Senator Leboea Khoaele has called on the government to officially declare youth employment as an emergency. This he said when moving motion 40 titled plight of youth in Lesotho in the Senate on Thursday.

He urged the House to take cognizance of the predicament of the youth in relation to unemployment and lack of business opportunities, indicating statistics have shown over 40 percent of youth, most of whom are academics, are unemployed.

He said while the government through other means including youth apprentice programmes are meeting youth halfway, that does not bring in lasting solutions to current problems before them hence through sustainable programmes must assist youth rise above their challenges.

In implementing these programmes, he called on the government to take a multi-sectoral approach by including the private sector, civil society organisations and development partners to ensure success of this initiative.

Senator Khoaele mentioned that as a result of unemployment, youth have engaged in a number of things that include being prone to HIV/AIDS, depression and above all crime in its different forms. Over and above that, he talked about the need to ensure skills transfers effectively rather than skills misplacement amongst these youth.

He also highlighted the need for enticing packages so that those who have been in for a long time can reconsider going early for their pensions, to be able to run projects so that the youth can come in with their innovative minds.

He also mentioned the need for those in leadership to allow youth to be architects of their future, stating this could be done through the National Youth Council.

The motion was seconded by Senator Seabata Motsamai who further said it came at the right time when USA President, Donald Trump is making sanctions that would affect Lesotho negatively.  He stated the Labour Force Survey of 2024 has shown 38.9 percent graduates are unemployed, 40 percent of whom are young women.

In the same token, Senator Sehloho Monatsi mentioned that even huge projects that include construction of Polihali in Mokhotlong have not taken note of the importance of youth as mostly employed staff include foreigners.

Also speaking, Senator 'Maphakiso Lebona commended this motion, urging the government to further consider moving fast to digital services as the youth today have innovative ideas in this regard. This motion comes a few months after the 2025/26 fiscal budget portrayed uncertainty and delayed aspirations when it comes to youth unemployment remains a challenge. The motion is under discussion.