The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Ms. Lebohang Nts'inyi  says Lesotho is faced with a tremendous challenge as the abuse of alcohol  is slowly but surely eroding the fabric of the society.

She was officially opening the first Lesotho National Alcohol Policy  Workshop held at Victoria Hotel on Thursday.

She said the workshop presents a golden opportunity to explore all aspects of alcohol use with the ultimate goal of identifying and developing a  comprehensive policy that will work in the best interests of all the  people of Lesotho.

She noted that the key aspect of an effective alcohol policy is that, it  must fit well in the cultural context of the people for which it is made, and must have the social acceptance within all sectors of the community.

She said she is particularly happy to note that the participants in this  workshop have a representation from all those that have the authority to ensure that the policy which will be developed through these deliberations will be owned and implemented by stakeholders.

Ms Nts'inyi therefore thanked the Lesotho Brewing Company for taking the  lead in making this workshop possible.

> ends
> Source:LENA
>
> BDF ARMY ON TRAINING MISSION IN THE COUNTRY-LEHATA
>
> - 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