Chapter four: Economic governance and management
processes involved in vehicle registration in one place, thereby shortening the time involved for
these procedures. The main idea behind the shops is to make Lesotho more investor-friendly.
102
354.
The Private Sector Development Division of the MoFDP has been mandated to play a leading role
in coordinating efforts to reform the investment climate and make it more investor-friendly. In this
regard, it has designed a range of measures such as offering investors fiscal and other incentives.
The measures also include providing capital, training and market information for developing the
informal sector. Some institutions have also been created to make it easier for businesses to
be established and to operate, while government infrastructural development activities are also
aimed at creating an enabling environment for private sector operations.
355.
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) is yet another initiative for promoting private sector
development. The MCA is an innovative foreign assistance programme designed to reduce
poverty through sustainable economic growth. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is
an independent US government corporation established to administer the MCA. Lesotho has been
judged eligible for funding from the MCA and was therefore given an opportunity to submit a
proposal for five-year strategic funding to cover some key sectors of the economy. The total cost
for Lesotho’s proposal amounts to US$326.55 million. In April 2009, the MCA was in the fifth
month of its five-year life span.
356.
The objectives of the MCA are being achieved through three programmes intended to unlock the
productive capacity of the economy. The first two programmes comprise water and health projects,
while the third focuses on the private sector. The projects for private sector development include:
the National ID Card and Credit Bureau; establishing a Payments and Settlements System; and
Land Administration Reform and Civil Legal Reform. The national ID card will make it easier for
creditors to track down borrowers and, therefore, improve access to credit. The payment system
will ensure timely clearance of cheques and reduce fraudulent transactions. The land reform
component is aimed at making it easier for industrialists to apply for and obtain land. Finally, under
legal reform, a specialised commercial court will be established to settle commercial disputes
timeously. These initiatives will make it increasingly easier for private sector operators to operate
more effectively in Lesotho.
357.
Bold measures have also been taken to make Lesotho more investor-friendly. These are shown in
tax cuts for exporters. Government tax incentives include: reducing corporate tax on profits earned
by manufacturers exporting outside SACU from 15 per cent to 0 per cent; reducing preferential
corporate tax on profits earned on exports within SACU from 15 per cent to 10 per cent; and a
normal corporate tax rate of 25 per cent.
358.
Vision 2020 and the PRS contain proposals for Lesotho’s long-term development and measures
for private sector development. Among the measures is the development of small, medium
and microenterprises (SMMEs). The LNDC has adopted a working paper on an ‘Excellence
Model’ as a tool through which the LNDC will support the evaluation of local enterprises and
entrepreneurship.
359.
The Lesotho Enterprise Assistance Programme (LEAP) was established to strengthen the human
and institutional capacity of SMMEs and professional associations. This will be done by providing