The ministry is seeking to integrate the public opinion, especially from the farmers, in regard to formulating a law that would bring satisfaction to both parties. But farmers said they were only interested on when they would receive their monies for the woold and mohair they have sold via the government’s administration.
“You cannot invite people you owe to come from afar places for such a dialogue when they are starving and desperate for their delayed payments. What they want to hear at this juncture is when you are going to pay them. It’s not surprising that the minister’s gatherings are deemed a flop,” noted Lehlohonolo Tšehlana, a farmer and a politician from Mokhotlong.
Very few farmers had showed up at the minister’s organised meetings in Mokhotlong and Leribe, a situation that did not go well with the minister who said he would consider “doing it his own way” with the amendment of the wool and mohair law if farmers show no interest in his invitations meant to share opinions and have their contributions.
The law which the farmers complain was imposed on them, had previously forced the latter to trade their merchandise through the monopoly of government establishment - the Thaba-Bosiu Wool Centre. It is reported that some farmers received payments while others were still owed by the centre almost one year down the line.
