Lesotho held its first ever local government elections on 30 April 2005. The elections were a major step towards institutionalising grassroots democracy through direct and active involvement of Basotho in their own governance >>

Each Community Council is composed of between nine and 15 elected councillors and a maximum of two chiefs who are nominated by the gazetted chiefs in that Community Council area. Community Councils perform a range of functions as specified in the Second Schedule of the Local Government Act. In the interim phase, due to the immediate challenges posed by inadequate resources and capacities, Community Councils access staff and other resources from District Councils >>.

The thrust of local government, as envisaged by the Government of Lesotho, is to improve service delivery and bring services closer to the people . >>

Functions of local government

The thrust of local government, as envisaged by the Government of Lesotho, is to improve service delivery and bring services closer to the people. Districts are in charge of general district affairs, granting expert support to councils and forging links with central government. The functions of local councils are provided for under Section 5 of the Local Government Act 1997 and are clearly spelt out in the first and second schedule of the Act. These functions form the basis against which Councils can plan, budget and appropriate resources.

Functions for Municipal and District Councils include:

• Control of natural resources e.g. sand, stones and environmental protection e.g. dongas, pollution
• Public health e.g. food inspection, refuse collection and disposal
• Physical planning
• Land/site allocation
• Minor roads (also bridle paths)
• Grazing control
• Water supply in village (maintenance)
• Markets (provision and regulations)
• Promotion of economic development (e.g. attracting investment)
• Streets and public places
• Burial grounds
• Parks and gardens
• Control of building permits
• Fire
• Education'
• Recreation and culture
• Roads and traffic
• Water resources
• Fencing
• Local administration of central regulations and licences
• Care of mothers, young children, the aged and integration of people with disabilities
• Laundries
• Omnibus terminals
• Mortuaries and burial of destitute people and unclaimed bodies
• Public decency and offences against public order
• Agriculture: services for the improvement of agriculture
• Forestry: preservation, improving and control of designated forests in local authority areas

Functions for Community Councils include:

• Control of natural resources e.g. sand, stones and environmental protection e.g. dongas, pollution
• Land/site allocation
• Minor roads (also bridle paths)
• Grazing control
• Water supply in village (maintenance)
• Markets (provision and regulations)
• Burial grounds

Various other functions and responsibilities of central government ministries will also be decentralized as soon as it can be done, in keeping with the 27 functions in Schedule I of Local Government Act 1997.