Mokhothu Makhalanyane: Parly’s Devil’s Advocate
Great leaders encourage debate to elicit diverse views in discussions to get a holistic perspective before taking a decision. This earns them a reputation as the Devil’s Advocate in any point of discussion that they are drawn into. But as Public Eye reporter, MOSA MAOENG (PE) sat down in an interview with the National Assembly Chairman of Portfolio Committees chairpersons, MOKHOTHU MAKHALANYANE (MM), it became evident that the devil’s advocacy can take leaders from the depths of groupthink to the heights of efficient decision-making
PE: You are called the chair of National Assembly committees’ chairpersons, what does your job really entail?
MM: My work as Chair of Chairs is the role that revolves around overseeing and coordinating the work of the committees Chairs across the various portfolio committees of the parliament. That means I am responsible for managing the committees’ efficiency and ensuring inter-committee collaboration.
I also play key role in steering the parliamentary priorities because whatever the legislators discuss in the House comes from the committees. I am also one of the points of contact when we talk of parliamentarians, the executive, the public and the media.
As a principle in parliaments across the world, the standard is that the committee chair is normally also the spokesperson, this is why when the media needs information from the PAC they talk to the chair of the PAC.
PE: How far does your influence go?
MM: My influence comes from being the organizer and the overseer of the committees’ work. Even if I am not directly creating laws, my position gives me a significant leverage in shaping the direction of parliamentary debates. It also highlights critical issues; I am able to do that.
I can ensure the committees are focused on key national priorities. We can without doubt all see the seriousness of the input of various committee in interrogating various issues surrounding government and national projects, you can see the anti-corruption approach taken.
It is more about shaping the debate and ensuring legislative processes run smoothly, not necessarily direct legislative control but to make sure that the debates run smoothly.
PE: You have been labeled the Devil’s Advocate in Lesotho’s parliament; does the description fit you looking at issues that you are always backing?
MM: I wish there was another term, but anyway, in English that is what it is, ‘The Devil’s Advocates.’ This only means that I am known for challenging the status quo and playing a role that questions and pushes back against a mainstream perspective that…that is how it should be understood.
Sometimes this can involve being the voice that asks difficult questions and provides alternative view points, that is what I do, even when it might be controversial.
Also, I am consistently backing issues that others might be reluctant to support, I am not afraid to support opposition if I think they make sense. It also implies that, I am not afraid to take an unpopular position for the sake of deeper and more critical scrutiny of issues at hand.
However, this does not necessarily mean that I am a destructive or obstructive person. It simply means that I am being a catalyst for necessary reforms of the parliament, after all, we are in reforms mode…we are in a parliamentary reform process so nobody should be comfortable with my decisions as leader, as the Chair of Chairs.
PE: Would you say your efforts have made some impact to date?
MM: Well, whether these efforts have made an impact should can be measured to the extent to which parliamentary committees are effective or how transparent the legislative process has become, and whether critical issues have been brought to the forefront.
But as a Chair of Chairs, I might have influenced in shaping the committees work, fostering more accountability and ensuring that the diverse voices are heard.
If our parliament has been more proactive in addressing key national issues under my leadership that is a sign of impact…won’t you say?
PE: Parliament’s Portfolio Committees, are they doing the job they are supposed to, are they effective?
MM: These committees are very essential for scrutinizing the executive, holding government accountable and ensuring that legislation aligns with national interests. However, their effectiveness often depends on the political will, resources and the level of commitment of committee members.
Those three issues are key to their effectiveness, and I can safely say there is political will. A lot of members are very committed; we still have some 40 percent that appears not too steadfast. Overall, the way in which parliamentarians hold the government accountable, regardless of which committee they are in says a lot about the committees’ level of faithfulness to duty.
There are, however, many challenges. Our committees struggle a lot in logistical support and coordination, especially with technical stuff – we need a lawyer, a researcher and an analyst to help us successfully fulfill our mandate.
Supported in this regard our committees would be more effective, so that when we delve into an issue up for interrogation thorough research and investigations and benchmarking would have already been done so that discussions are richer.
There are, however, some political dynamics that can prevent committees from functioning optimally.
Given the Lesotho context with its parliamentary system, some committees at times face challenges that make them less effective than they are expected to be. Sometimes members of the ruling party do not participate much committee business because of partisan interests, but oftentimes the opposition eventually takes the leadership and makes decisions which government ends up unhappy with.
This makes the committees job ineffective and tends to divide people along party lines.
To ensure this required effectiveness there is need to provide proper resources to give Members of Parliament some stability e.g. human resources and tools – if they have to go to the factories or health centers they need to have tools, there are assessment tools that they need to use for various analytical tasks for more accurate information and for more informative and professional information.
The other resource that we need that is of paramount importance is mobility, when we need to go on field trips we should not be struggling with the issue of transport. This has sadly been a challenge since commencement of this parliament.
When we need to respond to the petitions of the public we should not be limited by lack of equipment, we should not be worried that our staff does not have laptops to quickly write expected committee reports.
We should have the ability to connect with communities, in the form of collaborative communication. Parliament operates in the heart of the capital city yet it seems so isolated, but we have so many intelligent people with relevant information and know-how in the many issues that we grapple with.
For instance, the National University of Lesotho. There is never a time that the university comes to the parliament to contribute to debated motions and amendments in the hands of members of the House. But they are better situated, they have the research, libraries and professors of law who can do research and strengthen our committees.
Committee members should also receive adequate training to enable them maintain political independence so that they can operate without interference from the executive.
As the Chair of Chairs I will push for these reforms to make these committees more impactful in the country.
PE: Now let us talk about the Network of African Parliamentary Committees on Health (NEAPACOH), what is this continental platform and what purpose does it serve?
MM: Established in 2008, this is a body that brings together parliamentary committees from across Africa, to share knowledge, strategies and collectively address health issues on the content. The network’s role is to advocate for stronger health system, monitor health related policies and work towards meeting health related SDGs.
PE: The 15th NEAPACOH took place here at home, what did that signify and to what extend did the gathering impact on our health sector?
MM: Well hosting the 15th NEAPACOH conference in Lesotho and the first time it ever left the shores of Uganda was a significant milestone for the country and that means that Lesotho is at the heart of continental health discussions, providing a platform for African nations to collaborate on health challenges.
The conference allowed for the exchange of best practices, identification of actionable solutions. The tangible impact of health sector would depend on the resolutions adopted and the follow-up actions taken post conference.
So, for Lesotho it was the issue of international health regulation and the issue of research that Lesotho needs to establish the research institute in which in those there is some development that has taken place seriously that we see the results.
PE: We understand you were re-elected to guide the fortunes of the NEAPACOH for another term at its March 6 to 7 meeting in Tanzania, congratulations Ntate – what does this mean to you as a person and what does it say about us as a country?
MM: Being elected as the leader of NEAPACOH in that meeting in Tanzania was a significant personal achievement and also it reflects a recognition of my leadership and the trust among my peers that they have in my ability to guide the continental body. For Lesotho, it is a matter of national pride as it shows that the country’s leadership is being acknowledged or the African stage.
The way I look at this, for me, I am not taking it lightly it is a very important milestone in my leadership and my country, actually getting involved throughout Africa and being counted while it is a small country that sometimes people undermine but that shows when we are at work we can do what can be recognized by the multitudes.
In Africa, they have portfolios in parliaments, 40 percent of the chairpersons are actually medical doctors. You might find that 60 percent are basically health practitioners because in the other governments they really put in that portfolio, medical doctors.
For me it is quite significant if all those professionals, experts can think that something can come out of non-medical practitioner from the small country Lesotho.
PE: How has your previous tour been like?
MM: I have gone to a few countries and meetings whose purpose has been to advocate and promote the presence of the network.
I remember going to the other meetings in Zambia. When the chair of the committees there heard that I was coming invited me to go to the Parliament of Zambia, and also organised an event whereby all the committees of the cabinet of Zambia were able to come and present how far they had gone in supporting TB. Also progress on health commitments that they made in here in Maseru.
The Zambian Ministry of Health and different partners came because I was there as the Chair of NEAPACOH, also because I was going there on a caucus meeting on TB. They asked me to extend my visit by coming earlier so that I can see the progress that they have made. I thought that recognition was great.
When other neighbouring countries like Malawi and Uganda, other very significant health civil society health organisations as well as the WHO Regional Director heard of my visit, they also came over to join.
My tours have also included Abuja, Nigeria, trip where I was invited by the board of the TB community in the world in which the board members are mainly the ministers of health throughout the world. In that meeting I was given space to present and advocate for health issues in Africa, that was quite significant for me too.
PE: Now re-elected, how do you plan to carry the continental body forward?
MM: That means I have the opportunity to steer the network towards a more unified and action-oriented approach on achieving health related SDGs in Africa, that is what it means to me. On the strategic direction, it means I could push stronger coordination between African parliamentary committees of health where I can focus on advocating funding for health systems, pushing for stronger health infrastructure across the continent.
I can also promote universal health support or universal health coverage; ensure the implementation of policies that promote better health outcomes for all African citizens.
PE: Africa has been called out for lagging behind in reaching several health-related SDGs, how should we expect to see the NEAPACOH strategize towards improving health systems and achieving the said SDGs across the continent under your watch?
MM: When we focus on SDGs in terms of addressing health related issues, NEAPACOH, under my leadership, could play a pivotal role in monitoring progress across African nations, advocating for policy changes and ensuring governments are held accountable.
This could involve certain and clear measurable targets in creating accountability mechanism to track the progress. When we were in Tanzania, one of the decisions that we made as commitment for Lesotho is that we are going to track all the commitments which are done from Head of States, the ministers of health on health issues.
There are a couple of challenges in achieving related SDGs including inadequate health care infrastructure, high disease burden and insufficient funding.
Under this current leadership, we would like to focus on advocating for increased investment in health systems, strengthening the health governance to improve the delivery of health services, promote regional collaboration in research and development for diseases that disproportionately affect Africa.
So, we should be very deliberate in our targeting and in setting up the indicators, ensure the policies are gender sensitive and tailored to specific needs of African population, not things that we are just coping from different foreign or overseas countries that are also interested in particular agenda.
That has a huge challenge of how we address the challenges in Africa, are we addressing the issues based on the funding because the aid has got conditions. We are supposed to move from that, towards more people centered approach and evidence based approach.
Those are some of the thoughts we have in terms of how we could address some of the issues going forward, beyond this period that we are in.
PE: The meeting was themed ‘Re-positioning the role of parliament for implementation of the ICPD Agenda and Attainment of Universal Health Coverage’ – what role do you see the local parliament playing in our health sector?
MM: Building partnerships with international organization and promoting regional cooperation and ensuring that health policies are not only paper but are being implemented effectively will be key priorities at least on my second term.
PE: Domestic Health Financing; is our government injecting adequate financial support in the health sector, and how do you foresee the re-positioning of parliament for the promotion of local health systems?
MM: The local parliament has a critical role in passing laws that directly affect the health sector; this includes laws created to health financing, health equity, health infrastructure and the rights of citizens to access essential health services.
Parliament can ensure that legal frameworks are in place to support universal health coverage, protect public health and promote the well-being of all the people.
The other issue is on oversight and accountability. One of the most vital roles of the parliament is oversight, so holding the government accountable for the promises made regarding the health care that will include the commitments that have been made, such as the Abuja Declaration, the Malabo commitments, Maputo Declaration and high level commitments that are done at the United Nations by the leaders.
The parliament has got a serious responsibility in ensuring that those are handled well. It must also ensure that funds allocated are spread efficiently and that public services are delivered equitably and sustainably.
Another issue is on advocacy and adequate health funding. The parliament must advocate for domestic health financing to ensure sufficient resources are allocated to the health sector.
This includes pushing for greater government investment in health infrastructure, personnel and essential medicines, parliament can work to strengthen budget allocation processes to prioritise health financing see to it that sufficient funds are made available for health services across the country especially in the rural and undeserved areas.
The other point is monitoring and implementing universal health services. The parliament should actively evoke in ensuring that universal health policies are properly formulated and implemented.
Universal health coverage means people must have equal treatment and proper medicines regardless of their status, wealth, education, position and geographical area, they must get proper health.
Parliament can facilitate the creation of national plans and frameworks aimed at guarantying that everyone has access to essential health services without facing financial hardships. It can also push for policies that reduce out of pocket expense for citizens and make sure that there is reasonable access to quality health care for all including marginalized groups.
The last point on that is social determinants of health. The parliament can play a significant role in tackling the social determinants such as poverty, education and access to clean water.
We realize now that in Lesotho big issues such as cancer and TB are not so much clinical, they are social but also related more to poverty and access. This access can be access to actual diagnostics test in all districts to find who the infected people are; those are the issues that are serious social determinants.
Checking the issues of bypassing the laws and policies that address these broader issues, the parliament can create an environment where health outcomes can improve, which is essential for attainment of universal health.
PE: Our health budget this fiscal year. Is it enough to even attempt to satisfy sectoral needs?
MM: Every year before we deal with the budget, I call all the ministers who are responsible to the social cluster portfolio and one of the things that I ask is what the priorities are for each of their ministries. In health, the priorities have been four.
One that the minister told me was the issue of integration of services, the second has been the issue of medical school, there should be a medical school because we can see the structure that the government is trying to adopt is that of setting up regional hospitals, Maseru, Leribe and Mafeteng.
As a result, they need to be equipped with human resource, advanced medical equipment which will not see patients going to South Africa or anywhere. They will also need personnel – super specialists and other internal medicine pairs. The school has to be there facilitating easily, it will be cheaper than sending people abroad.
One other thing is maintaining a good health infrastructure and infrastructure should include cancer center and the issue of TB and maternal health arose that it is important to fight, prevent and eliminate TB and we have a goal that by 2030 we should have eliminated TB.
So coming to the health budget in the forthcoming fiscal year, it cannot satisfy all needs, but with prioritizing, with systematic way of working, we must achieve the universal health coverage, we need to satisfy the needs of Basotho the best way we can.
I think the country’s resources should be 90 percent adequate to address public issues. Not to rely on aid or donors who can stop anytime like the Trump executive orders made some funding stop immediately.
The country needs to be adequate and self sufficient in key elements of health, especially medicines, equipment and human resources. There is need for national health insurance, that will see citizens pay for health but in a different way that does not burden or hinder those who do not have money.
This means improving the system. It is imperative as of now because it will satisfy part of the universal health coverage indicators…bringing us closer to the SDGs.
