Africa-Press – Lesotho. His Majesty King Letsie III had challenged the nation to reflect on the values that King Moshoeshoe I had subscribed to. This he said on Saturday during the end of Moshoeshoe Walk.
He thanked the international participants saying they remind “us of the values to aspire and espouse”. King Letsie III said their participation “help us to remember our foundation stones and foundation
values that make us as the nation”. He said the founder of Basotho had bequeathed unto the nation exemplary traits. The participants of annual Moshoeshoe Walk had braved unfriendly weather conditions and tough
Lesotho terrain to complete this historical journey. The three day walk covers 116 km walking distance from Menkhoaneng in Leribe to Thaba-Bosiu in the
Maseru district. Moshoeshoe Walk is a three-day annual walk. It celebrates and reflects on the legacy of Moshoeshoe I, the founder of Basotho nation. He is revered for his
diplomacy and leadership traits of amongst others unifying what is now as Basotho nation who were scattered then. The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Hon.
Ntlhoi Motsamai said it is a revival of the Bosotho and Basotho nation. Motsamai expressed these sentiments during the launch of the walk. She said the walk was
tough and long when first was walked by Moshoeshoe I. She said then others died and were devoured by wild animals. Also King Moshoeshoe I’s grandfather was eaten by the cannibals in this walk and only left the
collarbones at what was called Lipetu. “King Moshoeshoe I did not want conflicts, revenge and self-centeredness,” she said adding that he was not a revengeful person despite having killed and eaten his grandfather.
The Minister further thanked the organizers and supporters of the walk who have always stood with Basotho. She said in 2024, the nation will be celebrating 200 years of existence of Basotho nation.
British High Commissioner Anne Macro also echoed cleanliness sentiments, imploring trekkers to desist from littering during the walk. She said the plastic
water bottles leave chemicals which compromises soil and thereby disturb the food chain. The British High Commissioner said they have sponsored the walk with large bottles to store
water to enable hikers to refill. “Take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints,” she said. Chief Area of Menkhoaneng ‘Masempe Selebalo appealed to the Minister of Tourism, Environment
and Culture Hon. Ntlhoi Motsamai to help preserve the area. Of significance there is a Menkhoaneng Mountain and below it there is a fortress of Malaoaneng.
Menkhoaneng is the place where King Moshoeshoe I was born before relocating to Butha-Buthe. It is the fortress of Basotho. This year’s walk was also no exception as it left trial of footprints in some of the villages which
the walk traversed on. This was manifest in day one when 50 members of community policing forum and shepherds were given blankets at Ha-Ramapepe. The hikers of the Seventh
Day Adventist Church build a church at Ha-Makhoroana. The hikers also planted trees at Menkhoaneng and Lipetu. Sponsors of the Vodacom Lesotho, said they are championing for digitization adding that they want a clean environment and will plant
trees to safe the paper. One of the participants from abroad, Alisha Orji from South Africa said covering 116 km over three days was exiting. Asked what some of the highlights of the
walk were, Alisha said, “being with Basotho and hiking in the “very complex” terrain of the Mountain Kingdom. ” She further appealed for constant communication
from the organisers of the event. She also expressed reservation saying: “We also had to pay for basic things like bath water, having access to a basic things like water is a basic human right.
Human beings actually need toilets. ” Asked if she deems King Moshoeshoe I as a good leader and what are some the traits he espoused that made him one, she
said: “Obviously yes, we are here today celebrating him. The big take away from him is imparting peace. He saw people had a problem and he understood how to
solve it. This means he cared. ” Marketing Director of T Connexion travel and tours, a company that organises the walk, Thabo Maretlane implored them to make a “beautiful world”.
He also thanked the participants and sponsors for making the walk a success. Amongst the participants was Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso. The walk had also
attracted hikers from South Africa, Kingdom of eSwatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon and the United Kingdom. The annual walk was first embarked in 2007 with about 40 participants and had since grown in leaps and bounds to having hundreds joining from far and near.
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