Lesotho’s candidate for the Commonwealth Secretary-General position, Mr Joshua Setipa, has emphasized the need for new strategies to tackle the growing challenges of climate change.
He has made addressing climate change one of the three main pillars in his campaign manifesto, should he be elected to the position this Friday.
Mr Setipa is competing against Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Dr Mamadou Tangara, for the prestigious post. Since announcing his candidacy in January this year, the Lesotho government has been actively supporting his campaign.
Together, they have visited and met more than half of the 56 Commonwealth member countries, receiving positive responses from several leaders and organisations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Mr Setipa brings extensive experience to this role, having spent most of his career working internationally. His background includes positions in Lesotho’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leadership roles within the Commonwealth.
He has expressed a strong commitment to helping small countries like Samoa and Lesotho address the severe impacts of climate change, which threaten the future of these nations.
He highlighted Lesotho as a recent example of how devastating climate change can be. “Lesotho has seen unusual snowfall and heavy rains occurring outside their typical seasons,” he noted.
He also pointed out that countries like Samoa face rising sea levels, and he stressed the need for a comprehensive plan to alleviate such issues.
In addition to climate change, Mr Setipa aims to address unemployment challenges, noting that stable, peaceful, and democratic governments within the Commonwealth are essential for these plans to succeed.
The upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will build on the progress made at CHOGM 2022 in Rwanda. Leaders will discuss global economic, environmental, and security challenges, focusing on how Commonwealth countries can collaborate to build resilience, increase trade, encourage innovation and growth, and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people for a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Throughout his campaign, Mr. Setipa has made several key visits. His most recent tour included Malaysia and a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting in February.
He also attended the African Union (AU) meeting in Addis Ababa, where Lesotho’s Prime Minister endorsed his candidacy before ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Australia, Malta, Canada, and New Zealand.
Other stops on the campaign trail included Singapore and Canada, where he met with representatives of the Canadian government in Ottawa. During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he also took the opportunity to engage with delegates from various countries and members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Source: Department of Information 23/10/2024
