Water For Justice

BRIDGES TO IMPACT POSITIVELY TO THE COMMUNITY –PM

The Prime Ministe, Mr Pakalitha Mosisili, says construction of long awaited bridges across Senqu and Senqunyane Rivers and associated road works at Hloahloeng will change the lifetsyles of residents for the better.

The Prime Minister, said this at a sod turning ceremony held in Hloahloeng on Monday to mark the M230 Million project construction of two bridges, which started in July this year and scheduled to end in 2010.

He noted that for the first time the 40 000 people within Hloahloeng constituency will be able to access essential services without risking their lives by crossing the rivers on foot or with boats.

Mr. Mosisili added that the project marks end of their hardships, where they had to walk long distances to get various services and carry corpses on shoulders due to absence of bridges and roads to link villages.

He said, one of the priorities of the government is to reduce poverty hence, “We have opened the area for tourists, thus promoting economic growth.”

The Prime Minister stated that a road to link Roma, Ha Ramabanta, Semonkong and Ha Sekake has been proposed for construction, adding that once done, it will reduce the distance from Maseru to Qacha’s nek by 140 kilometres.

He warned the public to ensure that the work is undertaken without any hindrance so that it could be completed in time, adding that they should avoid destruction of guard rails and traffic signs.

The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Ts’eele Chakela said the government, World Bank and the European Union have funded the project and 40 households in the area, who had been affected by the project were compensated.

A Member of Parliament for Hloahloeng and Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Ntlhoi Motsamai commended the government and donor partners for the positive response to the needed development in the area. She said, problems encountered with flooded rivers had discouraged parents to send their children to schools to further their education, where they had to cross the rivers.

Members of the community were as well filled with joy, describing the event as a turning point to end their sufferings. Senqu River bridge will link villages of Seforong in Quthing district and Hloahloeng in Mohale’s hoek, while the bridge at Senqunyane River connects Hloahloeng and Topa. The project adds number of bridges built across Senqu River in the country to three after those built in Quthing and Mokhotlong.