Africa-Press – Lesotho. Following the second wave surge of infections which have claimed scores of people in India, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon.
‘Matšepo Ramakoae has on Monday this week told the National Assembly that Basotho in that country are
safe as per the reports they have received. She said the government of India has promised to “[take] all necessary steps to ensure that we are prepared well to face the challenge and threat posed by the growing pandemic of
COVID-19”. The Minister highlighted that the outbreak in India happens at a time when that country was in the process of donating 36 000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Lesotho,
adding that once the situation subside India will dispatch those vaccines. She said evacuating Basotho in that country will not be possible owing to travel restrictions that
have been imposed to curb the spread of infections in and out of that country. Also, Ramakoae pointed out that many countries have imposed a ban on flights coming out of that south Asian
country. The Minister also said they have told the Lesotho Mission in that country to ensure that Basotho are safe and update the government on the developments as they unfold in India so
that it is able to respond to any situation should the need arise. She further told the house that the government has disbursed the relief funds to assist Basotho in
that country. Hon. Ramakoae also urged Basotho in diaspora to stay put, adding that they will be safe where they are and avoid possible infections of the Covid-19.
Hon. Ramakoae said upon learning of insurgence of the Coronavirus in India, she charged the Lesotho’s mission based in that country to give an account of the state of Basotho living
there and the nearing countries. She further told the house that since the outbreak of the COVID-19, Lesotho has been exercising surveillance through its diplomatic missions abroad.
The reports she said indicate that there are 85 Basotho currently based in India some of which are studying at the institutions of higher learning and some are members of the
Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) who are undergoing training in that country. Save for South Africa, she said there has not been any recorded Basotho deaths abroad whose lives have
succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ramakoae however mentioned that there are three Basotho living abroad who have contracted the virus but have since recovered.
The Minister also told the august house that her Ministry is convinced that Basotho living in India are receiving best care treatment in the health facilities of their host
countries. Matsieng No. 45 Member of Parliament (MP) allayed the worries of Basotho whose relatives are in India to remain hopeful until things get back to normalcy. She told the MPs that Lesotho continues to enjoy healthy bilateral relations with India.
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