On the picture H.E. Ambassador Mpeo Limpho Mahase-Moiloa.
By the Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Brussels, accredited to EU, OPCW, ACP Group and the Benelux countries.
Castle of Wittenburg, Wassenaar, Tuesday, 4 October 2016: The Lesotho Mission seized the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the kingdom’s independence as an opportunity to share the history, developments, investment opportunities, tourism attraction features as well as challenges that the Government of His Majesty King Letsie III, is committed to tackling for the betterment of the Basotho, with more than fifty associations of the Netherlands business community, dignitaries from embassies and governmental institutions.
History
The Basotho is a nation founded by Paramount Chief Moshoeshoe I, in the 19th Century. The Great King with a legacy of being a charismatic leader and a true diplomat of his time.
- He spared the lives of the Cannibals who had eaten his grandfather.
- He would send a herd of well-fed cattle to his attackers after defeating them in the many battles he fought. This he did to create peaceful relations with his neighbors.
- He sought protection from the British resulting in Lesotho bearing a Protectorate Status as opposed to being a Colony.
The Distinct and Unique Features of This Beautiful Kingdom in the Sky
- It is one of the three enclaved states in the world.
- It has the highest low point above sea-level, 1400m.
- Thabana-Ntlenyana, 3,482m elevation is the highest point in Lesotho and highest mountain in Southern Africa.
- Although not a large producer of diamonds by volume, it is characterized by large stones (more than 100 carats) of very high colour quality.
- Spiral Aloe – is endemic to Lesotho. It has strikingly a symmetrical five pointed spiral growth habit and alleged to have some medicinal functions.
- Maletsunyane Fall and Abseil – as stated in the Guinness World Records, is the longest commercially operated single drop abseil in the world. Whereas the Fall itself (192m) is the longest horsetail type of Fall in Southern Africa.
- It is one of the countries in Africa that hosts ski areas and resorts – The AfriSki.
- It hosts Africa’s toughest motor-sport event “The Roof of Africa Rally”.
For additional pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157674179755201
People Focused Development: With its small economy, Lesotho attaches great importance, amongst others; to its education and health systems. The recent UNESCO Report on Global Partnership for Girls and Women’s Education stated that the adult literacy rate in Lesotho is above Sub-Saharan average as 95% of women are literate compared to 83% of men. A great effort is also highly visible in the health sector, especially the Primary health Care. Under the Millennium Challenge Account, founded by the Government of the United States of America; Lesotho recently rehabilitated old clinics and constructed new ones bringing a total number of clinics to 150 country-wide. The services offered at all these centres are free. Lesotho therefore, promises investors a young trainable and healthy labour force.
In 1966 when Lesotho became independent, it had only a kilometer long tarred road. Today, all its ten districts are accessible by tarred roads and most of the township villages are tarred. Almost all the remote areas are accessible by gravel roads. Here, it should be pointed out that one of the distinct features alluded to, earlier; of being a highest low point above sea-level, makes Lesotho vulnerable to massive land degradation which reverses its gains as far as development of road infrastructure is concerned.
Another people oriented major development is in the water and energy sectors. The number of households’ supply of clean water and sanitation services grows by big margins yearly. The supply of energy especially the renewable energy is also growing steadily. Lesotho is grateful to its main development partners in this area; the European Union through the European Development Fund (EDF).
Lesotho has a commendable record of promoting gender equality in all its national programmes aimed at sustainable human and economic development. For instance two of the three arms of the Royal Government; namely, the National Assembly and the Judiciary are headed by women.
Economic Factors and Incentives for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Lesotho’s major economic sectors comprise manufacturing, mining, agriculture, tourism and services, with chief exports in textiles, diamonds, water, wool and mohair. With the sole intention of creating an investment friendly setting, Lesotho’s Seventh Parliament (2007-2012) focused mainly on Economic Development Oriented Laws. These amongst others included the repealing and, or amending of the following Acts:
- The Land Act – to improve the Land Tenure system focusing both on women and investors’ rights.
- Married Persons Equality Act – Generally aimed at removing the minority status of married women with the aim of affording them a full participation in economic development.
- The Companies Act – to shorten both process and period of registration of companies and to enhance the legal status of women by giving them the right to be Directors of Companies.
In the same era, all the offices rendering company registration services were brought under one roof “The-One-Stop-Shop”, to facilitate this process.
- Financial Act – This was also amended to create tax incentives for investors.
Lesotho welcomes FDI in Renewable Energy, Tourism Infrastructure and Agriculture. This would influence a much needed growth of the private sector as well as addressing the problem of youth unemployment. In the same breadth, Lesotho calls for international support for the current challenge of food insecurity resulting mainly from the direct effects of climate change.
The Memorandum of Understanding was also signed at the event as part of the mutually accepted need to set up a Netherlands-Lesotho, Agricultural, Food and Technology Platform with the location in Lesotho.
In conclusion the Mission would like thank the sponsorship and organisation of a reception held on 4th October 2016 at the Castle of Wittenburg in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, to mark this Golden Jubilee of Independence. In particular, the Hak Partners in collaboration with Southern African Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SANEC). It also joins Mr Hak in thanking the following companies for responding positively to his call to join hands with him to the fruition of the event; Netherlands Agro, Food and Technology Centre (NAFTC), VanDrie Group, Tradin Organic, Metropolitan Food Security, QuaTerNes B.V., Three4Life, Ridder HortiMax, Ploeger Oxbo Group and Geerlofs.
Another big appreciation goes to Lesotho’s development partners for the continued support rendered as it struggles to give a true meaning to the word – Independence.
KHOTSO, PULA, NALA / (PEACE, RAIN AND PROSPERITY)
For more information:
Lesotho’s Monarchy and Parliament: http://www.parliament.ls/king/index.html
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations: http://www.foreign.gov.ls/home/contacts.php
Netherlands Agro, Food & Technology Centre (NAFTC): http://www.naftc.nl/aboutnaftc/
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Photography by NAFTC-Africa (http://www.naftc.nl/aboutnaftc/)
