Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has touched down in Lesotho for a two-day visit which will look into how South Africa can further assist the kingdom overcome its socio-economic challenges.
The economies of South Africa and Lesotho are interdependent with Lesotho providing a strategic resource to South Africa in the form of labour and skills. More than 30 percent of its economically active population are employed in South African mines and approximately 50 percent of the income Lesotho's rural households come from family members employed in South Africa.
This constitutes approximately 30 percent of the country's per capita GNP.
The State Visit takes place after the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC) between the two countries which was held in Maseru in April.
The JBCC was originally signed in April 2001 where upon the two countries agreed on a strategic partnership that would assist Lesotho to graduate from its least developed country status to that of a developing country. In addition, the JBCC seeks to promote political, economic and social cooperation between the two countries.
During his visit, Zuma will also oversee the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on economic cooperation between South Africa and Lesotho.
He will hold bilateral engagements with the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Phakalitha Mosisili, before a state banquet this evening. He will also hold official talks with King Letsie III. The President has also been invited to address the Joint Sitting of Parliament where he will highlight strategic issues of mutual interest to both Lesotho and South Africa.
Accordingly, President Zuma is expected to officially open South Africa's newly-built Chancery and diplomatic village in Maseru.
International Relations Director-General Ayanda Ntsaluba told a media briefing on Thursday that during the talks, Zuma will explain to the leadership of Lesotho the border issues which are believed to be stifling that country's economy which has not recovered from the economic downturn.
There are long queues currently at border posts between the two countries, since South Africa introduced the advanced Movement Control System (MCS).
There has been outcry from fellow SADC countries that the new system can not read their temporary travel documents - which in turn makes it difficult for their people to enter the economic hub of the continent.
The MCS system was introduced ahead of the FIFA World Cup to facilitate the secure movement of tourists into and out of the country. The Department of Home Affairs put in place a system to act as an early warning for government agencies to track visitors with false passports and visas and even detect if a person is being sought by the police or Interpol.
According to Ntsaluba, the two leaders will also discuss the finalisation of the Agreement on Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
The project was started in 1986 as a joint venture to supply water to South Africa, especially the rapidly growing urban population of Gauteng, and to meet Lesotho's electricity needs. The project delivers about 780 million cubic metres of water to South Africa per year. It is regarded as Africa's largest transfer project as well as the largest ongoing bi-national construction project.
The finalisation of this project, he said, would help integrate Lesotho's economy as the country does not have a strong industrial base.
Other projects which will feature in the discussions, Ntsaluba said, include a geo-chemical mapping project and a hydrological project, as well as the development of the Sani Pass-Mokhotlong road as part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier project.
The road and the construction of the Metolong Dam are to be funded through the African Renaissance Fund, according to a commitment by South Africa.
The on-going political instability in Lesotho will also be discussed as well their preparations for the upcoming elections.
