Seithati Motšoeneng
PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has urged the government ministries to pay contractors on time, warning that delayed payments undermine businesses, strain relationships and hinder efforts to develop Lesotho.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 Lesotho Construction, Roads and Infrastructure Expo and Conference at Maseru Club yesterday, Mr Matekane said cooperation between the government and the private sector was essential to building and maintaining the country’s infrastructure.
He appealed to ministers and principal secretaries to ensure contractors were paid promptly after completing their work, saying this would enable businesses to grow and contribute more effectively to the national economy.
“The major concern among contractors over the years has been that they are not paid on time after completing their work. This kills businesses, destroys relationships and prevents us from working together to achieve our goals,” Mr Matekane said.
He urged the government officials to address the problem, adding that timely payments would encourage contractors to continue working with the state and help expand their businesses.
The Prime Minister also challenged contractors to deliver quality work within agreed timelines and contractual terms to avoid disruptions and delays in payment.
The two-day expo, which brings together public officials, construction professionals, contractors, engineers, suppliers and exhibitors, aims to promote collaboration, exchange expertise and explore solutions to the challenges facing Lesotho’s construction and road infrastructure sectors.
Mr Matekane commended the Roads Directorate and event organiser Beyond Creations, together with their partners and sponsors, for bringing together stakeholders whose work is central to the country’s development.
The event coincides with Lesotho’s 60th anniversary of independence and the Roads Directorate’s 15th anniversary.
Reflecting on the country’s road infrastructure since independence, Mr Matekane said Lesotho had made significant progress, growing its network of tarred roads from about three kilometres at independence to 1992 kilometres today.
“This is a huge milestone that we need to build on, to ensure the next generation finds it in a more improved state,” he said.
He said infrastructure was the backbone of economic development, connecting farmers to markets, children to schools, patients to healthcare facilities and businesses to customers.
Reliable transport, energy, water and other public infrastructure, he added, create favourable conditions for investment, trade, employment creation and improved living standards.
However, Mr Matekane stressed that the government could not achieve these objectives alone. He called for stronger partnerships involving the private sector, financial institutions, educational and vocational institutions, development partners and local communities.
He said the private sector had a role to play in investing, innovating and creating jobs, while financial institutions should help businesses access capital. Training institutions, meanwhile, needed to equip young people with skills relevant to the construction industry.
“Our focus must be on ensuring that infrastructure investment creates meaningful opportunities for Basotho. We must strengthen local contractors, support emerging enterprises, improve access to finance and encourage local participation throughout the construction value chain,” he said.
The Prime Minister also called for greater accountability, transparency and prudent use of public funds, emphasising that infrastructure built today should serve future generations.
He urged stakeholders to embrace innovation and technology, adopt sustainable construction methods and maintain existing infrastructure while expanding the country’s road network.
Mr Matekane said the success of the expo should not be judged merely by the number of exhibitors or discussions held, but by the partnerships established, businesses supported, skills developed, investments attracted and jobs created.
“The true success of this Expo will not be measured only by the number of exhibitors or the discussions held here. It will be measured by the partnerships established, the businesses supported, the skills developed, the investments attracted and the jobs created,” he said.
He encouraged participants to turn discussions into lasting partnerships and practical projects that improve the lives of Basotho.
Also speaking at the expo, Minister of Public Works and Transport, Matjato Moteane, said infrastructure development was central to every nation’s strategic plan because of its contribution to economic and social progress.
He said the expo provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas and examine how road infrastructure could be developed and maintained more effectively.
“The mere act of connecting people from an economic perspective, development and social perspective is the start of everything,” Mr Moteane said.
He called on stakeholders to reassess their roles and improve infrastructure planning, saying well-planned projects could also create employment opportunities.
Roads Directorate Road Network Development Division director, Linehella Ntšere, said the event offered the institution an opportunity to engage directly with road users, contractors working in difficult terrain and engineers responsible for supervising maintenance.
“This can help us understand whether we need to improve, and we welcome those critics at this expo,” Mr Ntšere said.
He said the expo was also an opportunity to reflect on the Directorate’s achievements over the past 15 years and recognise the employees and development partners who had contributed to the growth of Lesotho’s road infrastructure.
Mr Ntšere said the gathering was intended to bring together people from different backgrounds in the construction sector to share experiences, discuss challenges and identify areas where institutions could provide support.
He encouraged participants to share what had worked, the difficulties they faced and the assistance they needed, adding that the knowledge and contacts established during the expo should remain useful beyond the event.
He said the exhibition allowed attendees to learn about available products and services, while the conference provided a platform to ask questions and explore solutions suited to the needs of Basotho.
Mr Ntšere also urged exhibitors to explain their services and expertise clearly, including the support they offered and the conditions under which their products and services performed best.