An Investigation of the citizens' participation in development decision making in Lesotho between 2012 and 2017

Abstract

Development is advanced most effectively where the nation-states liberal democratic institutions strengthen voice and accountability so that all the citizens have the capacity to express their demands and to hold elected officials to account. The literature also shows that an active and engaged citizenry can contribute to better development policy outcomes, a renewed faith in the public sector and a stronger sense of community. Communities with higher levels of social capital and citizen participation have higher-performing governments and governments that are more responsive to the public that they serve. Between 2012 and 2017, Lesotho experienced both the advent of coalition governance and a series of snap elections as a consequence of short-lived governments which were unable to complete their constitutional five year terms. This phenomenon prompted the interest to investigate the citizens‟ participation in development decision making as one of the pillars of good governance in Lesotho during this period. The objective of this study was to find out whether the coalition governments allowed the citizens‟ participation and to assess whether the citizens participated in development policy-making during the coalition governance between 2012 and 2017. The findings of this study have established that coalition governments have had no real positive impact to promote the citizens‟ participation in development decision making processes in Lesotho. It is also possible that the volatility of these coalitions only worsened the already compromised opportunity for the citizens to have a direct role in determining their own development destiny. Another objective of this study was to recommend the ways in which the citizens‟ participation in development decision-making can be enhanced in Lesotho. Therefore, the outcomes of this study may inform the policy makers on the significance of the citizens‟ participation in decision making for national development and further secure a more stable government and a healthy democracy necessary for good governance. Moreover, the findings of this study may also inform the current national reforms process in Lesotho on legislating the national legal frameworks to promote the citizens‟ participation in governance. Lastly, the study may contribute to the body of knowledge in highlighting the dynamics in relation to the citizens‟ participation in development processes during the coalition governments in Lesotho.