ELECTRICITY TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY HOUSEHOLDS

The Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili says the construction of Khukhune-Lets'eng-Tlokoeng electricity line connecting these areas with Mokhotlong is one of the government's initiatives to make electricity accessible to as many households as possible. Mr. Mosisili said this when was officially inaugurating the
Khukhune-Let'seng-Tlokoeng electricity line at the ceremony held at Lesotho
Electricity Corporation (LEC) premises in Mokhotlong on Friday11October,2002.

Mr. Mosisili said by installing electricity in the area, the government will be able to attract investors to come and invest in the country, adding that with reliable electricity, industries will then be opened. He added that today Basotho will now get jobs when the Let'seng Diamond Mine reopens after 20 years of closure due to lack of electricity in the area. He added that now that there is electricity, the mine will soon be opened. He also pointed out that even hospitals, schools and  businesses will no longer experience the problem of electricity cut, which was cut off at 10:00 p.m., citing that it was difficult for the hospital to operate without electricity especially in theatres, maternity wards and other sections.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Principal Chief of Mokhotlong Chief Mathealira Seeiso said by having the reliable electricity, more institutions will be opened in the district to extend services to the people. Chief Seeiso also expressed hope that this electricity will be affordable so that even the poor people in villages can benefit from it and not only for those who are rich. He concluded by appealing to the community to warn their children about the danger of electricity, especially herdboys  who vandalise projects.

The Managing Director of LEC, Mr. Simon Mhaville said the LEC customers in Mokhotlong have for  a long time experienced problems of electricity that were associated with inadequate and unreliable electricity supply from the diesel plant and the mini-hydro at Khubelu river. Mr. Mhaville said Mokhotlong is now connected to the National Electricity Grid and the problems that existed are history.

He also expressed the words of gratitude to the Principal Chief of Mokhotlong and his people for the patience they showed in the fate of the most unsatisfactory electricity supply service that they had to bear with. Present at the ceremony were Ministers from Foreign Affairs, Employment and Labour, Communications, Prime Minister's Office, Natural Resources, Principal Secretaries from different Ministries, senior government officials and community.

 LEC has spend M50 million for the construction of the electricity from 'Muela and it was constructed by Lesotho Steel, ABB Company from Sweden and Conco Company from South Africa. The project started in September 2000 and ended in September this year. Before having this reliable electricity, Mokhotlong was supplied with electricity generated from Khubelu River and it was not enough to cover the whole district prompting services to be cut at 10.00 pm.

11 October,2002