Basotho in their thousands, both from Lesotho and South African towns and villages neighbouring Qacha’s Nek, celebrated King Letsie III’s 42nd birthday at the Melele football ground in this eastern Lesotho town on Sunday, July 17.
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On arrival at the Melele sports ground, King Letsie III started of by taking the Royal Salute, and then went on to inspect the 145 members of the A, B, C and HQ companies of the LDF's Light Infantry battalion. Also shown is part of the thousands of people who attended the celebrations.
The local community, including business, presented the King with a horse and a Brown Swiss cow as birthday presents. These were handed over by the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili and the acting Principal Chief of Qacha's Nek, Chief Halekhethe Makhaola.
Government Secretary, Mr. Tlohang Sekhamane announced that the celebrations were being held national on a rotational basis, as part of the decentralization of official activities to give Basotho a chance to witness and be part of celebrations of this calibre.
The day was marked in Mokhotlong last year and will be held in all the districts each year until the King’s 50th birthday in 2012, when they will be back in Maseru.
Among activities to mark the day included the military pipe band, cultural and choral music by different groups from Qacha's Nek and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.
18 July 2005