Lesotho’s US Health Deal Sparks Uproar

By Echos News Editorial Team
Published: March 29, 2026

Lesotho’s recent $364 million health cooperation agreement with the United States has ignited fierce debate, with opposition leaders and civil society organizations condemning the deal as unconstitutional and lacking transparency. Signed on 10 December 2025, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covers health funding, management of foreign assistance, and controversial clauses on data and specimen sharing.

Opposition Condemnation

Leader of the main opposition in the National Assembly, Mathibeli Mokhothu, declared the agreement “null and void.” He argued that the government acted unlawfully by bypassing parliamentary approval, warning that future administrations could challenge the deal in court. Mokhothu cautioned that Parliament risks being reduced to a “rubber stamp” if constitutional safeguards are ignored.

He further suggested that corruption may have influenced the signing, calling for judicial review and potential nullification of the MoU.

Civil Society Concerns

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have raised alarms over the deal’s implications for national sovereignty and data privacy. They criticized the lack of consultation with stakeholders, including development partners and national authorities, before signing. CSOs highlighted that Annexes 4 and 5, which reportedly cover data sharing and biological specimen management, remain undisclosed.

They warned that the 25-year commitment to data and specimen sharing could undermine Lesotho’s dignity and sovereignty, demanding immediate public disclosure of the full MoU and annexes.

Legal and Constitutional Issues

CSOs argue that the MoU violates Section 153(c) of Lesotho’s Constitution, which requires parliamentary approval for international agreements. They insist that any deal entered without parliamentary debate is inconsistent with constitutional safeguards and should be considered invalid.

They also emphasized that the agreement could conflict with existing national legislation, including data protection and privacy rights, necessitating a comprehensive legal review.

Government Silence

Attempts to obtain comments from Finance Minister Dr. Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane and Health Minister Selibe Mochoboroane were unsuccessful. Dr. Matlanyane reportedly ended a call abruptly, while Mr. Mochoboroane’s phone went unanswered, fueling suspicions about the government’s transparency.

Public Demands

Civil society has called for:

• Immediate disclosure of the full MoU and annexes.
• Formal tabling of the agreement in Parliament for debate and approval.
• A comprehensive legal review to assess compliance with constitutional and legislative requirements.
• Meaningful engagement with civil society, as mandated under Section 20 of the Constitution.

Failure to meet these demands, CSOs warn, will confirm suspicions that undisclosed annexes contain provisions detrimental to Basotho citizens.

Conclusion

The Lesotho-US health deal, valued at $364 million (M6.2 billion), was intended to strengthen the country’s health system. Instead, it has triggered widespread uproar over legality, transparency, and sovereignty. As opposition leaders and civil society intensify calls for disclosure and parliamentary oversight, the controversy underscores the importance of constitutional compliance in international agreements.

Source: Lesotho Times

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