WHILE the Government of Lesotho has been struggling to manage its debts, the COVID-19 pandemic presents even more challenges in line with debt management mechanisms.

Operational challenges, liquidity and funding risks have escalated to unprecedented levels in these trying times.  

Debt management preparedness to respond to these challenges is critical in supporting the efficacy of the government’s emergency response.

The pandemic poses significant challenges for public debt management resulting in sudden and significant increases in borrowing needs as well as some temporary mismatches in fiscal cash flows.

This has been evidenced by the recently release report of the Auditor General which painted a bleak picture on the country’s public debt position.

The report reveals that Lesotho debt portfolio magnitude has increased significantly, ending at M19 320billion as at March 2020.

The increase represents 22 percent higher than the previous figure of M15 870billion. The significant increase is on long-term debt. 

With this scenario in mind and the fact that the Government is struggling to remain sustainable and below the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s 55 percent of GDP and the 60 percent SADC policy guideline, the Government should find other financing alternatives to remain sustainable and able to borrow.

With the debt burden flying above these thresholds, it means that the country will be at risk of experiencing debt distress, thus making it difficult to borrow from development partners.

For a country’s debt to remain sustainable, SADC advices member states to maintain a public debt to GDP ratio of no greater than 60 percent.