Her Majesty Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso and the First Lady, Mrs. 'Mathato Mosisili will be among women of different denominations at the ceremony to hand over Peace Torch to the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) in Morija on Wednesday next week.

Two Caravan of Women of Peace from Zambia handed over the peace torch to women from all walks of life in Lesotho at the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) on Friday.

The delegates are Reverend Rosemary Nachilembe and Mrs. Chipo Zulu who arrived in the country on Sunday last week, where the Caravan of peace celebrations were held at Masitise, Botha-Bothe and Maseru LEC Parishes from Monday, Wednesday and Friday respectively.

In her welcome remarks on Friday, the Maseru Mayoress, Mrs. 'Malijane Morahanye said the delegates are important to Basotho women and the country as they have brought the message of peace and stability to Basotho.

She said the challenge that faces the country is instability and lack of peace within families, churches, schools, government and organisations, which she added hinder the country's development.

She expressed hope that through prayers and messages of peace brought by the delegates, Lesotho will achieve sustainable peace and stability, further appealing to women to jointly work hard and strive for peace in the country.

When addressing women, one of the delegates, Reverend Nachilembe said peace is the only answer to all the challenges that include diseases and crime facing the world.

She added that peace messages they have brought are aimed at encouraging women to stand up and fight for peace.

Reverend Nachilembe said, "Peace messages that have been given by each country show that women appreciate the fact that they should not only enjoy peaceful environment, but should also take part in the cultivation and dissemination of peace."

She therefore called on women's concerted efforts in striving for peace, adding that collective effort is a force for positive change and it must include all the spiritual tools that people possess to achieve sustainable peace.

One of the Lesotho Caravan Women of Peace, Mrs. 'Mamabula Molapo said lack of peace affects all people including women, children and youth as in most cases they are the first to suffer in times of chaos, hence need for all people to work hard to pray for peace.

The Peace Torch , which is from Zambia is aimed at granting women an opportunity to share ideas and experiences on how peace could be attained in their countries regardless of social, economic problems that might be faced by individual countries.

From Lesotho it will be taken to Mozambique then Switzerland in October this year.

Source: LENA 22/02/2008