visit
17 June 2007
South African President Thabo Mbeki will host Prime Minister Pakalitha
Mosisili of Lesotho on an official visit to Cape Town, South Africa scheduled
from Monday to Wednesday, 18 to 20 June 2007. President Mbeki and Prime
Minister Mosisili will hold discussions at Tuynhuys in Cape Town on Tuesday, 19
June 2007.
President Mbeki will host Prime Minister Mosisili in South Africa within the
context of South Africa's priority to strengthen and consolidate political,
economic and trade relations with countries of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) region.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between President Mbeki and Prime
Minister Mosisili are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both
countries
* a briefing by President Mbeki on the recently concluded Group of Eight (G8) +
5 and G8 African outreach meetings in Heiligenndamm, Germany
* preparations for the forthcoming African Union (AU) and SADC summits
* other issues of mutual global interest including the comprehensive reform of
the United Nations.
While in South Africa Prime Minister Mosisili will also, together with
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka co-chair the South Africa�Lesotho
Business Forum.
Prime Minister Mosisili is scheduled to depart from South Africa on
Wednesday, 20 June 2007.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Presently, there are two projects in Lesotho which have been earmarked for
promoting tourism and sustainable utilisation of water resources: the Sani
Top-Mokhotlong Road and the Metolong Dam.
South Africa has made a commitment of ensuring that both projects are funded
through the African Renaissance Fund (ARF).
The Lesotho Railway Project has been recommended to be adopted by SADC as
part of the Transport Master Plan because of its strategic importance for the
region. The inter-country project is an important initiative aimed at linking
Lesotho with countries of the region through a solid railway
infrastructure.
The South Africa-Lesotho Joint Bilateral Commission for Co-operation (JBCC)
was signed on 19 April 2001 during an Official Visit by President Mbeki to the
Kingdom of Lesotho.
In addition to strategic areas of co-operation that are being discussed, the
JBCC also constitutes an important basis for the on-going process of
consolidating relations between the two countries. Areas for possible
co-operation under which the desired results can be achieved are listed in the
JBCC Agreement as follows:
* mutual economic integration
* political co-operation
* social co-operation
* cultural co-operation
* humanitarian co-operation
* science and technology
* good governance
* peace and security
* facilitation of movement of persons
* goods and services.
Media programme for official visit to South Africa by Prime Minister of
Lesotho Pakalitha Mosisili. Monday � Wednesday, 18 - 20 June 2007
Monday, 18 June 2007
15h00: Arrival of media for photo opportunity on arrival of Prime Minister
Pakalitha Mosisili
Venue: VIP Lounge (between Domestic and International Terminals) Cape Town
International Airport, Cape Town
Arrival of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
To be received by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Media in attendance for photo opportunity
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
09h30: Arrival of media ahead of official welcoming ceremony in honour of Prime
Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town
10h30: Arrival of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
To be received by President Thabo Mbeki
Media in attendance
Bilateral discussions between President Thabo Mbeki and Prime Minister
Pakalitha Mosisili
11h00: Arrival of media ahead of signing ceremony and joint press conference by
President Thabo Mbeki and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town
Media to arrive through visitors' centre, 20 Plein Street
12h10: Signing of Agreements:
* Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on co-operation in the field of
agriculture
* MOU on co-operation in the field of correctional services
* MOU on co-operation in the management of wild fires and other forest
management issues
* Agreement on the facilitation of cross border movement of citizens.
Joint press conference
14h30: Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili to hold discussions with Speaker of
Parliament Baleka Mbete
Venue: Parliament, Cape Town
15h30: Media to arrive ahead of photo opportunity on commencement of courtesy
call by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on Prime Minister Pakalitha
Mosisili
Venue: Table Bay Hotel, Waterfront, Cape Town
16h00: Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to pay courtesy call on Prime
Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Photo opportunity
18h45: Media arrive for photo opportunity and toast remarks ahead of official
dinner hosted by President Thabo Mbeki in honour of Prime Minister Pakalitha
Mosisili
Venue: Tuynhuys, Cape Town
19h30: Official dinner hosted by President Thabo Mbeki in honour of Prime
Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Media in attendance for photo opportunity and toast remarks
Wednesday, 20 June
08h00: Media arrive ahead of South Africa�Lesotho Business Forum
Venue: Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
08h30: Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Prime Minister Mosisili to
participate in South Africa�Lesotho Business Forum
12h45: Prime Minister Mosisili to visit Robben Island
Note: Media will not be allowed access to the events unless accreditation
has been received. Kindly indicate which events you will be covering
For further information contact:
Manusha Pillai
Cell: 082 389 3587
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
17 June 2007