Puo ea Mohlomphehi Tona Kholo, Monghali Pakalitha Mosisili, MP Pulong ea Morafo oa Taemane Lets'eng-la-Terae 26 Pulungoana 2004
	Motlotlehi Khosi Letsie la Boraro Mohlomphehi Mookameli oa Ntlo ea Senate Mohlomphehi Motsamaisi oa Lipuisano ka Lekhotleng la Sechaba Mohlomphehi Moahloli e Moholo Mohlomphehi Motlatsi oa Tona Kholo Bahlomphehi Matona a Khabane a 'Muso oa Motlotlehi Bahlomphehi Baahloli ba Lekhotla le Phahameng Your Excellencies, Heads of Diplomatic Mission and Heads of International Organisations Mohlomphehi Ramolao e Moholo oa 'Muso Marena a ka a Malingoaneng le Mokhotlong Litho tse Khabane tsa Matlo a Mabeli a Paramente Bahlomphehi Balula Setulo ba Komisi ea Bosebeletsi ba Sechaba Komisi e Ikemetseng ea Likhetho le Komisi ea Bosebeletsi ba Botichere Mohlomphehi Mongoli e Moholo oa 'Muso Mohlomphehi Mohlahlobi oa Libuka tsa 'Muso Mohlomphehi Monamoli Mochochisi e Moholo Bahlomphehi Bangoli ba Baholo ba Makala Bahlomphehi Litho tsa Botsamaisi Lets'eng Diamond (Pty) LTD Baruti ba Moshoeshoe Bo-ntate le bo-'me le lona bana Ke motlotlo ruri ho ba mona kajeno ho la keteka le lona, le leng la matsatsi a maholo nalaneng ea naha ea rona, e leng la Pulo ea Morafo oa Taemane Lets'eng-la-Terae. Le tla hopola, beng ba ka, hore lilemong tse hlano tse fetileng ke ne ke le hona mona Lets'eng-la Terae ho phethola lekote la ho tsosolosa bocha ho rafshoa hoa taemane mona Lesotho. Ke 'nete ho nkile nako e telele hore mosebetsi o qale, Basotho ba une molemo. Empa ho latela bohlokoa le boima ba mosebetsi ona, o ne o hloka boitokisetso bo matla 'me bo chatsi, etsoe Mosotho a ne a opile khomo lenaka ha a re "lepotla-potla le ja poli, lesisitheho le ja khomo". Mosebetsi oo o matla, kajeno o phethiloe, 'me re kopane mona ka ts'epo e tiileng ea hore litholoana tsa morafo ona e tla ba tse hlabosang, molemong oa Lesotho le Basotho, molemong oa bohle bao re keneng selekaneng le bona morafong ona. Motlotlehi Rabasotho, Bahlomphehi ba khabane, Bo-ntate le bo-'me, Kajeno ha se letsatsi la lipuo; empa ke la thabo le menyaka e le ho tlotla seo re se fihletseng morerong ona oa ho rafshoa hoa lehakoe lena la bohlokoa. Leha ho le joalo, ntumelleng beng ba ka, ke le hopotse hore morafo ona o ne o se o ile oa sebetsoa ka lilemo tse seng kae, ho tloha ka 1977, ra ba ra ts'epa hore le rona, joaloka lichaba tse ling, re tla tsoa lesoleng. Empa ka 1982, o ile oa koaloa ka mabaka a neng a boleloa e ne e le hore taemane e lahlehetsoe ke theko limmarakeng tsa lefats'e. Re ile ra tlameha ho amohela, le hoja ruri re ne re ntse re belaela hore e se n'o ba re nyants'oa phooko. Ka lebaka leo, ka selemo sa 1999 ke ha 'Muso o boela o tsosolosa taba ena ea ho rafshoa ha taemane. 'Muso o ile oa kena litumellanong le company e ngolisitsoeng Lesotho mona, Lets'eng Diamonds (Pty) Ltd, eo ke leng motlotlo ho supa mona hore kahare ho eona, ke banna ba nang le litsebo tse phahameng haholo ho tsena tsa lirafshoang, 'me ba kenyeletsa bana ba naha ena, matsoalloa a Lesotho. Ke se ke ile ka bonts'a hore ho ile ha nka nako e teletsana ho fihlela tlhahiso ea litaemane tsa boemo ba khoebo (commercial production), 'me a mang a mabaka a bakileng lesisitheho lena ke sebopeho sa naha ea rona (the physical topography), haholo-holo mona moo re leng teng tlhorong ea maloti. Ha ke lokolisa ka bokhuts'oanyane, ho tlisoa hoa likhoele tsa motlakase (electrical cables) ho bile thata haholo ka lebaka la bohole ba sebaka sena ho tloha Botha -Bothe, e leng hona moo motlakase ona o okhoang teng. Le lejoe la moremaphofu le aparetseng boholo ba tsela ea motlakase ona, le lona le ile la iphetola ts'ita ha ho tseteloa lits'epe tse jarang likhoele tseo tsa motlakase (installation of electrical pylons). taba e 'ngoe e ileng ea tlisa tiehiso e ile ea e-ba ho ahella mechine e sebelisoang morafong mona e le ho e phemisa serame se sengata se ka e senyang. Ke bolelloa hore ho hle ho phole e le 'nete Lets'eng mona, 'me le lehloa ke bohobe ba letsatsi le letsatsi mona, nakong ea mariha. Leha ho le joalo ts'ebetso joale e qalile. Ke bolelloa hore ha e le mona morafong ona, ts'ebetso ea teng ke mocha-o-chele, selemo ho pota, 'me ha e na phomolo ho tloha 'Mantaha ho isa 'Mantaha, likhoeli tse leshome le metso e 'meli tsa selemo. Motlotlehi Rabasotho Bahlomphehi ba Khabane, Bo-ntate le bo-'me, Litlaleho tseo re li fumanang ka morafo ona lia re khothatsa, li re tiisa 'moko ruri, hore le rona re ka 'na ra tsoa le botleng. Ke bolelloa hore le pele ho qaloa ho cheka, nakong eo ho ntseng ho lokisoa sebaka le ho kopanya mechine e sebetsang (assembling of the plant), ha ho ntse ho sefshoa mobu, ho ile ha fumanoa litaemane tsa boima ba 933 "carats", tseo ka har'a tsona nka qollang e neng e le boima ba 215 "carats". Athe e sa ho qaloa o cheka 'me ho qaleha tlhahiso e ka eang limmarakeng tsa lefats'e (commercial production), ho se ho fumanoe taemane e etsang boima ba 22,218 "carats". Ha motho a kopanya lipalo tsena o tla fumana hore kakaretso ea tlhahiso ea taemane ho tloha e sa le re kena tumellanong le Lets'eng Diamonds, e bile boima ba li-carats tse 23,151. Ha ho pelaelo hore tlhahisong ena bohle ba kentseng letsoho ba tla una molemo. Tlhahisong ena, 'Muso o tsebile ho fumana litsiane (royalties) tse etsang maloti a limilione li leshome le metso e 'meli le makholo a mahlano a likete (M12.5million). Ho hlakile hore hona e sa le linyane, likholo li sa tla. Motlotlehi Rabasotho, Bahlomphehi ba Khabane, Bo-ntate le bo-'me, Joaloka ha le tseba, sera se seholo seo 'Muso oa Motlotlehi o tjamelaneng le sona, 'me o sebetsang ka thata ho se fenya, ke bofuma le tlhokahalo ea mesebetsi. Re kopane koano kajeno, ho bona se seng sa libetsa lihlomong tsa rona tsa ho hlasela sera sena. Le tla hopola hore mohla monene, ha re ne re phethola lekote, ke ne ke ts'epise hore re tla hlahisetsa Basotho mesebetsi morafong ona. Ke ntho e khothatsang ruri hore ho fihlela joale, e se e le Basotho ba fetang makholo a mane ba sebetsang sebakeng sena. Ho feta moo, mechini e chekang le ho thotha mobu o ts'oereng taemane le eona ke ea Basotho. Ha ho pelaelo litholoana tse molemo tseo re li kholang sebakeng sena ha li felle moo. ke tumelo ea ka hore ntle le mona ho boetse ho na le banna le basali ba bapatsang lihlahisoa tsa bohlokoa ho basebetsi ba morafo ona, esita le hona ho fepa basebeletsi ba morafo ona, e le tsela ea boipheliso. Ho feta moo, e le ho bonts'a khahisano e ntle le ho khothaletsa bana ba Basotho ho ikakhela ka setotsoana lipapaling, ke utloa hore Lets'eng Diamonds e se e ntse e fana ka ts'ehetso e kholo lipapaling tsa mabelo seterekeng sena sa Mokhotlong. Re leboha ka liatla tse peli, re bile rea ba thoholetsa re re: a e sise! Sena a e ke e be phephetso ho bahoebi ba bang, e seng mona Mokhotlong feela empa naheng eohle ea Lesotho, le bona ba ke ba etse tsoho la monna. Hohle lefats'eng lipapali li fumana ts'ehetso e kholo ho bahoebi 'me le hona mona ho tla ba joalo. Ha e le ho basebetsi ba 'Muso teng, ke bolelloa hore Lets'eng Diamonds e se e file ba bang ba basebetsi ba Lekala la Lihloliloeng ba sebetsanang le lirafshoang, lihlapiso ho ea ithuta tsa tlhophiso ea litaemane koana ho la Belgium, 'me ke re ho Lets'eng Diamonds re leboha ho menahane; le ka moso! Motlotlehi Rabasotho, Bahlomphehi ba ka, Bo-ntate le bo-'me. pele ke fera, ke rata ho lebisa puo ea ka ho bo-ntate le bo-'me ba ts'oarisitseng matsoho morafong ona, haholo-holo lona Basotho. Hlomphang melao le melaoana ea bosebetsi le ea boipaballo ts'ebetsong (health, safety and labour laws). Hlomphang mosebetsi oa lona le o boulele, hoba mosebetsi ha se lefa hle. Ho tseba tsietsi ke ho feta pela eona. Le tseba hantle bothata ba ho hloka mosebetsi naheng ena ea rona. Hore mesebetsi re e tholla sepeng la ntja hle, ka hona ha re e baballeng. Kamehla ha bothata bo le teng, hopolang hore tafole ea lipuisano ke eona pheko; nako ea hore "khang ea monna a khaoloa ke letlaka" e felile, etsoe "ngoan'a mahana a joetsoa o utloa ka leqeba ho opa". "U ka nketsang ha e ahe motse; motse ho ahoa oa morapeli". Ts'oaranang ka matsoho hle. Hantle-ntle lea hlokana, bookameli bo hloka basebetsi; basebetsi le bona ba hloka bookameli. Morafo ona a o ke o itlhome pele ka ho hloka literaeke. Ntoa ke ea malula-mmoho. Kenang moeeng oa kutloano hobane ho atleha ha morafo ona ke ho atleha ha bookameli, ha basebetsi; le ha Lesotho ka kakaretso. Your Majesty, Distinguished Guests, Our presence here today brings back memories of five years ago when se attended the sod-turning ceremony for this same mine. While it is correct to say that it has taken five years to reach the stage we are celebrating today, it is also correct that we look forward to the sustainable production of the resources of this mine. It is indeed gratifying to note that a total of 23,151 carats has already been recovered since Lets'eng Diamonds (PTY) Ltd started operations in Lesotho, thus contributing M12.5 million in royalties to His Majesty's government revenue. It is equally gratifying to note that in addition to employment creation, Lets'eng Diamonds is committed to the development of communities around this area and in the Mokhotlong district generally. To this end, the company makes an annual contribution to support athletics in the district. we are indeed grateful and appreciative of this gesture. We hope that other companies will take a leaf out of your book and give support to sporting activities in this country. Furthermore, your contribution to the development of human resources in this very specialised sector is highly appreciated. Master of Ceremonies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I am informed that another mine at Liqhobong will commercial production in February next year and that negotiations are underway for possible investment at Kao. Allow me therefore, at this juncture, to throw a word of advice to the company to observe and abide by the labour laws, in particular, those related to health and occupational safety. Furthermore, that in dealing with labour problems, it is important to remember that most, if not all, solutions are on the negotiating table. Negotiating in good faith will go a long way in avoiding unnecessary strike actions. Motlotlehi Rabasotho, Bahlomphehi ba Khabane, Bo-ntate le bo-'me, Ke lakatsa ho fera puo ena ea ka ka ho le hopotsa hore sekoeta se bitsoang HIV le AIDS se ntse se haketse kajeno ho ts'oana le maobane. Ke batla ho le hlokomelisa hore se ntse se thabela haholo moo batho ba bokaneng joaloka mona Lets'eng-la-Terae. Se tseba ho fofonela, se be se se fumane bao se ka ba metsang. Ka hona, ipaballeng hle, Basotho ba heso, a re tloheleng ho khahloa ke none e feta e hlotsa, re sa tsebe hore na e lemalitsoe ke eng moo e tsoang teng. Ke hlola ke bolela hore libetsa ntoeng ena e mahlo-mafubelu li tharo. Ke ho ila thobalano, ho ts'epahalla balekane ba lona, le ho its'ireletsa ka ho sebelisa khohlopo haeba le se le hlotsoe ke tse peli tse qalang. Ka holim'a tsohle le eletsoa ho ea litsing tsa thahlobo le tlhabollo, le tsebe maemo a lona malebana le lefu lena, e le hore le tsebe ho thusoa ka likeletso le ka kalafo ha ho hlokahala. Bo-ntate le bo-'me, Ke leboha Motlotlehi ha a fumane sebaka sa ho tla ba le rona mona Lets'eng esita le baeti bohle ba tlileng ho thaba le rona. Ke leboha botsamaisi ba sebaka sena ka ts'ebetso ena e kholo 'me ke lebohela le bana ba naha ena ea rona, ba kentseng letsoho ts'ebetsong ena e matla. Kea ba thoholetsa ha ba sa its'abella, ba sa itheke moroalo kholisong ea moruo oa naha ena ea rona, 'me ba amohetse moho oa 'Muso oa hore re loants'eng tlala le bofuma ka litsela tsohle. Pele-a-pele maapara-kobo a matle! I wish to express, on behalf of His Majesty's government, our gratitude to Lets'eng Diamonds for the confidence they have shown by investing in this country. I hope that this will be a partnership for life from which we all stand to benefit. Motlotlehi Rabasotho, Bahlomphehi ba Khabane, Bo-ntate le bo-'me, Ke motlotlo ruri ho phatlalatsa Morafo oa Lets'eng-la-Terae o butsoe. Khotso! Pula! Nala! 30 November 2004
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