The motion on the adoption of the report on road traffic amendment of schedule relations, 2023 has been rejected by the National Assembly during its sitting on Friday.

When presenting the report, Mr. Thabiso Lekitla who is the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Natural Resources, Tourism and Land Cluster of Road Traffic (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations, 2023 said they rejected this Bill due to high prices of personal number plates.

He indicated that the objective of this Bill is to provide freedom in the country for personalised number plates especially for Principal Chiefs, Members of Parliament, Security Agencies and the public in general.

He added that personal number plates would contribute towards collection of tax which will promote the economy mentioning that that number plates with one digit number with LS would be sold at M50,000, two numbers M30, 000 three numbers M20,000 alphabets and numbers M10,000 while those reserved for Principal Chiefs would be sold for M2,500.

Mr Lekitla indicated that they analysed this matter with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and agreed that it is high time it is implemented however they asked the Ministry to specify how the prices were made.

He said they agreed that the prices should not violate the rights of people but should accommodate all Basotho for the economic development of the country; thus, they rejected the Bill and urged the Ministry to revise it.

The Leader of Opposition Mr. Mathibeli Mokhothu said it is a good idea to enable the Ministry to revise this Bill and analyse if the number plates should be produced by the government or the private sector since the government takes time to produce them.