MDTP WILL PROMOTE LIVES OF PEOPLE - NTS'INYI

 The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment says the Maluti\Drankensberg Transfrontier Project (MDTP) will promote the quality of lives of people living in the project area. She said this during the launching of the project at the Mokhotlong Pitso ground on Friday.

Ms. Lebohang Nts'inyi said the challenge for Lesotho and South Africa is to ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with the grant agreement and that it achieves its goals and reversing the current trend of poverty and environmental degradation.

 Minister Nts'inyi said the overriding objective  of this project is to promote biodiversity, conservation and economic development across national boundaries of Lesotho and South Africa. "The initiative involves cooperation between the countries that include; biodiversity, conservation, community development through nature based tourism, security and sustainable use of the shared mountains eco-systems with a view to creating sustainable livelihood for the people in the project area." She said

Ms Nts'inyi stated that in addition to biodiversity and water resources, kimberlite pipes that are rich in diamonds are also found in the mountains. She said they are conscious of the serious problems that currently face the Maluti\Drakensberg  area that  include; overgrazing as a result of poor range management and uncontrolled burning of rangelands, destruction of heritage sites, over exploitation of biological resources and the destruction of wetlands as well as acute poverty.

On the other hand, the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Valli Moosa said his country owes to improve the economy of Lesotho because the apartheid system impoverished Lesotho. He said the system made Lesotho the source of cheap labour, depriving it of economic growth. Mr. Moosa said another reason is that Lesotho gave South African freedom fighters accommodation during the apartheid era and by doing so showed hospitality and brotherhood.

On behalf of the Members of Parliament for Mokhotlong district, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa said this is not the only project between the two countries. He said besides the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) the MDTP is the second largest project currently on course, adding that another project that is coming is a road project  from Bloemfontein, through Maseru, Thaba-Tseka via Anderberg to Durban He said another one would the mining of and cutting of sand stones.

Present at the occasion were among others, the Principal Chief of Mokhotlong, Chief Mathealira Seeiso, the UNDP resident representative, Ms Scholastica Kimaryo and senior government officials of the two governments.

22nd August 2003