Leribe, Mar. 04 — The Speaker of National Assembly, Mr. Tlohang Sekhamane says the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes that migration is a powerful driver of sustainable development for migrants and their communities.
This, he highlighted at a thre- day workshop for Members of Parliament on Migration Governance and Management at Hlotse in Leribe on Tuesday.
Mr. Sekhamane explained that migration brings significant benefits in the form of skills, strengthening the labour force, investment and cultural diversity and it contributes to improving the lives of communities in their countries of origin through the transfer of skills and financial mobilization.
Referring to development, Mr. Sekhamane explained that the relationship between migration and development is complex.
He said poor governance on migration impacts negatively on development,” he stated.
Expressing his gratitude to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Sekhamane said the Members of Parliament will understand how all governance areas are interrelated and are affected by migration.
Moreover, he said they have to be experts in the issues of migration as the people who voted for them are migrants from rural areas.
“They migrated to towns because they wanted electricity among others,” he stated.
He mentioned that migration is the heartbeat of Lesotho, as most Basotho are outside the country, most in South Africa.
In an interview, Head of IOM Lesotho Ms. Encho Nishimura said the purpose of the workshop is to sensitize the members of Parliament with migration issues.
She said this is to help them to understand migration issues affecting the community members and helping the country come up with migration frameworks.
One of the parliamentarians, Mr. Teboho Nots’i of Ts’oana makhulo constituency, said though they are to learn about migration, they are aware that people are moving from rural to towns in search of better services.
He indicated that they appreciate the workshop as they are to learn on how to deal with issues affecting their communities.
The workshop will end on Thursday. The expectations are that they be able to interact and discuss legal frameworks around migration and be able to make agreements.
Ends BM/ML
