Press Release on Lesotho/South Africa Donor Briefing

The South African Deputy Minister of Environment Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, and the Lesotho Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr MK Tsekoa, co-chaired a Donor Briefing in Maseru today.

The Donor Briefing a Lesotho initiative facilitated with the assistance of the South African Government, is aimed at soliciting international funding for various projects in the country which would promote the objectives of he Bilateral Commission for Co-operation agreement.

The JBCC Agreement was signed between South Africa and Lesotho on 19 April 2001. One of the main priorities of the agreement is to assist Lesotho in graduating out of its classification as Least Developed Country (LDC) within a period of 5 years.

Various Donors and the Business Sector in South Africa are attending the Briefing held at the Maseru Sun. The 25 projects identified are aimed at creating employment and alleviating poverty in Lesotho. Projects ranged from agricultural, tourism to mining projects.

In her statement to the Conference, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi gave the assurance that South Africa as a partner is committed to assist Lesotho in attaining the objectives set by the JBCC. The Minister stated that South Africa's presence in Maseru is a true sign of its positive involvement with Lesotho in the true spirit of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

The Lesotho Foreign Affairs indicated that this briefing precedes a round table-donor conference to be held in 3-4 months in Maseru and urged development partners to consult their Head Quarters in order to make firm commitments in the future.

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
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10 April 2003.