The Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs, and Police, Mr. Lebona Lephema handed over water tanks to 10 primary schools at the event held in Maseru on Wednesday.

Handing over the tanks, Mr. Lephema said UN habitat with the support of the  African Caribbean Pacific countries and the European Commission pledged to help developing countries provide good sanitation for all as a strategy to address the COVID-19 crisis.

He mentioned that this initiative is the mastermind behind the Lesotho Housing Agenda 2030 thus ensuring adequate housing for all, saying good sanitation is key.

He said no child should travel long distances to access clean drinking water, adding that they selected the most vulnerable schools in the country

He appealed to Basotho to strengthen forums that eliminate diseases caused by poor sanitation.

He, therefore, urged his ministry to donate more, adding that these water tanks will benefit the future leaders of this country.

Also Speaking, the Director of the Department of Housing, Ms. Mamphaka Mabesa said in Lesotho, informal settlements are growing rapidly in rural, peri-urban and urban areas, saying these are developing without adequate provision of basic infrastructure and service-water supply, electricity, roads, drainage, and sanitation.

She mentioned that the National Housing Policy 2018 vision is to see every Mosotho with equal access to adequate and safe housing.

She noted that the tanks will be transported to the schools and the engineers will install them.

She noted that it is worth celebrating the handover of these water tanks as it is a major achievement.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Training, Mr. Ratšiu Majara said the water tanks will help the schools in the long run as there is a lack of food in the schools, saying they can now produce vegetables for themselves thus promoting nutrition.

The 10 schools which benefited from this initiative are ‘Makong Primary School, Ke Tšepile Primary School, Kananelo School of the Deaf, Liraooeleng Primary School, Matholeng Primary School, Mesitsaneng Primary school, Thaba-Nts’o Primary School, Mosaqane Primary School, Loti Primary School and Mokhotlong High School.

The initiative is financially supported by African Caribbean Pacific countries, the European Union and UN-Habitat.

By Staff Reporter: ‘Maphoka Likotsi