Local Government

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Sehlaba-Thebe inauguration
After almost six years of waiting Sehlaba-Thebe community finally celebrated the inauguration of their new chief in early December. More

New approaches to land management
New approaches to improving land allocation and management were on the agenda at a two day National Land Forum currently held in Maseru last week. More

Chiefs say game is over
Qacha's Nek chiefs met with their counterparts from Matatiele in South Africa recently as part of moves to combat stock theft. The meeting took place at the Principal Chief’s office at Rats’oleli. More

Maseru councils make bylaws
Councils in the Maseru District, with the help of the Senior Legal Officer, have embarked on the exercise of making by-laws. More

Ministry Newsletter

The Ministry produces regular newsletters about local government activities in the districts and the work of the Ministry.

News story archive
Earlier news stories from the Ministry's website are archived: August-October 2007 (pdf, 42KB); September 2006-August 2007 (.pdf, 80KB)

Maseru Councils make bylaws

Councils in the Maseru District, with the help of the Senior Legal Officer, have embarked on the exercise of making by-laws.

This crucial exercise has been of great importance as it has been the Councillors’ concern for a long time that though their powers derive from the Act, the existence of by-laws will help them exercise those powers.

The Local Government Act of 1997, Part IV-Section 42, gives Councils the power to make by-Laws. It stipulates that, “every Council shall have power to make or to adopt with such modifications as circumstances may require, from time to time, such by-laws not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act”.

As stipulated in the First and Second Schedule, the by-laws have been made in respect of the following matters:
- Control of Natural Resources and Environmental protection
- Burial grounds
- Land allocation
- Range Management
-Markets provision and Regulation
-Fire
-Water supply in villages (maintenance)
-Forestry and “Liremo”

The other by-laws are miscellaneous which relate to the structural arrangement of committees within the councils and how those committees are to function under the by-laws.

At this moment, the Maseru District Council is awaiting the Law Office to draft the intention to make by-laws of the fifteen Councils which shall be publicised and placed at the councils’ offices and other accessible areas. This placement will be for thirty days and will enable the community to inspect and make recommendations on the proposed by-laws. Thereafter, the by-laws shall be taken to the Honourable Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship for approval.