The First Lady, Mrs. Masekoalane Majoro handed over a fully furnished two-roomed house to a 83-year-old Mrs. ‘Mapoopa Phomane at the event held at Ha-Lesala in Semonkong on Friday last week.
The construction of the house is an initiative of the First Lady in collaboration with the Maluti Mountain Cement (MMC) and the Lesotho Defence Force which constructed this house. The handing over ceremony saw the presence of the Prime Minister, Dr Moeketsi Majoro, Ministers of Social Development and of Forestry and Land Reclamation, Mrs. Matebatso Doti and Mr. Motlohi Maliehe respectively.
Speaking at the event, Dr Majoro commended the First Lady for the initiative, saying it is gratifying to witness this success, therefore thanked Mrs. Majoro and all stakeholders who participated in this project.
The Prime Minister said he is thankful for Mrs. Phomane for this great gift as it is going to change her live and that of her grandchildren.
Dr Majoro thanked Mr. Lebona Lephema of MMC for his contribution in this project, commending him for his commitment to invest in projects that are intended to improve the lives of Basotho, noting that Mr. Lephema also donated COVID-19 Laboratory in Berea to help the government fight COVID-19 pandemic.
When handing over the house, Mrs. Majoro thanked MMC and Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) for their collaborated efforts to ensure that this project becomes a success.
She stressed that without their contribution, this initiative would have not happened, commenting that Lesotho is faced with poverty as 70 percent of Basotho live in poverty and Mrs. Phomane is amongst the affected.
Mrs. Majoro added that Lesotho ranks amongst the top countries leading with HIV/AIDS, which she mentioned has affected many in different ways thus living many children as orphans hence causing the elderly people become caretakers of such children.
Mrs. Majoro therefore congratulated Mrs. Phomane for this gift, saying she is happy that she received this decent home where she and her two grandchildren will be safe.
Also speaking, the Lesotho Defense Force Commander, Lieutenant Mojalefa Letsoela said one of their duties as LDF is to ensure protection of Basotho and they live harmoniously, saying he is pleased to be part of the project that has changed the lives of Basotho.
Lieutenant Letsoela said members of the army who built the house were given 21 days to complete the project, saying indeed, they completed the house as expected and that he is thankful that the job was done timeously.
He promised community of Ha-Lesala that LDF will have a camping side to ensure that crime is under control in this village.
On the same note, representative of the MMC, Mr. Lehlohonolo Lephema said MMC is dedicated to build a better Lesotho for all, adding that it is their mandate to help build a better nation.
Mr. Lephema said MMC is ready to assist communities to build a better Lesotho.
Moreover, Mr. Lephema said after receiving a request to build a house for Mrs. Phomane, his office approached Standard Lesotho Bank, which offered to help this family on monthly basis, noting that the Standard Lesotho Bank, Roma Brach is expected to make a follow up on this matter.
He thanked LDF for assisting them in building a quality home for Mrs. Phomane, saying this wouldn’t have been able to happen without LDF.
He further commended the Office of the First Lady and the government for approaching MMC to assist in this regard, commenting that this has helped them achieve their social responsibility thus giving back to the community.
When receiving the house, Mrs. Phomane thanked the Office of the First Lady, LDF, MMC and Standard Bank Lesotho for this gesture as now she has a place to call a home where she can rest peaceful.
She said this came as a shock because she never imagined owning such a beautiful house.
The 83-year old, Mrs. Phomane lives with her two grandchildren, Mpho (24) and ‘Mone who both have profound mental disabilities and the three are said to have rheumatoid arthritis.