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Basotho Speak on the Proposed Renaming of Major Roads

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Basotho Speak on the Proposed Renaming of Major Roads Sunday April 14, 2019 Public EyeOn Sunday 1 Woes buffet Lekokoaneng Best Sunday News sandstone miners News ublic ye Page 5 PApril 14 , 2019 www.publiceyenews.com E On EST .1997| vol 22 No 17 Sunday ‘Don’t name roads after politicians’ Concern over Govt denies Lesotho’s grabbing maternal Likoti’s mortality rate pension - Page 4 - Page 7 01042019 Met Funeral Strip.pdf 1 4/11/2019 6:18:29 PM C M Y CM MY How deep is your CY CMY K 2 Public EyeOn Sunday Sunday April 14, 2019 News ‘Don’t name roads after politicians’ . Basotho speak on the proposed renaming of major roads Former Prime Minister, Dr Ntsu Mokhehle last week adopted a motion “Our children will even have Former Prime Minister, Morena Leabua Jonathan proposed by ‘Mapulumo Hlao more interest if they see the names urging the government to assign of our former Prime Ministers on ASERU– Parliament’s Instead, chiefs and other new names to the Main North I a regular basis which would lead decision to rename apolitical figures who have and Main South I Roads, which to always remember the role these Mmajor national roads made genuine sacrifices for this should be named after former politicians have played for the after current and past premiers kingdom are the only ones that prime ministers, Morena Leabua country to be where it is today,” has attracted mixed reactions merit such an honour, some Jonathan and Dr Ntsu Mokhehle, he stressed. from Basotho, with some saying Basotho have said. respectively. He advised the government to no politician deserves such an One ’Mats’epo Tsiane, a Member of Parliament for put in place a proper engagement honour since they all tend to Maseru resident, told the media Mosalemane, Tsoinyane Rapapa process with the community to disappoint the electorate once this week she does not like the had moved that after the word educate them about political they get power. idea of naming major roads after “respectively” Parliament adds tolerance and importance of Since gaining independence the politicians who “only push “and also that the Quthing to the nation’s heritage to ensure from Britain in 1966, Lesotho has their personal agenda and not Qacha’s Nek as well as the Mpiti to members of the public would not had five prime ministers; the first those of the people who have Sehlabathebe and the Marakabei vandalise such monuments as has one being Morena Sekhonyana elected them to power”. to Monots’a Roads be named after been the case often. Nehemia ‘Maseribane who Tsiane suggested that the Morena Nehemia ’Maseribane as Mofelehetsi suggested the was succeeded by Morena roads be named after prominent well as Dr Pakalitha Mosisili and government could engage a Leabua Jonathan before Dr chiefs and people like ‘Mantsopa, Dr Motsoahae Thabane and the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Ntsu Mokhehle took over from Mohlomi, Makoanyane and house adopted the motion”. initiative for the exercise to save the military rule in 1993, to ‘Mants’ebo who she believed to However, several Basotho costs since Treasury is cash- be succeeded by Dr Pakalitha have played selfless and pivotal welcomed this proposal. strapped. Mosisili in 1998 before current roles in the making of modern Tlalane Tsunyane, another Parliamentarian Mrs Hlao premier Dr Motsoahae Thabane Lesotho. Maseru resident, said she had said it was improper that took over in 2012 and 2017. The National Assembly welcomed the decision, which she the former Prime Ministers could said was a good idea for children be honoured by other countries to know the role played by former like South Africa while Lesotho and current prime ministers and is doing absolutely nothing to other prominent personalities in honour her own heroes and the country. heroines. On the other hand, she Instead, she had noted in questioned the criteria used to parliament, Lesotho has roads determine which road should be named after foreigners like Mpilo, named after a particular Prime Kofi Annan, Sir Seretse Khama, Minister since some have been Nelson Mandela and Pope John given popular roads which are Paul, among others. busy while others will be named Deputy Minister of Home after roads in remote areas. Affairs, Machesetsa Mofomobe On the whole she said she did had also weighed in on the matter. not have a problem of the idea, He said Basotho have “self- which she believed will help next hatred” and do not have political generations appreciate where the tolerance unlike in other countries country is coming from. like South Africa, Botswana Mr Sepolo Mofelehetsi also and Mozambique where roads supports the decision which in have been named after their own Honourable Prime Minister Dr Motsoahae Thabane (left) and former his view will help the present former leaders. Prime Minister Dr Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili (right) generation to know their history. – Staff Reporter/LENA Sunday April 14, 2019 Public EyeOn Sunday 3 AdvertNews INSURANCES DIAL *100# TO REGISTER . Mochoboroane calls for separate anti-graftcourt 4 Public EyeOn Sunday Sunday April 14, 2019 News enable those left behind to receive their sexual and reproductive Concern over Lesotho’s rights. He said the choices that people make can change the world, adding: “If women and girls could maternal mortality rate be allowed to choose the number, timing and spacing of their children many countries would experience economic wealth”. The reproductive health definition he said refers to rights of men and women to be informed and to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fidelity which are not against the law. The state of the world population report 2019 shows that the average number of births per woman used to be 4.8 in 1969 compared to 2.9 in 1994 and 2.5 today. It shows that fertility rate in the least developed countries dropped from 6.8 in 1969, to 5.6 in 1994 and 3.9 in 2019; and the number of women who died from pregnancy-related causes has decreased from 369 per 100,000 live births in1994, to 216 in 2015. In addition, the report shows that 24 percent of women used modern contraceptives in 1969, compared to 52 percent in 1994 and 58 percent in 2019. It states that the global reproductive rights Mokoto Hloaele movement that began in the 1960s transformed the lives of hundreds MATHATISI SEBUSI other groups furthest behind such to act on the commitment the of millions of women, empowering as adolescent girls, people with government of Lesotho made in them to govern their own bodies ASERU - Lesotho disabilities, the LGBTI and the Cairo in 1994,” she noted. and shape their own futures. is experiencing an rural and urban poor women. “The Nairobi Summit on It also reveals that efforts of Malarming rate of “There are still barriers ICPD25: Accelerating the reproductive rights movements maternal mortality in spite of such as low-quality care, promise, will be fora to discuss have dramatically reduced the the country’s efforts to bring the insufficient facilities andand agree on actions to accelerate number of unintended pregnancies situation under control, a UNFPA supplies, discriminatory laws and the implementation of the ICPD and maternal deaths, and have official has shown. dismissive treatment by service Programme of Action, which is cleared the way for healthier, Esperance Fundira made providers that still prevent women critical to achieving the United more productive lives for untold the revelation earlier this week, and girls from accessing Sexual Nations Sustainable Development millions. during the launch of the state of Reproductive Health Rights Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Lesotho The report reveals that efforts the world population report 2019. services,” she said. will therefore be invited to of reproductive rights movements Fundira was, however, Fundira also showed that participate in this important have dramatically reduced the quick to show that a lot has of equally great concern is the summit. number of unintended pregnancies been achieved since 1969 when high HIV infections among “For all of us in Lesotho, let us and maternal deaths, and have UNFPA began operating as the young people, high early and remember, the struggle for rights cleared the way for healthier, first United Nations agency to unintended pregnancies, and and choice is an ongoing one, more productive lives for untold address population growth and harmful practices including child therefore let us all work together to millions. “The unmet need for reproductive health needs. marriages, unmet need for family strengthen accountability, pursue family planning has dropped “But despite the gains made planning, and gender-based opportunities, be prepared, build by 5% from 23% to 18%. The over the past 50 years, since the violence, including in drought resilience and right institutions Contraceptive Prevalence Rate establishment of UNFPA, the UN situations. and partnerships to ensuring (CPR) increased by 13% from 47% sexual and reproductive health All these, she said, call for rights and choices for ALL,” she to 60%. agency, the world still has a long concerted efforts to improve the noted. “There has been a reduction way to go before rights and choices lives of Basotho including the Mokoto Hloaele, speaking of maternal deaths from 1055/100 are claimed by all. most marginalised in rural areas. on behalf of the Minister of 000 live births to 1024/100 000 “On the journey towards rights “The country should Development Planning, said livebirths (LDHS, 2009 and 2014 and choices, women and girls have accelerate the implementation since 1994 Lesotho has made respectively) and the Population faced social and economic barriers of all relevant policies and remarkable progress in the area of Household Census 2016 shows every step of the way.
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