Maseru, July 31 — The Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) has reached a historic milestone with the signing of two strategic agreements that officially set in motion the National Sports Raffle Draw Initiative, an innovative and sustainable funding mechanism poised to transform the future of sport in Lesotho.
According to information from LSRC, the first agreement signed between LSRC and Imajin & Fusion Lesotho (IFL), establishes a partnership to design, implement and manage the initiative.
It states that this programme is structured to generate sustainable revenue for sports development through a citizen participation model. The funds raised will support sports infrastructure, grassroots development, community programmes, youth participation, talent identification and the creation of a National Sports Development Fund.
It adds that as part of its commitment, IFL will invest USD 200,000 (M3,298,540.00) towards the development of the digital platform, operational systems, national marketing campaign, prize acquisition and the overall launch of the initiative.
On the other hand, LSRC signed a second agreement with Harness Technology and Splitz Marketing, appointing them as the official Telecommunications Aggregator and Settlement Partner.
It indicates that under this agreement, they will provide the technology backbone to power the raffle through secure USSD services, Mobile Money integration, payment processing, revenue collection, daily financial settlement, reconciliation, reporting and real-time transaction monitoring.
Additionally, it states that this ensures that every public contribution is processed efficiently, securely and transparently.
“Together, these agreements establish a robust governance and operational framework anchored in transparency, accountability and sound financial management. Independent audits, public draw broadcasts, daily financial reconciliation and oversight by a multi-sector Steering Committee will guarantee the highest standards of integrity and public confidence,” it adds.
LSRC therefore reaffirmed its commitment to pioneering innovative financing solutions that reduce reliance on traditional funding sources while unlocking new opportunities for athletes, sports organisations and communities across Lesotho.
The National Sports Raffle Draw Initiative signals the dawn of a new era in sports financing, one where every Mosotho has the opportunity to contribute directly to the growth of sport and the nurturing of future champions.
LSRC is the main government agency responsible for the development and coordination of sport and recreation in Lesotho.
The LSRC has no direct involvement in the management of specific sports but works through National Sport Associations or Federations that are directly responsible for the management of the different sporting codes.
Ends/AT/tl
