The government of Lesotho has declared a national "state of disaster" due to soaring unemployment, as the country grapples with mass job losses resulting from the economic fallout of US tariffs and aid cuts. The declaration, which was gazetted on Monday, gives the government additional powers, including the ability to bypass standard procedures, and will be in force for two years. Ministries have also been ordered to allocate two per cent of their budgets to job creation efforts. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Lesotho Labour Council's Secretary General, Paul Sematlane.