His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland will be on a three day state visit in Lesotho from Wednesday next week.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili announced this in Maseru on Thursday.

Mr. Mosisili said His Majesty King Mswati III will be accompanied by a high powered delegation that comprises one of the Queens, princes and princesses, cabinet ministers and Chiefs.

The Prime Minister said King Mswati's visit has been prompted by various factors that tie both countries, among them being the few kingdoms, which were colonies of Britain.

Others include working relations that existed during times of a joint University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland as well as the Junior Certificates examinations, which were undertaken by the two countries.

Mr. Mosisili noted that while in Lesotho, His Majesty will visit various development and historic sites in the country.

He therefore appealed to Basotho to welcome the Swazi delegation with the kind of reception and hospitality they are known of, for the everlasting relations between the two countries.

Though this will be the first state visit by His Majesty King Mswati III to Lesotho, he has been in the country attending the SADC Summit and Smart partnership as well as other national ceremonies.

Mr. Mosisili said Lesotho and Swaziland share long and outstanding relations based on common history and culture, adding that Lesotho and Swaziland are the two Kingdoms in Southern Africa which were ruled under the British protectorate.

Apart from being the kingdoms, the two countries are members of SADC, Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) and they are among the least developed countries.

They also support each other on education and training of people from both countries through University of Lesotho and that of Swaziland.

Source: LENA 03/04/2008