LESOTHO: U.S. DOD DONATIONS YIELD CELEBRATIONS

UNCLAS MASERU 000345 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S PRETORIA ALSO FOR DATT, ODC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS EAID LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: U.S. DOD DONATIONS YIELD CELEBRATIONS ¶1. SUMMARY: On June 7 and 8, items procured through the Department of Defense's Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) were delivered to the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) medical services and the rural Itumeleng Primary and Secondary Schools in Mohale's Hoek. The donations -- a large van to be converted into a mobile clinic for the LDF and an assortment of school furniture, books, televisions, and various school supplies for Itumeleng Primary and Secondary Schools -- were received with gracious appreciation by the Commander of the LDF and the Minister of Education, respectively. DoD HAP is making a difference in Lesotho, and the press coverage on Lesotho's sole television channel and in various local newspapers was an added bonus for the U.S.-Lesotho bilateral relationship. END SUMMARY. -------------- A Van Becomes a Mobile Clinic -------------- ¶2. On June 7, Embassy Maseru's Charge d' Affaires a.i., Poloff, Political Specialist, and Information Assistant delivered a large Toyota Van, procured under the DoD's Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP),to the Lesotho Defense Forces (LDF) Headquarters. The Commander of the LDF, Lieutenant General Motanyane, accepted the vehicle on behalf of the LDF, and passed custodianship of the vehicle to the director of Makonyane Military Hospital, which will operate the mobile clinic. An LDF camera crew recorded the handover, and Lesotho Television aired the footage on their evening news broadcast. The LDF has already sent the van to Durban, South Africa, to be outfitted as a mobile clinic. -------------- Donations Yield Celebrations at Rural School -------------- ¶3. On June 8, Embassy Maseru's Charge d' Affaires a.i., Poloff, Political Specialist, and Information Assistant traveled to the rural village of Bataung to participate with Lesotho's Minister of Education, the Honorable Dr. `Mamphono Khaketla, in a ceremony marking the handover of various school equipment and supplies to Itumeleng Primary and Secondary Schools. In a spirited ceremony on a cold mountain day, the Embassy team was treated to songs by the school's talented choir and addresses by the Minister of Education, the school's principal, and representatives of the local Member of Parliament and principal chief. The donation, which included school furniture, books, televisions, and various school supplies was very well received. Charge spoke to the assembled students and village leaders with a message of confidence in the future of Lesotho's children and the continued strong relationship between Lesotho and the United States. (NOTE: One teacher noted that the school chairs with rounded legs, connected at floor level, were more highly valued in Lesotho than the chairs with straight legs as they do not sink into the dirt floors prevalent in many of Lesotho's rural classrooms. END NOTE.) -------------- HAP Funds Well Spent in Lesotho -------------- ¶4. COMMENT: The donation ceremonies on June 8 and 9 demonstrated how much of an impact DoD/HAP can have in a nation such as Lesotho. The positive press attention received on the national television station and in several of Lesotho's newspapers showed the gratitude of the Basotho people for these gifts. Embassy Maseru hopes that increasing amounts of HAP assistance can be allocated to Lesotho as the military-to-military ties between the LDF and DoD continue to grow following Lesotho's signing of an Article 98 Agreement in ¶2006. END COMMENT. MURPHY