Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Moeketsi Majoro officiated the construction of water treatment plant at Hlotse Ha-Setene and also launched the Maputsoe boreholes
refurbishment for Ha-Nyenye (Sekaleng) and St. Monica under the Lesotho Lowlands Water Development Project (LLWDP) Phase II on Thursday. This was in celebration of water week which is annually commemorated from March 22nd.
Majoro said the project is implemented in zone 2 and 3 which is Hlotse and Maputsoe and will later be employed in Zone 6 and 7 in Mafeteng and Mohale’s Hoek districts,
financed by the Government of Lesotho, World Bank and European Investment bank. “For Zone 2 and 3, water will be abstracted from Hlotse River at Ha-Setene where there
will be construction of water treatment facility for purification of 25 million litres of water daily. The treatment plant has capacity to grow to 65 million
litres per day,” he stated. He pointed out that when the project is finalized after 3 months, it will supply 115 000 households with clean water and said it is also probable that when it
continues, more than 1000 Basotho people will be employed. Majoro further revealed that the Government of Lesotho goes an extra mile to implement water projects in the country in order
to assist Basotho households and also to increase the economy of the country. “The government is executing these projects aligning itself with the Sustainable Development
Goal 6 and the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II). “An enactment of water development projects is essential for fighting poverty, water bone
diseases and can even increase the economy of the country as water plays an important role in various facilities including industrial areas, agriculture,
power generation stations, mines and others,” he indicated. He continued to show that the projects are estimated at a total financing envelope of €200 million, spread over a period of five 5 years.
“World Bank financing is to the tune of €68.4 million, the European Investment Bank with €82 million,
and the European Union at €41 million while the Government of Lesotho is availing counterpart contribution to the value of €10.2 million,” he enlightened.
On restoration of boreholes project at Maputsoe, Majoro stated that there will be an expansion of the earlier implemented boreholes to lessen the shortage of
water and increase water supply in the area with 80%. “The project aims to supply 5 megalitres per day to the Maputsoe community and to the industrial areas
while currently the supply of water is only at 3 megalitres per day though generally the needed water is 8.5 megalitres per day. The expectation is that the
water will be advanced in this area after 6 months,” he said. World Bank Representative for Lesotho Yoichiro Ishihara indicated that the World Bank has added more funds in the project.
He explained that the World Bank has done this because water is an essential commodity that boosts the country’s economy and provides health care to the communities.
“This project is not the first one in Lesotho which the World Bank has contributed
significantly to, it also funded the Metolong Dam and Water supply Program and we accomplished this together with our counterparts, the European Investment
Bank, European Union and others. It is our mandate to add more to the countries’ development as we know that this is one of the leading goals in your country’s NSDP,
which shows that people’s lives have to be enhanced and we are working hand in hand to achieve this goal,” he explained. The former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and the Member of Parliament for Mahobong
constituency Hon. Mothetjoa Metsing mentioned that it took a longer time to make the project a success, “and as a community we show appreciation to the
contributing civil servants for taking it up to this far. This implies a massive improvement to our country and to our society for having an immense and
long lasting project similar to this one, so we have to be proud because it seems as if we are following the right track,” he stated. Metsing added that other villages within the selected areas where the project will be
positioned are in need of water as well, and it is their expectation as the community that the Minister of Water Hon. Nkaku Kabi will remember them. He said when the
same projects emerge, there is hope for employment and they are hopeful that the jobs will accommodate not only the residents on the designated areas but every Mosotho.
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