The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States of America is unperturbed by some political parties' opposition to its disbursement of funds to the government of Lesotho.

This has been mentioned by the MCC chief executive officer Ambassador John Danilovich, who said MCC is aware of the opposition's standpoint with regard to the granting of a M2 billion to Lesotho. He said MCC regards this as a domestic political issue which should not have any bearing on the allocation of the money.

Mr. Danilovich said it is hard for him to understand how anyone can oppose an initiative that will benefit the Basotho people, especially because MCC has satisfied itself that Lesotho is eligible for the grant, and is willing and capable of administering it.

He said he expected the deal to be implemented in 2008 over a period of five years, during which there will be periodic monitoring, assessment and evaluation.

The three key areas identified by the government of Lesotho under the agreement are water sector, health sector and private sector developments.

The MCC chief executive was addressing the media in Maseru on Thursday. He was accompanied by acting Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Semano Sekatle, Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr Mphu Ramatlepeng and the US Ambassador to Lesotho Mr. Robert Nolan.

Mr. Sekatle reaffirmed government's commitment to the implementation of the agreement, and promised that the money will be used for its intended purposes.

For her part, Dr Ramatlapeng said the law providing for establishment of the Implementing Entity, the Millennium Challenge Account Lesotho, is expected to be introduced in the Parliament of Lesotho next week.

In July Lesotho signed an agreement amounting to 362 million US Dollars with the MCC. The agreement which will be implemented over a five year period is designed to achieve long-term economic growth and sustainable poverty reduction in Lesotho.

Source: LENA 22/11/2007