Thaba-Bosiu welcomes seminar on EU-Lesotho cooperation

Pictured: EU Head of Delegation to Lesotho, Paola Amadei and EU Head of Cooperation, Mario Varrenti pose for a photograph with Lesotho's Principal Chiefs at the Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village.They all wear a commemorative blanket made for the ReNOKA project.

The Delegation to Lesotho hosted a seminar with the country’s Principal Chiefs on ongoing EU actions in Lesotho as well as the planned EU cooperation programme in Lesotho (MIP 2021 – 2027).

The seminar took place in Thaba-Bosiu, nearly 20km south-east of the Kingdom’s Capitol, Maseru.

Thaba-Bosiu is a valued national shrine, the site where under the leadership of King Moshoeshoe I, the Basotho nation was formed. Thaba-Bosiu translates to “mountain at night”, a formidable fortress that enemy forces could not scale at night.

This is the first time the Delegation has hosted such a meeting.

The seminar was co-chaired by the EU Head of Delegation, Paola Amadei and the Principal Chief of Thaba-Bosiu, Chief Khoabane Theko. Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso, younger brother of King Letsie III and the Principal Chief of Matsieng, also attended the event.

Robust discussions about EU-funded programmes in Lesotho were preceded by presentations from EU Head of Cooperation, Mario Varrenti and ‘Mathato Bokaako of the ReNOKA Movement – Lesotho’s integrated catchment management programme. ReNOKA also had a stall at this year’s European Development Days (EDD2022). Offering an overview of past, on-going and future cooperation programmes of the EU Delegation in Lesotho, Varrenti explained that support under the new cooperation strategy focuses on two priority areas: (1) Transforming Lesotho into a green and resilient economy, and: (2) Promoting good governance and building a peaceful and just society. The ensuing discussions focused on the EU’s work with green and renewable energies and social protection for children areas in which the Principal Chiefs were keenly interested in. 

Noting the importance of forging a stronger strategic relationship with local chiefs, Ambassador Paola Amadei in her remarks indicated that the exercise is the beginning of a regular engagement with the nation’s Principal Chiefs. Prince Seeiso welcomed the initiative on the part of the EU in his remarks, noting that the seminar enables them to become custodians for EU-funded initiatives on the ground, a sentiment echoed by co-chair, Principal Chief Theko.

Background

Lesotho and the European Union adopted a new cooperation strategy for the 2021 to 2027 period. The EU’s cooperation strategy for Lesotho is one of the greenest in the world, with nearly 75% of its resources dedicated to the renewable energy and water sectors. The rest of the resources are aimed at supporting the national reforms process and social protection mechanisms in the country, among others.