Two All Basotho Convention (ABC) members, Mphonyane Lebesa and ‘Mafumane Sebatane were on Tuesday this week sworn-in as Senators when the Upper House returned from the Easter break. The duo were appointed by the King to fill two vacancies left after the resignation of former Senators ‘Mamotsie Motsie and ‘Mahlompho Mokaeane respectively. They were led at the swearing-in by the Clerk of Senate, Selete Molete and, according to the tradition of the House, other members welcomed them. One of the Senators, Kemiso Mosenene, said he was thankful for the new members’ presence and advised them the new status means they need to change their behaviour to suit their new role. He asserted that most members are Principal Chiefs hence they should never in a day think they are equal to them but accord them due respect. “They are unlike us who get appointed into this House only to vacate at some point,” he said cautioning that respect is an essential ingredient in the House. The Principal Chief of Leribe, Senator Joel Motsóene, highlighted that the mandate of the House derives from the Constitution and other laws such as standing orders governing the House which serve as their guiding tools. He cautioned new members that they will be confronted with many challenges in tackling matters of national concern, favourable to them or not, on which he said they need to competently assert themselves in accordance with the regulations irrespective of their individual inclinations. Senator Motsóene also stated that their mandate is to advise government in all honesty and transparency in the daily deliberations. They are expected to talk about issues benefiting Basotho without fear, favour or prejudice. In the same vein, Senator ‘Mamolapo Majara commended government for appropriately filling vacancies in the House and the King for injecting young blood to help in the reforms processes and advised new members to feel at home. Meanwhile, Senate President ‘Mamonaheng Mokitimi also thanked the King for appointing the new members saying this was a well-thought decision because they were concerned with the lack of women’s representation in parliament hence she said she was thankful that one of the newly appointed members was female. “We have for a long time had men leading in the majority, and it is about time we changed the pattern in the representation,” said Mokitimi highlighting that as new appointees, new Senators should be leaders and behave in an honourable manner befitting their newly acquired status and support decisions made in the House in advising government because true leaders stand in and for truth. The Senate President, meanwhile, assured the members of the House that through her experience, she has learned that the House has an important role to play in vindicating Basotho as a whole especially when decisions made by government seem to benefit only a certain portion of society. She said the Senators’ responsibility is even greater as they serve a bigger part of the nation. The new Senate appointees meanwhile also come with different professional and political backgrounds. One of them, Lebesa, said being appointed into the Upper House is binding to representing Lesotho and Basotho and a responsibility to take whole-heartedly. He said this was a challenge to the youth because they need to have their issues answered and met. He further stated that having served the ABC in its youth committees over the years now, God works in His own time because when he opens the door, no one can close it. He pledged to stand by the decisions of the Senate where he said he will at all times do right in advising government. He pledged to roll up his sleeves in working robustly to create jobs and to also help government level the playing field for private sector development. He also added that having studied only up to Form B, it goes to show that development is not only limited to academic or professional qualifications but depends on what God has put in an individual and advised people never to undermine themselves. Sebatane said she has a great responsibility to ensure that poor women’s welfare in the hard-to-reach areas is protected. She grew up in Makoakoeng, Mafeteng where she was born, she developed interest in administrative issues in the chief’s office and went through several trainings one of which was the Pitman correspondence and ending up as an employee of Maseru High school. She said she became a member of ABC in 2006 when it was established and assumed roles in its women’s league, and in the national league which she was a member for five years. She said she had a great responsibility given to her by her constituency and expressed hope that she will do her best for the growth of ABC. The Senate adjourned until today. Lena