Theses and Dissertations

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14155/191

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Author "Associate Professor Motšoene, Keneuoe"

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    The contribution of the SMMEs to the Lesotho public procurement marketing on economic development
    (National University of Lesotho, 2021-07) Ramphoma, Tsepang; Associate Professor Motšoene, Keneuoe
    Public procurement could be used as a bargaining chip to provide SMMEs preferential treatment and provide major assistance for indigenous manufacturing capacity. The issues that SMMEs face in the business world are not adequately addressed, despite the fact that they serve as incubators for new business organizations that may eventually grow into large corporations. These difficulties could include lack of funds and lack of access to them, as well as a lack of critical information that financial institutions demand in order to offer the loans or credit. Lack of Government support for access to the public procurement opportunities is also a barrier as most of the SMMEs do not have the proper channels of acquiring information from the government ministries and agencies. Some of the socio-economic factors such as unemployment, poverty and crime may efficiently be eradicated through the empowerment of the SMMEs. The objective of the study is to assess the contribution of the SMMEs to Lesotho public procurement markets on economic development. This was a qualitative research project that was exploratory in nature. A quantitative data analysis method was used to measure the data by assigning numerical codes to it. To make a descriptive assessment, a descriptive data analysis was used. According to the findings of this study, a considerable majority of the participants agree that the SMMEs can lower the rate of unemployment because they are numerous and employ between two and five people. The data show that the SMMEs increase the government's revenue base, allowing for the collection of the various taxes to fund government spending. The findings further suggest that public procurement provides market opportunities for the private sector businesses, which contributes to the GDP and government income growth. Lack of credit was identified as one of the hurdles to the SMME performance in the survey. The availability of the institutions that provide technical and financial assistance is also critical for the SMME production efficiency. The study concludes that while there is no legal obligation for the institutions to assist the SMMEs, they do so out of moral commitment. It is further concluded that procurement regulations and policies are tailored in manners that inhibit the SMMEs from participating in public procurement. The government does not have the policies in place to ensure that the infant industries continue to thrive
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    An Investigation of the citizens' participation in development decision making in Lesotho between 2012 and 2017
    (National University of Lesotho, 2021-07) Monesa, Liphapang; Associate Professor Motšoene, Keneuoe
    Development is advanced most effectively where the nation-states liberal democratic institutions strengthen voice and accountability so that all the citizens have the capacity to express their demands and to hold elected officials to account. The literature also shows that an active and engaged citizenry can contribute to better development policy outcomes, a renewed faith in the public sector and a stronger sense of community. Communities with higher levels of social capital and citizen participation have higher-performing governments and governments that are more responsive to the public that they serve. Between 2012 and 2017, Lesotho experienced both the advent of coalition governance and a series of snap elections as a consequence of short-lived governments which were unable to complete their constitutional five year terms. This phenomenon prompted the interest to investigate the citizens‟ participation in development decision making as one of the pillars of good governance in Lesotho during this period. The objective of this study was to find out whether the coalition governments allowed the citizens‟ participation and to assess whether the citizens participated in development policy-making during the coalition governance between 2012 and 2017. The findings of this study have established that coalition governments have had no real positive impact to promote the citizens‟ participation in development decision making processes in Lesotho. It is also possible that the volatility of these coalitions only worsened the already compromised opportunity for the citizens to have a direct role in determining their own development destiny. Another objective of this study was to recommend the ways in which the citizens‟ participation in development decision-making can be enhanced in Lesotho. Therefore, the outcomes of this study may inform the policy makers on the significance of the citizens‟ participation in decision making for national development and further secure a more stable government and a healthy democracy necessary for good governance. Moreover, the findings of this study may also inform the current national reforms process in Lesotho on legislating the national legal frameworks to promote the citizens‟ participation in governance. Lastly, the study may contribute to the body of knowledge in highlighting the dynamics in relation to the citizens‟ participation in development processes during the coalition governments in Lesotho.