THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT CHANGEOVER ON PUBLIC POLICY MAKING: LESOTHO’S E-GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE
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Date
2023-05-30
Authors
Matsieli, Molefi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Social Political Sciences
Abstract
In Lesotho in recent years, government changeover has become a topic of interest among the electorate, journalists, foreign missions, civil organizations and beyond. Similarly, election commentators, political analysts and researchers have discussed ‘who climbs to power’ and ‘how do they ascend to’ or ‘descend from power’. Significantly less efforts have been focused on the effects of a new administration. This paper attempts to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by examining the relationship between a change of government and the priorities in policy. This is achieved by examining the implications for change of the executive power on the policy making in Lesotho. Using the e-government experience of Lesotho based on the changeovers of 2012, 2015 and 2017, it was found that executive turnover has a direct, yet antagonistic effect on policies. The results show that a new administration often goes slowly with or discontinues the predecessor's policies, programs and projects. This widens the policy-implementation gap as service delivery is interrupted, leading to a lapse in solving societal problems. It also creates uncertainty, not necessarily about who comes to power, but what policy direction they will pursue.
Description
Keywords
change of government, policy-making, e-government, turnover
Citation
Matsieli, M., & Sooryamoorthy, R. (2023). The Change of Governmental Implication on Public Policy Making: Lesotho’s E-government Experience. Journal of Social Political Sciences, 4(2), 109-128.