Senator Seabata Motsamai has declared that poverty is the consequence of misguided policies, describing it as a diagnosis of Lesotho’s ongoing struggle with inequality and economic stagnation.

Senator Motsamai said poverty in the country is not an accident of geography or fate, but the predictable outcome of decisions made in boardrooms, parliaments, and ministries.

He criticized decades of policies that have prioritized short-term gains over long-term development, leading to misaligned investments, mismanaged resources, and squandered opportunities.  According to the Senator, this has left communities trapped in deprivation while prosperity remains out of reach.

He warned that when policies fail to create jobs, strengthen education, and expand healthcare, poverty thrives. He added that corruption and lack of accountability drain resources meant for the people, while ignoring the voices of youth and marginalized groups silences potential drivers of progress.

Despite these challenges, the Senator emphasized that poverty is not inevitable. He called for transparency in government spending, rural development, and investment in industries that create sustainable livelihoods.

Concluding his remarks, Senator Motsamai urged leaders to adopt evidence-based decision-making and measure policies by their impact on ordinary Basotho. He further said if poverty is the consequence of misguided policies, then prosperity must be the reward of wise ones.