…as the Duke of Sussex visits Lesotho
Moroke Sekoboto
PRIME Minister Sam Matekane has commended Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, for his long-standing dedication to Lesotho, particularly through his work with the charity Sentebale.
In a social media statement, Mr Matekane expressed gratitude for Prince Harry’s significant contributions to Lesotho through the Sentebale charity, highlighting the positive impact it has had in areas such as skills development, health, nutrition, and climate change.
Sentebale, founded in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso, works to support young people and their communities by creating sustainable solutions that address issues of health, inequality, and climate resilience in Lesotho and Botswana.
Prince Harry is visiting Lesotho to celebrate the country’s 58th Independence Day and the bicentennial anniversary of the founding of the Basotho nation.
“I had the pleasure of welcoming Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, back to Lesotho today. His enduring commitment to our country through Sentebale is something we deeply appreciate. Sentebale has made a meaningful impact in supporting our key priorities, especially in skills development, health, nutrition, and climate change,” said Mr Matekane.
“As we prepare to celebrate 58 years of independence and 200 years since the founding of our nation, I extended an invitation to Prince Harry to join our festivities. I also highlighted the remarkable work being done in youth empowerment and HIV programs across six districts and encouraged collaboration between Sentebale and our Sebabatso initiative for young entrepreneurs.
“Lesotho will always be a second home for Prince Harry, and we are forever grateful for his dedication. I hope he enjoys his visit, particularly with the communities benefiting from these essential programs.”
Sentebale also hosted a welcoming ceremony at the ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre in Thaba Bosiu, where a storytelling session under the stars marked the start of the independence celebrations.
Prince Harry is also in the country to witness Sentebale’s ongoing work in action. The non-profit organisation aims to enhance health, economic opportunities, and climate resilience for young people in Southern Africa.
Speaking at the welcoming event, Prince Harry reflected on his more than two decades of experience helping the needy, emphasising the importance of empowering the younger generation to drive change.
“We are building a force of young advocates, and when they are empowered to use their voices, the strength of their impact will be immense. You might not always realise how significant your influence is, but if it changes even one person’s life, it’s worth it,” Prince Harry said.
Prince Seeiso echoed these sentiments, reaffirming Sentebale’s commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable Basotho children.
“This is legacy work, and we have a collective responsibility to do everything we can. How can we ensure that every dollar we invest yields tenfold results? We want Sentebale to remain lean, fit for purpose, but impactful for the children of Lesotho, Botswana, and beyond,” said Prince Seeiso.
