King Hands-Over Essay Competition Awards to Students

Mopheme/The Survivor (Maseru)
November 1, 2001
Posted to the web November 1, 2001

Mzimkhulu Sitheth

Eight students from various high schools have won the 13th Annual Peace essay contest organised by the Baha'i Community of Lesotho and the United Nations Organizations in Lesotho.

During a handing over of awards at the United Nation's House, three of the eight students were the top winners and five received honourable mentions.

The first prize was won by Motšeoa Seutloali of Leribe English Medium School who scooped M400. The second prize winner was Leila Hall from Machabeng College and he snatched a prize to a tune of M250. Ibrahim Lweno of NUL International School won the 3rd prize of M200.

The honourable mentions to a tune of M75 went to Matsie Ramaisa, Bonang Rantoa, 'Musi Sehapi, Matšeliso Celestina and Relebohile Mokuku.

The theme for this year's Peace Essay Contest was 'My vision of how peace can be established on the continent of Africa'. The contest was organised with an objective to groom leaders who are conversant with peace missions and who comprehend the need for dire peace and stability in their societies.

Two other students from the University of Lesotho who were honoured with prizes after winning the contest at tertiary level were Mathe Maema who is doing Bachelor of Science at the University, and Tholoana Ntšasa who is pursuing a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.

The prizes were presented to the winners by King Letsie III in the presence of Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mohlabi Tsekoa and the UN Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, Ms. Scholastica Kimaryo.

In his remarks on government of Lesotho and UN development Cooperation, Tsekoa said the UN in Lesotho has contributed in the development of Lesotho by peace brokering initiatives, acting as development facilitator and a partner as well as providing technical assistance.

He said Lesotho was in the process of developing a poverty reduction strategy that the UN agencies and other development partners are supporting.

Tsekoa also indicated that the United Nations Development Programme, a UN agency, is providing assistance to the country's initiative to curb youth unemployment. He said UNDP has initiated a programme for employment of youth in environment related activities.

He said the government has national priorities for the next financial year for poverty eradication. He said employment creation, sustainable management of natural resources as well as human resources development were among the priorities in the next financial year. He said the government will embark on these programmes for poverty eradication.

The Resident Coordinator of the UN, Ms Kimaryo indicated that UN was determined to assist Lesotho in her development plans. She said her organisation has been working in tandem with the government of Lesotho and hoped the cooperation would continue.

United Nations was founded on October 24, 1945. It was founded with a mission to maintain peace and stability, to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self determination of people, to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to be a centre for harmonising actions in attaining these common ends. UN celebrates this day annually.