Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) facilitated a session which hosted Commissioner from the African Commission on Human Rights and Peoples rights – promotion mission to Lesotho by Commissioner YEUNG KAM JOHN YEUNG SIK YUEN along with the civil society organizations on the 11th October held at TRC Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to share the state of human rights in Lesotho with consideration of the legislative measures undertaken by the country to implement the provisions of African Charter on Human and People’s rights. The civil society shared the state of human rights violations in Lesotho across different spectrums and made recommendations for improvement to the Commissioner.

Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in its advocacy for the establishment of the Public Participation Act, invited civil society organizations to make submissions which will help form an act that will protect and promote good governance in Lesotho through heightened public participation. In this regard, the Centre hosted a one day session with its sister NGO’s (with likeminded) on Thursday 11^th October 2018 at 09:00am at the TRC Hall. The main objective is to advocate for the enactment of the public participation act in Lesotho. This is done with consideration of the best legal frameworks adopted by neighboring African countries in order for the country to incorporate such. The civil society organizations made their submissions based on the Lesotho context .

Transformation Resource Centre facilitated a session between dam affected communities, government, LHDA, members of parliaments (MPs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at St Rose in Peka on the 22nd September 2018. The aim of the session was to advocate for equitable communal and individual compensation for Polihali dam affected communities. Communities presented their problems regarding the compensation policy, resettlement and development to members of parliament from Mokhotlong, Minister of water, LHDA, the minister in the Prime Minister and other relevant stakeholder with the hope that their concerns will be addressed and stakeholder commitment will be secured. The session strengthened the Centre’s advocacy in fulfillment of developments in the polihali dam project location and necessitate policy change through the re-evaluation of compensation and resettlement agreements established between the LHDA and the Polihali dam affected communities.

The Transformation Resource Centre through the unit of Public Participation and Parliamentary Affairs will held a one day session on the 18th September 2018 for Members of Parliament (MPs) from the selected constituencies in Maseru, Mafeteng, Botha- Bothe and Mokhotlong districts. The selected constituencies are: Thaba-Bosiu, Machache,Thaba-Putsoa, Kolo, Mafeteng, Likhoele, Maliba-Mats’o, Peka, Matlakeng, Hlotse, Maputsoe,Motete, Qalo, Butha-Buthe,Malingoaneng, Bobatsi, Senqu, Mokhotlong and all the constituencies within the Maseru City Council.-namely Qoaling, Lithabaneng, Lithoteng, Thetsane, Maseru Central Stadium Area, Khubetsoana, Motimposo , Abia, Mabote. The aim of the session was to strengthen and support MPs on making proper plans or schedules that will enable them to ensure that the needs of their constituencies are addressed. The training also necessitated MPs to make constituency calendars supported by a well-developed template that will be used to report back to their constituents on a regular basis. This is to ensure that there is transparency and accountability to the constituents. The intention is to continuously engage MPs on their willingness to drive laws and policies that will respond and protect the needs of the people within their constituencies.

The Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) through its Information and Communications department
held a book donation ceremony on the 13 th September 2018. The ceremony started at 10 am at the
Centre’s premises.

The Centre hands over a total of 105 cartons filled with a total of 16 661 books to
newly selected 41 schools found in Maseru, Mafeteng, Leribe, Botha-Bothe and Mokhotlong The Centre
has allocated a five year period for schools to be furnished with books with the optimism that it is
enough for the schools to collect an adequate supply of books enabling them to establish the expected
libraries. This project has been undertaken with the unfailing support of Books for Lesotho (B4L) in
Australia.

The Centre has over a number of years donated books to under privileged schools and other
informal education institutions with the aim of assisting schools to establish mini libraries. The intention
is to promote habitual readership and literacy amongst students starting at a tender age.

The Transformation Resource Centre facilitated an Inter-Institutional Security Consultative Session which is a Dialogue for Turning National Security Establishments into Human Rights Protection Vanguards at Manthabiseng Convention Centre (National Convention Centre) on the 31st May 2018. The purpose of the dialogue was to provide a platform for senior officers of security institutions namely; Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS), Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and National Security Service (NSS), to identify areas of concerns in their respective institutions which constrain their mandate in the protection of human rights. The concerns identified during the dialogue will inform the reform agenda steered by the government. It is expected that issues raised will be deliberated upon and possible solutions and propositions will be taken in to a broader national reform project. The final product of the dialogue shall be produced into a report, and form agenda for a multi-stakeholders national reforms on the security sector. The national -dialogue session attracted senior management of the LDF, LMPS, LCS and NSS as well as SADC representative on security issues, European Union Head of Delegation, US Embassy, United Nations Representatives, Steering Committee comprising representatives of NGOs, Business sector, government and political parties.

Transformation Resource Centre through its advocacy for socio and economic justice intervened in the conflicts between Kolo community and RASKOL Diamond mining company. These conflicts and concerns came about after the mine illegally extended an additional area to the initial area it had been allocated a license to trial mine by the ministry of Mining in Lesotho. Community concerns included the negligence of the mine to resettle people affected by the mine, water distribution that the mine has cut off, burial sites affected, compensation of affected properties, dumping area that is closely located to the community, restricted employment opportunities and the mine’s reluctance to involve or consult communities in the decisions that affect them. The Centre however, assessed the environmental conditions and monitored issues of compliance with environmental agreements. The Centre enabled constructive engagement of stakeholders for effective resolution of issues. Further meetings will be facilitated in dates that will be communicated. Among the stakeholders at the meeting at Ha Petlane in Kolo were the Ministry of Mining, Local Government, Tourism, Environment and Culture, the Mafeteng District Administrator office, Ntlafalang Consultancy and the community.

Transformation Resource Centre (TRC)’s work is to strengthen good governance and human rights protection in Lesotho. The Centre through its advocacy of the establishment of human rights commission facilitated a pre- national dialogue on the security reforms. Main focus institutions were the Lesotho Correctional Services, Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and National Security Services (NSS) of which they identified areas of concern in their respective institutions. Among the stakeholders invited were the EU Ambassador, US Ambassador, SAPMIL, civil society organizations and senior officials from the security institutions in Lesotho. The dialogue deliberated upon possible solutions and strategies the stakeholders proposed in order to strengthen the structures, appointments, mandate and integrity of these entities to ensure that they fulfill the objective of their establishments. This effort was made to ensure that Lesotho Security Forces are transformed into trustworthy entities that respect, promote and protect human rights effectively without being implicated in human rights abuses.

The dialogue was a reflection of the general security and human rights violations issues in the country and paved way for the envisioned security and human rights vanguards institutions post the reforms. Meaningful contributions were made which pointed the direction which the country must take as part of the national reforms agenda. It was deliberated that

• There is need to identify the responsibilities of the security forces. This will help solve the manipulation of these institutions by politicians and address the underlying issues.
• Experts’ views who will play a significant role should be informed by the citizen opinions and aspirations.
• The country needs to interrogate the problems caused by security agencies and the perpetual human rights violations. Do security agencies understand human rights? What actions are taken by the state where there are human rights violations?
• We also need to address the shared mandates of the security agencies and better define them. There should be clear lines of demarcation between the agencies.
• Politics have played a critical role in getting the country where it is, especially in the appointment of heads of security agencies. Appointment and removal of the heads of these agencies should be free of political influence.
• The civil service is politicized and so are the security agencies. At times members of these institutions are recruited from the constituency level. There should be guidelines for recruitment and it should be free from political influence.
• Human rights violations should be interrogated with an inclusive eye so that even the rights of members of these institutions are protected. The principle of universality of rights should be applied.
• Consideration of the role of civil society organizations in the security sector reforms as they are perceived as neutral and non-political actors
• Real reforms of the correctional services and their institutions, including the training and the working environment, should form part of the reforms

The International partners further pledged to assist and support the country in its reform agenda. However, the process should be inclusive, transparent and participatory. So it is very important to address the rights issues. But the issue of human rights should not be politicized to avoid international stakeholders using the issue as a reason for withdrawing their support for the processes. Lesotho needs to develop a culture of human rights.

The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) holds a press conference at Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) hall to inform the public about the temporary suspension of the committee sessions in parliament. The issue came as a result from the parliament deputy speaker’s ruling that committees should stop using parliament chambers as from the 15th May 2018. Unfortunately, the committees are unable to utilize the committee rooms because of their inadequate facilities for the PAC to effectively execute its mandate. Another challenge is that the Master of the High Court personnel have presented the PAC with an urgent court order. The concerned staff were summoned by the committee and given 21 days to reappear before the committee on the 16th May 2018 for further questioning and presentation of relevant documents to support their arguments. The implicated employees desire the court to protect them from further interrogations and that the previous evidence should be disregarded.