Statement on Donation of R 1 Million to the Kingdom of Lesotho

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has today, Thursday 31 October 2002 approved the delivery of R1 million (one million rand) donation to the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho as part of efforts aimed at poverty reduction in Lesotho.

The decision, follows the recently held bilateral meeting between Minister Dlamini Zuma and her Lesotho counterpart Mohlabi Tsekoa to assist Lesotho out of its current status as a Least Developed Country (LDC) and to cement political and economic ties between the two countries.

At the meeting, Minister Tsekoa had welcomed the decision of the South African Government to assist Lesotho to address its current food crisis following a declaration of the state of famine and an appeal for international assistance by Prime Minister Phakalita Mosisili.

The donation, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Humanitarian Assistance Budget will be handed over to the Lesotho Government today, Thursday 31 October by South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to Lesotho Pinkerton Mjikeliso.

For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs

P/Bag X 152

Pretoria

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31 October 2002