‘Makananelo Manamolela
THE European Union (EU), through its Equitable Lesotho Project, has supported and funded a one-day media workshop in Maseru aimed at raising awareness about the proposed Statistics Bill and the media’s role in promoting official statistics.
The workshop, held on Friday, brought together journalists, statisticians and development partners to discuss the importance of strengthening the National Statistical System (NSS) and improving the production and use of official data.
Director of the Bureau of Statistics (BOS), ‘Malehloa Molato, said the session sought to highlight the significance of the proposed legislation in addressing long-standing weaknesses within the country’s statistical system.
“We assessed the data system three years ago to monitor the development framework and recognised several challenges in the production of official statistics. The proposed bill is intended to address those challenges,” Ms Molato said.
BOS official, Nyefolo Seboka, said an assessment of the country’s statistical system had identified several areas requiring improvement.
“The assessment revealed that an effective legal mandate and its enforcement would greatly strengthen coordination within the National Statistical System, which is fundamental to delivering an effective NSS,” Ms Seboka said.
She said incorporating the principles of the Statistics Charter into law would help operationalise those principles and raise the profile of Lesotho’s statistical system.
“Documentation of statistical processes is essential, while user trust in statistics can be enhanced through transparency in almost all aspects of statistical production. We also found that peer reviews are an efficient way of identifying weaknesses in statistical production processes and provide a useful basis for systematic improvement and capacity development,” she said.
Ms Seboka said the proposed bill was among several recommendations aimed at modernising the country’s statistical framework.
Other recommendations include reviewing the Terms of Reference of the National Statistical Council and the effectiveness of Memoranda of Understanding with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), developing and implementing user and stakeholder engagement strategies, publishing more information on statistical guidelines, policies and procedures, improving the alignment of spatial and statistical data, extending the publication calendar and improving access to time-series data.
Local consultant, Seth Macheli, said the proposed legislation would have important implications for citizens and data users, particularly regarding privacy and confidentiality.
“It requires strict confidentiality in the treatment of all data and information collected for statistical purposes and demands strict alignment with the Data Protection Act of 2011 in handling personal information and protecting citizens’ privacy rights,” Mr Macheli said.
He added that the legislation would improve public service delivery by obliging authorities to produce timely, accurate, relevant and reliable statistics to guide the government’s development agenda.
Deputy Head and Inter-Regional Adviser at the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21), Philippe Gafishi, urged journalists to make greater use of official statistics in scrutinising government performance and public policies.
“You are expected to bridge the gap between statistics and citizens, shape public trust and drive demand for data. With these tools, you will be publishing official data,” Mr Gafishi said.
He described statistics as a public good that should be accessible to all and used to support evidence-based decision-making.
Speaking on behalf of the EU Delegation, Marcella Veneziani, said the bloc supports stronger statistical systems because quality statistics are fundamental to good governance.
“Quality statistics are not just technical tools; they are a foundation for sound policymaking, transparency, accountability and public trust,” Ms Veneziani said.
“Reliable, independent and inclusive data help governments design better policies, help partners target support more effectively and help citizens understand whether progress is reaching everyone, especially the most vulnerable.”
She said the EU’s commitment in Lesotho was reflected in its €1.8 million (M33.7 million) programme, Strengthening the National Statistical System for an Equitable Lesotho, a 36-month initiative being implemented by Expertise France in close cooperation with national partners.
Equitable Lesotho Project Team Manager, Maxime Bonkoungou, said the initiative aims to support inclusive social protection and data-driven governance to reduce multidimensional poverty and promote more equitable public policies.
“We are strengthening the system to address essential data gaps for sustainable development, overcome technical challenges in data management, ensure more inclusive and accurate data, and improve coordination among key stakeholders,” Mr Bonkoungou said.
He said the project adopts a comprehensive approach that combines institutional reform, capacity development and inclusive data practices to ensure evidence-based policymaking.
The €1.8 million project, which started in 2025, has nationwide coverage and will run till 2028.
The proposed Statistics Bill is expected to be enacted before the end of 2026.
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