European Union (EU) Head of Delegation to Lesotho, Paola Amadei and the German Ambassador designate, Andreas Peschke, being introduced to ReNOKA rehabilitation measures at the Thabana li Mele demonstration site.
Maseru, 3 March
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Lesotho Paola Amadei and German Ambassador designate Andreas Peschke got to see some of the catchment rehabilitation projects they support in March 2022.
They visited Ha-Moitšupeli and the adjacent Puete wetland in Maseru, where rehabilitation is part of the national programme to advance integrated catchment management (ICM) in Lesotho and the Orange-Senqu basin.
The aim is to rehabilitate degraded land and provide water security to local communities. The dignitaries were accompanied by members of the National ICM Coordination Unit in Lesotho’s Ministry of Water, as well as representatives of GIZ and non-government organisations.
The EU and Germany are committed to supporting Lesotho’s efforts to restore and protect its vital catchment areas through the establishment of ReNOKA (We Are a River), a multi-stakeholder partnership for the integrated management of water, land and related resources in the kingdom’s catchment areas.
They were shown measures to restore the watershed surrounding the Makhalaneng river from peak to valley. At the Puete wetland, this includes measures to improve water retention, remove invasive vegetation and slow soil erosion caused by extensive agricultural use. Training with watershed teams in the adjacent villages aim to introduce agricultural practices that can support wetland health.
“Water is a Human Right. I thank Lesotho for playing an outstanding role for water security in the whole Southern African region,” said Ambassador Peschke. He noted that Lesotho contributes 40% of water resources in the Orange-Senqu River, a source of life for millions of people in Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. “We are proud to support the people of Lesotho as the custodians of this vital resource.”
The EU’s Paola Amadei said the union had supported improved access to clean water and sanitation for many Basotho, for example though the Metolong Dam and the Lowlands Water Development Project. “Along with our partners in the Government of Lesotho, we recognise that these developments can only be secured through healthy catchment areas, especially in the face of severe environmental degradation and increasing droughts and floods due to climate changes.”
Makomoreng Fanana, National ICM Coordinator, thanked the EU and German governments for supporting ReNOKA. “Lesotho’s catchment areas provide enormous social and economic benefits, ReNOKA represents a network of individuals, communities and professionals. Together, we improve livelihoods and economic development for today’s and for future generations through the conservation of biodiversity, land, and water resources in the catchment areas of the rivers in Lesotho.”
ReNOKA (‘we are a river’) is a national programme and citizen movement for the restoration of land and water in Lesotho and the Orange-Senqu basin. Support for ReNOKA is provided through a partnership between the Government of Lesotho, the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The EU and BMZ contributions are implemented through a technical assistance project “Support to Integrated Catchment Management in Lesotho” by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
For more information
Visit the ReNOKA website at www.renoka.org
Engage with us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renokamovement/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/renoka_movement/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renoka_movement/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/renokamovement/
Press contacts
Makomoreng Fanana
National ICM Coordinator, ICM Coordination UNit
makomoreng.fanana@renoka.org
Stephan Huppertz
GIZ Programme Manager, Support to Integrated Catchment management (ICM) in Lesotho
stephan.huppertz@giz.de
‘This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Integrated Catchment Management unit and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)’