In a statement in the National Assembly on November 10, Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Ms. Lebohang Nts'inyi, said the two phased project would begin as soon as the feasibility study, currently underway, has been completed.

The first phase will involve the building of a cultural village that will become a sort of museum of Basotho culture for coming generations as well as for tourists. There would also be a cultural centre with live performance of traditional dances and songs, as well as a repository for indigenous plants and herbs.

A study on where the village should best be situated and how much it would cost was on-going, the Minister said.

The second phase will be the development of Thaba Bosiu plateau, she said, highlighting the fact that the building of the cultural village corresponds with Government's project to develop and preserve the plateau, the virtual birth place of the Basotho nation.

There were also plans to develop and preserve other places of heritage such as Major Bell's Tower at Hlotse in Leribe; Fika-le-Mohala, near Mazenod and another place in the Botha Bothe district
as venues where Moshoeshoe I used to hold public gatherings.

Other tourist attractions such as Ha Baroana at Machache where Bushmen paintings are found  have already been protected  and are able to give Basotho opportunity to display their handcrafts.
Another similarly protected area is Moyeni, Quthing where Dinosaur footprints are found. Here the Ministry of Tourism. Culture and Environment is working in conjunction with the Quthing Wildlife Development Trust.

The Ministry is also collaborating with the Maluti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project to develop and improve Menkhoaneng, where the history of the Basotho can be said to originate, and other places such as Ts'ehlanyane, and Liphofung.

10 November 2004