The Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili has reiterated the government's concern about the high number of accidents occurring on the country's roads, of which, he said puts Lesotho high in road accidents and fatalities.

Addressing the public during a sod-turning ceremony to mark the construction of the Maseru South Industrial Areas Road Safety Project at Ha Thetsane in Maseru on Wednesday, the Prime Minister indicated that the importance of the roads network that are being launched are not only to the development of the country, but also  contribute to road safety.

The Prime Minister noted that in recent years, the Thetsane area has experienced a phenomenal growth marked by a large increase in the number of industries, a rapid growth of the existing villages, and the development of new residential. Areas. He further noted that presently, 17 factories operate at the Thetsane Industrial Estate, with a workforce of 17,000 workers. He said that with the completion of the Nien Hsing complex in the near future, the figure is yet to grow to 21,000.

Mr. Mosisili indicated that "The development 's have therefore, attracted a very high vehicular and pedestrian traffic to this area, saying,  "of profound concern to the government, is the very high number of pedestrians deaths on Lesotho's roads, accounting for 50%of all fatalities". The Prime Minister said, the launching of the project also constitutes an incisive strategy for the management of the vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the Thetsane Industrial Estate and its neighbouring townships.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Maseru South Industrial Areas Road Safety Project, which is funded by the European Union with M22.3 million starts at the terminal of the B47 roads, which start at Mahlabatheng, via Koro-Koro and Ha Mants'ebo and ends at Ha Tsolo. He also expressed profound gratitude to the European Union, whose generous financial assistance has enabled Lesotho to implement the projects, explaining that road safety has accordingly become an integral part if road infrastructure development programme.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Mofelehetsi Moerane noted that to comprehensively address road safety problems in the locality," The project is intended to provide service roads and pedestrians
walkways on either side of Kofi Annan road", explaining that thus Kofi Annan will be used for fast traffic only, and will therefore once more regain its former status as a by-pass road.

Minister Moerane said, it is particularly encouraging to note that local contractors were able to compete effectively with international contractors, and did win the tender. He indicated that it has been a major policy of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to encourage local contractors to form joint forces to strengthen competitiveness. Talking about the rapid expansion of the Thetsane Industrial Estate, Mr. Moerane noted that the growth of population centres in the Thetsane area have greatly diminished the significance of Kofi Annan as a by-pass roads.

The project, which commenced in January this year is expected to complete in 0ctober. It has been funded by the European Union under the European Development Fund to the sum of M22.3 million. The launching was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Representative of the European Union, Heads of Diplomatic Corps, Senior Government Officials, the public and school children.

3rd April 2003