Official Inauguration of Phase 1B of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project at Ha Mohale on 16th March 2004 -Speech by His Majesty King Letsie III

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Ntate Thabo Mbeki,

Your Majesty, 'M'e 'MaSenate,

The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Ntate Pakalitha Mosisili,

Honourable President of the Senate,

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Ministers of the Governments of Lesotho and South Africa,

Honourable Members of Senate and the National Assembly,

Members of the Council of State,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps and International Organisations,

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like to ask that the first moments of this ceremony be dedicated to the memory of whom we all admired, a hero of his country's liberation, a man who did so much for the liberation and prestige of the Republic of South Africa, the late Honourable Minister of Transport, Mr. Dullah Omar. How it grieves and pains us that he cannot be with us on this occasion that signifies the vibrant relations between Lesotho and the republic of South Africa. I ask all of us to stand and observe a moment of silence in his memory.

Master of Ceremonies,

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to this important occasion marking the completion of Phase ! and the inauguration of Phase 1B of the Lesotho Highlands Water project. particular, Master of Ceremonies, allow me, on behalf of the Government, the people of Lesotho and on my own behalf, to extend a special word of welcome to His Excellency, President Thabo Mbeki and his high powered delegation and to thank them for gracing this important occasion by their presence. We are, indeed gratified by Your Excellency's presence among us, particularly at this crucial time when various political parties in South Africa are doing their best to woo voters in the run-up to the forthcoming elections.

Mr. President, you will recall that in January, 1998 we met to inaugurate and celebrate the water transfer component of Phase 1A of the Lesotho Highlands Water project. The ceremony took place at 'Muela, Botha Bothe, in the north of Lesotho. That occasion was graced by the presence of the esteemed leadership of this sub-region in the persons of the former presidents, Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Sir Ketumile Masire of Botswana.

In 1998, we witnessed an engineering feat when the Highlands Water flow was reversed and took a u-turn in its flow into the river networks of South Africa. The Ash River obediently received water from the Highlands water project for onward transfer into the Vaal River System. Thus, the objective of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project had been realised. It was therefore befitting, for our governments and peoples to pause  and celebrate that achievement.

Today, the 16th of March 2004, out two nations are once more together celebrating, yet again, another important milestone of the Project, namely, the inauguration of Phase 1B. this is a clear demonstration of the warm relations that exist between out two countries.

Master of Ceremonies,

The history of Lesotho in respect of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, should now be common knowledge to all stakeholders and I want to believe that information about the Project has been documented and carefully preserved for the benefit of future generations.

But, perhaps what is most significant about the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is that it has laid sound basaltic foundations for peaceful co-existence and has created an environment for our joint economic advancement. The Highlands Water Project, as you mentioned, Mr. President during your visit in 2001, forms a firm basis for ensuring that Lesotho is duly assisted to graduate from the economic status of a least developed country to that of a developing one.

Because of its size, engineering ingenuity and its potential as a catalyst for accelerated development, this Project was showcased at the International Expo in Hannover during June to October 2000. Two years later, in August-September 2002, it was presented at the World Summit in Johannesburg as a joint Lesotho-South Africa collaboration. recently, in November 2003, it was nominated and awarded the "Project of the Century" by the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.

These presentations and awards represent a classical confirmation of a working cooperation between our peoples and governments, and one that must be cherished as an international example of cooperation between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. Through this Project, we have demonstrated to the international community that regardless of the differing levels of economic development, we are two neighbours that can cooperate for mutual benefit.

Master of Ceremonies,

I have, in the past, taken many visits to the Highlands Project areas. I have witnessed how this Project has changed the physical landscape of the harsh mountains of Lesotho. Where there were valleys and gorges, we now see the splendour of man-made water reservoirs. The valleys have acted as water receptacles and the basaltic gorges have provided the storage muscle to ensure that our investment into this Project will remain a very worthy undertaking for many years to come.

Mr. President, I want to assure you that these basaltic rocks will sure stand the test of time and we will reliably transfer your portion of the Highlands Water according to planned schedules. On the other hand, Lesotho Treasury stands to benefit from the royalties thereto.

I have been reliably informed by the Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Ntate Mosisili, that the water needs of downstream communities and the environmental demands will not be negatively affected by the dams of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. They will still get their portion of the water. I have also been told that studies to determine loss of resources as a result of reduced flows in the rivers, are in progress. The outcome of these studies will form a basis for mitigation measures to be employed.

Distinguished guests, we often hear predictions that water will be a source of international conflicts. We certainly do not wish to see the Lesotho Highlands Water Project being a source of such conflicts with our neighbours. Consequently, I have every confidence that our two governments will continue to honour the riparian rights of states in shared rivers by ensuring that agreed water releases will reach the peoples of the Republic of Botswana and the republic of Namibia.

Mr. President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, my government will do all in its power to ensure that the Lesotho Highlands Water Project continues to retain its competitive edge through good practices in respect of integrated catchment management and related fields. We will continue to maintain the highest quality of water there is in the region and in the world. This will include sound management of the environment to preserve the pristine conditions of the highlands areas.

The complimentary splendour of water, mountains and  wild vegetation, side by side, enhances the picturesque scenery that our country has. Immediately, this calls for aggressive tourism development programmes for the benefit of the people of our two countries.

Master of Ceremonies,

Seventeen years ago, before the Lesotho Highlands Water Project was implemented, I used to travel the countryside on horseback in search of better pasture lands in the highlands. At that time, the highlands seemed very inaccessible and inhospitable and it was hard to imagine that one day the trip to and from Ha Mohale could take just under four hours.

I am, therefore, appealing to my fellow countrymen to jealously guard the infrastructure brought about by the Water Project and use it productively to improve their livelihoods. Here is an opportunity for you to develop the mountain countryside to suit your own traditional lifestyles, and at the same time, keep in touch with developments around the world.

It is incumbent upon us, as Basotho, to ensure that this infrastructure is afforded the necessary security. It is our responsibility to ensure that adequate security is provided to the structures of the Project at all times and to people visiting the Project areas and other parts of Lesotho. Regular visits by tourists in Lesotho might well translate into multiple opportunities for improved economic growth in our country.

Master of ceremonies, I must mention that I have personally interacted with most of the staff of the Lesotho Highlands water Project, consultants and contractors and I am filled with gratitude and pride that the sons and daughters of this land have become esteemed professionals because of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The influx of professional expertise in diversified disciplines from every part of the world has left a reservoir of local professionals that must be well nurtured and put to good use. These skills and pools of knowledge should be fully utilised in local, national, regional and international fora.

Ntate Mosisili, you now have ready manpower resources to employ in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) programmes, the African Union and elsewhere. This rare expertise and knowledge must also be engaged in undertaking other water resource development schemes such as the Lowlands Water Project.

Distinguished guests, the Right Honourable the Prime Minister has happily informed me that we can expect good news from the recent ministerial meeting held in Pretoria on 23rd February 2004. Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa have, at last, agreed to undertake feasibility studies for Phase 2 of the Water Project. If the studies are positive, as I expect them to be, we will then move on with construction of the Mashai Dam on the Senqu River. As i said earlier, Mr. President, I can foresee a similar congregation between our two countries in Lesotho in 2010 to celebrate the completion of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

For my government, and indeed, for Basotho in general, this agreement signifies a continuation of a process for economic partnership in developing the Lesotho Highlands Water resources where all our people can share in a common prosperity. Equally, continuation of the Project to subsequent phases will serve to give meat to the ideal which you, Mr. President, expounded during your visit to Lesotho in 2001 and recently in Brussels, Belgium, of lifting Lesotho out of least developed country status. Because of the experience and immense knowledge we have accumulated in undertaking Phase 1, I am confident that the costs for implementing Phase 2 will be much less.

Mr. President, distinguished guests, while we rightly celebrate our achievements under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Lesotho cannot ignore the human catastrophe that has befallen her because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Many of our able-bodied youthful men and women are being mercilessly decimated by HIV and AIDS. The result of this is that enormous household responsibilities are left in the hands of young children and elderly people.

If the fight against the pandemic is not sufficiently and aggressively upscaled and dealt with, all the economic growth foundations that we are building through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and other avenues will be to no avail. We are already feeling the devastating impact of the scourge of HIV and AIDS as many valuable and trained personnel are capitulating to this scourge, resulting in the now common Saturday funerals. Thus the epidemic is a direct cost to families, employers and the economy. I call on our two governments to share notes and exchange information on how to wipe out this virus once and for all from our midst. Furthermore, we must also aggressively wage war against famine and poverty as they appear to have some correlation with HIV and AIDS.

More importantly, it is our individual responsibility to look after our lives by opting for good and sensible practices in our every day living. I plead with all of you to please take the necessary caution. Let us undertake to stop the increased death tolls due to HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Let us try and preserve life by putting our hard earned moneys into healthy living instead of burial schemes.

Finally, I would like to, once again, pay my respects and compliments to His Excellency, President Thabo Mbeki and his entourage for joining us in celebrating the completion of Phase 1 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. I also wish to thank all those who have spent sleepless nights in order to ensure that this ceremony goes ahead without a hitch.

                         KHOTSO ! PULA !! NALA!!!

18 March 2004