Child abusers blasted

Lerotho Letsatsi

Maseru – The Minister of Social Development Temeki Tsolo on Tuesday blasted people who abuse children and the elderly, saying a society is measured by how it treats its weakest members.

Speaking at an event to mark the Day of African Child at A’skop – Tsepong Quthing, Tsolo said there was a greater need now than ever before to end discrimination against children.

“Violence and neglecting children affects them negatively, as they end up having depression and wanting to commit suicide,” he said. “Some drop out of school as a result.”

Tsolo said government would also strive to build and support sustainable independent living for persons with disability and older people.

“Working together we can move Lesotho forward and build a fully inclusive society free of unfair discrimination, inequality, abuse and exploitation.”

The minister came laden with goods that were distributed to community members facing hunger and deprivation spawned by another poor rain season. Crop production in the area was last year adversely reduced by hail storms and floods.

The villagers got shoes from Woolworths of South Africa and sanitary pads from government.

Noxolo Manxodidi from Mjanyane, Quthing who got some baby clothes was left speechless: “I am grateful for the gift that I received.”

Memetu Rosina Memane from Mokanametsong Quthing hopes gifts of this nature will help reduce school dropout levels which lead to early marriages and alcoholism.

“It will be better if parents are given lessons in how to negotiate with their teenagers about sex and how to tackle the challenges that they will face on the way,” she said but lashed out at “millennials” whom she branded “disrespectful.