their own country,” Mr. Rasello said. “We witness the devastating effects daily – young graduates with shattered dreams, struggling to make ends meet.”

Keketso Sephohle of the All Basotho Convention (ABC) also demanded urgent action, stressing that youth unemployment should be treated as a national crisis. He called for the creation of an emergency fund to support job creation and youth entrepreneurship. Mr. Sephohle also advocated for the dismantling of elite-dominated commissions, pushing for youth-led structures that can better address the needs of young people in Lesotho.

“We are not asking, we are demanding,” said Mr. Sephohle in a forceful statement. “Young people must be at the center of national planning, not as token participants, but as co-architects of economic transformation.”

The youth organizations are also calling for more investment in future-oriented skills, such as digital, creative, green, and technical training, rather than outdated programs that fail to meet the demands of a modern economy.

The groups have made it clear that they will not stand by as their futures are compromised by broken promises and political games. They pledged to mobilize, organize, and raise their voices until their demands are heard and acted upon.

In response to the press conference, Prime Minister Sam Matekane’s press attaché, Thapelo Mabote, stated that he was unaware of the event or any petition aimed at the Prime Minister. “I am not aware of the youth press conference and their concerns. Neither am I aware that they intend to petition the PM over the crisis,” Mr. Mabote said, adding that he would follow up on the issue.

The youth coalition has made it clear that their fight for economic justice and youth empowerment will not be silenced, and they are committed to holding the government accountable for addressing the unemployment crisis that threatens the future of young Basotho.