NEW faces were seen on Friday during the swearing-in of ministers entrusted to serve in the new coalition government led by Sam Matekane’s Revolution for Prosperity (RFP).

The number of ministries has also been cut down to 15 for the first time in years.

Several ministries have been fused together in a bid to cut expenditure which has been skyrocketing over the years.

Matekane reiterated that the country’s expenditure is way too high and is one of the numerous challenges he plans to tackle as the new Prime Minister.  

“Lesotho’s public spending has increased over the last few years and has reached 65 percent of GDP in this financial year. Today 86 percent of Lesotho’s national budget is absorbed by government consumption, particularly public wages which are estimated at 32 percent of GDP, which is key in determining the effectiveness of the government in delivering essential services, programmes, and projects. But, it is arguably the worst managed,” Matekane said in his maiden speech as Premier.  

One of the new and notable faces is the former Governor of the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL), Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, who was appointed the new Minister of Finance.

Former Chief Justice Nthomeng Majara is the country’s first female Deputy Prime Minister and is in charge of the Ministry of Justice, Law, and Parliamentary Affairs.