PM WISHES BASOTHO A MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Prime Minister Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili has wished the Basotho nation a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

In his Christmas message delivered to the nation at Lesotho Television on Tuesday, Mr. Mosisili said the country is facing the worst drought that has ever occurred in the Southern African region for the past 100 years.

"This drought is a disaster that has hit our country and worsened the already worse situation that is caused by poverty and HIV/AIDS," he added.

The Prime Minister said the government has embarked on a campaign to inform the development partners about the drought disaster that is currently prevailing in the country. 

However, he urged people to try helping themselves without folding hands and wait for donor assistance.
Mr. Mosisisili reminded the nation about the rapidly spreading of HIV/AIDS which claims lives of people of all ages starting from children, youths and adults who die every day because of this scourge.

He said the government in collaboration with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have tried different strategies of curbing the spread of the pandemic without success and for this reason, the Government has adopted new strategies for scaling-up the fight against HIV/AIDS in Lesotho that involves every individual.

He therefore appealed to the nation to take this challenge and work hard towards achieving the goal of stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country The Prime Minister said the end of the year is the time to review the past activities in order to see achievements> He said where there are mistakes, they should be considered as challenges and people should learn through them.

Mr. Mosisili said this year the government has achieved several  of its goals, among them, the establishment of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offences, Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA), Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Project and the introduction of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) program whose aim is to protect infants from contaminating HIV from their mothers.

He added that the government has also improved infrastructure such as telecommunications and road construction at different towns in the country.

Finally, the Prime Minister paid tribute to various people who passed away during the course of this year, among them the late Queen Mother 'Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, the late members of parliament and principal chief of Batlokoa Chief Halialoha Sekonyela. He also paid tribute to veteran journalist, the late Mr. Joe Molefi and the late musicians Mochoko David Mapefane and Frank Leepa.

25 December 2003