Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs has announced the approaches and ways in which the government will resolve the damages caused by heavy rain fall in the country.
Speaking at the press conference on Friday, the Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs Hon. Tsoinyana Rapapa stated that it is his ministry’s responsibility
to ensure that every Mosotho lives in a well-planned community, with basic needs, proper running sewage and well-constructed roads without disruptions.
Rapapa indicated that in February there were heavy rains that caused massive damages in the villages, towns and cities. “Houses fell due to excessive moisture, graves were eroded in
some areas, vehicles and foot bridges were badly damaged so much that some were eroded by water. All these has left the nation in misery and caused big inconvenience,”
he stated. He mentioned that these let the Prime Minister to declare these damages as a “disaster” calling for emergency attention under the Disaster Management Authority (DMA).
He extended that the disaster required responsible ministries involved in the construction of roads and bridges to work in concert and calculate the cost of damages and see how the
government will assist in bridging solutions to resolve all damages. “This is when the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs launched the
inspection of all damaged bridges and roads in accordance to how each ministry can partake and as well as the cost needed to cover the damages,” Rapapa said.
He furthered that the ministers calculated a total of M54, 818, 224.00 damages caused by heavy rain fall on roads. He added that for bridges to be re-constructed, M18, 867, 476.00
will be needed. Rapapa mentioned that rains also destroyed some of the community councils offices roofing and for them to be repaired M75, 000 will be required.
He specified that the overall amount needed by the ministry is M72, 303, 600.00. Rapapa stated that the ministry addressed their concerns to the Ministry of Finance together with the DMA.
He added that the work will be done by the partnership of the council formed of ministers comprising of the minister in the PM’s office Hon. Kemiso Mosenene, Minister of Local
Government and Chieftainship Affairs Hon. Tsoinyane Rapapa, Minister of Public Works Hon. Lebohang Monaheng, Minister of Water Hon. Nkaku Kabi, Minister of
Transport Hon. Tšoeu Mokeretla, Minister of Forestry Range and Soil Conservation Hon. Motlatsi Maqelepo, Minister of Development Planning Hon. Selibe Mochoboroane and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hon.
Tefo Mapesela. He also indicated that the disaster will be funded by some of the ministries with different amounts, stating that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will provide M22.7 million,
the Ministry of Health M3.6 million, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship Affairs M72.3 million, Public Works M106.4 million, Ministry of Water 3.0 million, Ministry of Defence and National Security M43.0 million, DMA
M32.2 million, Ministry of Forestry, Range and Soil Conversation M80.0 million, Ministry of Development Planning M36.8 million and the overall amount is M400 million.
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