Veep Scott calls for regional unity

Vice President Guy Scott has underscored the
need for Southern African countries to stick together and support one
another.

Dr. Scott said it was important that Africa as a continent and
Southern Africa as a region embrace unity for the betterment of their people.

He told ZANIS in Maseru today after attending the 50th birthday
anniversary of King Letsie III that the response by invited heads of
state and government was symbolic of the unity that exists in the
region.

“When we come to visit him on his birthday, it is symbolic of African
unity in southern Africa especially,” he said.

Dr. Scott recalled that Lesotho played an instrumental role towards
the political liberation of many southern African countries hence
attending the King’s birthday was important.

Vice President Dr. Scott was in Lesotho in response to that country’s invitation to
Zambia to be among other heads of state and government celebrating
King Letsie III’s 50th birthday today.

Others that attended the birthday celebrations are President Robert
Mugabe of Zimbabwe, President Ian Seretse Khama of Botswana,
President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia and King Mswati III of
Swaziland.

Others were Vice President of Malawi Khumbo Kachali, , Ambassadors and

High Commissioners accredited to Lesotho,several representatives of international and
regional organizations and thousands of local Basotho people.

And addressing thousands of people who included the invited guests at
Setsoto stadium this afternoon, King Letsie III said he was greatly
humbled by the support and response to the invitation of heads of
state and government in the region.

He said the response to the invitation was testimony of the
genuineness of Southern African countries’ support and solidarity for
Lesotho.

King Letsie III paid special tribute to President Robertb Mugabe found time to
attend the birthday celebrations at a time he was supposed to be
embroiled with political campaigns to garner support that should make
his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) retain
power after the July 31 2013 elections in that country.

Dr. Scott has since left Lesotho for Zambia and was seen off at the
Moshoeshoe International airport by that country’s Minister of Trade
and Industry, Sekhulumi Ntsoaole and Zambia’s High Commissioner to
South Africa, Muyeba Chikonde, who is also in charge of Lesotho.

The 50th birthday anniversary was characterized by traditional
performance, music, dances, sky diving, military match and plane fly-pasts among many other activities.