The Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Mr. Mokone Lehata says the  public should not be intimidated by the presence of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) currently on training exercise in the country.

Delivering a statement in the National Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Lehata  said Lesotho and Botswana have a bilateral agreement which allows both  countries' armies to engage in exchange training programmes where Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) hold their training camp in Botswana to expose
themselves on desert places.

The Minister said in a similar manner, BDF also conducts their training in mountainous places in the country where they train on driving their  vehicles on the country's rugged topology and flying over mountains.

He pointed out the government did not inform the Parliament and the public because they considered the exercise as a normal practice between the two countries and there was nothing serious about it.

Though he did not stipulate the duration of the BDF in the country, Mr. Lehata stated that it would not last months, adding that Botswana  government is incurring all the expenses just like Lesotho's government
does the same when LDF army holds its training exercise in Botswana.

SOURCE: LENA