All set for ‘the walk to remember’
. . . As Moshoeshoe Walk turns 15
Staff Reporter
More than 10,000 indigenous trees are expected to be planted on the route of the annual Moshoeshoe Walk starting today (Thursday) and ending on Saturday, as a way of marking the unity that the founder of the nation forged for Basotho.
The founder and organiser of the Moshoeshoe Walk, Thabo Maretlane, in partnership with sponsors of the walk – the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) and Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) – have confirmed that this year’s event will be held from March 10 to 12, 2022 at Menkhoaneng to Thaba-Bosiu.
This year’s theme for the Moshoeshoe Walk is the ‘The Walk to Remember’ and this year’s walk marks its 15th Anniversary. The three-day annual event’s 2022 edition was outlined during the press conference held at State Library in Maseru on Monday this week. Addressing the media, the Founder of Moshoeshoe Walk, Maretlane of T-Connexion, said the route for 2022 Moshoeshoe Walk has slightly changed as the camping will be at Thaba-Phatšoa Primary School instead of Ha Ramapepe, saying this is due to the damaged bridge at Ha-Ramapepe because of the heavy rains that the country has experienced recently.
The organisers also outlined that as part of the event this year, 2000 indigenous trees will be planted at Menkhoaneng, noting a total of 10,000 trees will be planted during the walk. In conclusion, Maretlane thanked all sponsors who always ensured that this walk becomes a success every year and further appealed to local businesses to sponsor this event as it celebrates the founder of the Basotho nation.
Speaking on behalf of the LTDC, ’Manchafalo Motšoeneng said this walk has for the past 14 years helped the country to honour King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basotho nation while promoting tourism in the country.
She noted that the 2022 Walk marks a pathway for the 2024 Moshoeshoe Walk which will mark 200 years of his departure from Menkhoaneng to Thaba-Bosiu, adding this walk is one of the milestones for boosting tourism in the country thus ensuring the country’s economic growth through tourism. The LNDC Public Relations Officer, Mrs Tiisetso Moremoholo said LNDC’s mandate is to initiate, promote and facilitate the promotion of commerce and industry in the country with the purpose of improving the economy.
Mrs. Moremoholo noted that while LNDC is focused on attracting investors, it is important to educate them to know about Lesotho which is why they are supporting this walk. The Moshoeshoe Walk is an annual event that started in 2007. It has been successfully organised by T-connections and the Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village. The historic walk has always attracted both local and international tourists annually.
The historic walk starts from Menkhoaneng in the Leribe district and ends in Thaba-Bosiu, Maseru and has been hailed by Their Majesties King Letsie III and Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso as a successful historic and international milestone for Basotho. The three-day journey of approximately 116km aims to re-kindle the spirit of unity among Basotho as it is embodied in the legacy left by the founder King Moshoeshoe I.
