Scott underscores need for unity within southern Africa

—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 unite for the betterment of their peoples.

He told ZANIS in Maseru after attending the 50^th 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.

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 50^th birthday.

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

Others were Vice President of Malawi, Khumbo Kachali, Angola’s Minister of External Affairs, Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Lesotho and 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, 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 Mugabe who decided 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^st 2013 elections in that country.

Dr Scott has since left Lesotho for Zambia and was seen off at the Moshoeshoe 1 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 50^th birthday anniversary was characterized by traditional performance, music, dances, sky diving, military march past, military plane fly-past and many other activities.