Policy | Movement for Economic Change

POLICY FRAMEWORK

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS the Movement for Economic Change (MEC) is a political party founded in 2017 to address the social, cultural, political and economic challenges faced by Lesotho:-

Never has our country faced as many challenges and crises as we do today.
We call forth a spirit of ingenuity and citizen participation to achieve a free, democratic, just and responsible society, one that actively responds to the crucial social and economic challenges of our time, rather than denying them.
We see our political and economic progress, and our individual lives within the context of an evolving, dynamic world.
We believe that political freedom and economic freedom are indivisible.
After a period of bitter division in national politics, our nominee is a leader who

brings fundamental change to our society’s broken political system.
With this platform, we reaffirm the principles that unite us and constitute a liberation for

economic advancement: Movement for Economic Change (MEC).

VISION

We, the Movement for Economic Change (MEC), envision a just, prosperous, peaceful and caring civil society geared toward peace and stability, a vigorous market economy, political openness, ecological balance, and an honest, efficient and effective government.

We are a responsive, accountable and broad-based political party, unleashing the potential of an empowered citizenry through the Party’s Ideals, cohesive membership and courageous, principled leadership.

MISSION

To attain that vision, we shall advance the Liberal Ideals of Society, Justice, Human Rights, a free Market Economy, Participatory Democracy, and Solidarity with all Nations.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Party shall include the following:-

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the Kingdom of Lesotho and other laws in the Kingdom.
To attain political power through legitimate, democratic and constitutional means for the purpose of cultivating an egalitarian society based on the principles of equality, freedom and social justice.
To provide a purposeful and integrity driven leadership for Basotho.
To promote unity and political stability by ensuring access to power and key public offices by all sections of the country.
To establish conditions and structures which shall guarantee social justice, equal opportunities, social, economic, and political freedom for the people and ensure the general welfare of all peoples of Lesotho.
To defend the sovereignty of the people and the observance of open democratic process in all organs of party, government and state.
To reduce poverty, want, ignorance, discrimination of all kinds, corruption, and exploitation in our society.
To maintain and promote the multi religious character of Lesotho, as well as religious tolerance and harmony.
To encourage the development of agriculture, commerce and industry.
To ensure purposeful mobilization of the creativity and resources of the people of Lesotho for the establishment of an economic environment in which opportunities for the fulfillment of life and the pursuit of happiness shall be open to all Basotho; and a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the Nation.
To promote active participation of Basotho in the strategic sectors of the economy.
To create enabling environment for full and gainful employment for all Lesotho who are able and willing to work, and to secure for workers full fruits and benefits of their labour.
To provide the basic necessities of life, e.g. food, potable water, roads, security, recreation facilities, environmental protection etc.
To provide (where and when practicable) free universal education at all levels and free health for all.
To protect the interest of Lesotho and Basotho and to strive to obtain for them the greatest possible returns for their labour.
To embark on integrated rural development aimed at enhancing the quality of life of rural dwellers.
To co-operate with trade union organisations, professional groups and co- operative movements for the economic progress of Lesotho.
To create conditions for the purposeful development of youth and for the development of their leadership capability to manage national institutions and resources effectively.
To create opportunities for, and encourage full development of the political, cultural and economic potentials of the Lesotho woman.
To protect and promote the rights of the child to achieve optimum development.
To protect and promote the rights of the disabled to achieve optimum development.
To pursue a dynamic foreign policy aimed at:-
1. Friendly and reciprocal relations with all states;
2. Political and economic progress of Lesotho and peoples of African
  
  descent in particular and all oppressed people of the world in general;
3. Promotion of the cultural values of Basotho and African people all over
  
  the world, and
4. International peace and security, harmony and co-operation.

23. To foster and defend the freedom of the press and the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Basotho.

24. To co-operate with any institution or association for the purpose of achieving the objectives of the Party.

25. To ensure that the policies and programs of the Party shall be in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution of Lesotho; and that accordingly, the Party shall at all times pursue the political, economic, social, educational and other fundamental human rights and freedoms as well as the Principles of State Policy provided for in the Constitution of Lesotho.

26. To promote the development of science and technology.

27. To undertake any activities and adopt any measures or policies which shall aim at improving the general conditions and well-being of all.

OUR TEN KEY VALUES

Grassroots Democracy

All human beings must be allowed a say in decisions that affect their lives; no one should be subject to the will of another. We work to improve public participation in every aspect of government and seek to ensure that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We also work to create new types of political organisations that expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in decision-making.

Social Justice and Equal Opportunity

As a matter of right, all persons must have the opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large, any discrimination by race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, religion, or physical or mental ability that denies fair treatment and equal justice under the law.

Ecological Wisdom

Human societies must function with the understanding that we are part of nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society that utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture that replenishes the soil, move to an energy-efficient economy, and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

Non-Violence

It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society's current patterns of violence. We recognize the need for self-defense and the defense of others who are in danger. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.

Decentralisation

Centralisation of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. We seek a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system controlled by and mostly benefiting the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision- making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all.

Community-Based Economics

We support redesigning our work structures to encourage employee ownership and workplace democracy. We support developing new economic activities and institutions that allow us to use technology in ways that are humane, freeing, ecological, and responsive and accountable to communities. We support establishing a form of basic economic security open to all. We call for moving beyond the narrow 'job ethic' to new definitions of 'work,' 'jobs' and 'income' in a cooperative and democratic economy. We support restructuring our patterns of income distribution to reflect the wealth created by those outside the formal monetary economy – those who take responsibility for parenting, housekeeping, home gardens, community volunteer work, and the like. We support restricting the size and concentrated power of corporations without discouraging superior efficiency or technological innovation.

Feminism and Gender Equity

We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as gender equity, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We recognise that the processes for determining our decisions and actions are just as important as achieving the outcomes we want.

Respect for Diversity

We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across the human spectrum. We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organisations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We encourage respect for all life forms, and increased attention to the preservation of biodiversity.

Personal and Global Responsibility

We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal wellbeing and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organisations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.

Future Focus and Sustainability

Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or 'unmaking' all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions. We must make the quality of all lives, rather than open-ended economic growth, the focus of future thinking and policy.