…through assistance from World Aquatics
Leemisa Thuseho
LESOTHO Aquatics is set to get its first-ever swimming pool, with construction planned for Ratjomose Barracks in Maseru.
The project is being delivered under World Aquatics’ Pools for All programme and forms part of a broader partnership between World Aquatics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) to develop aquatic disciplines and improve water safety across the continent.
Similar projects are being implemented in three other African countries — Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda.
World Aquatics is funding and delivering the pool structure, while Lokang Sports and Aquatic Solutions is the supplier responsible for installation in each country.
However, facilities management, human resources and technical capacity will be the responsibility of each country’s member federation, National Olympic Committee and/or local government.
Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) president, Letsatsi Ntsibolane, told the Lesotho Times this week that equipment supplied by World Aquatics had already arrived in Durban, South Africa, and was expected to reach Lesotho soon.
“Equipment to construct the swimming pool is already in Durban, South Africa, and we have already paid for its clearance,” Ntsibolane confirmed.
He said efforts were now focused on ensuring that the Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture, expedites the groundwork, including laying the slab on which the pool will be constructed.
“What we are behind with is the groundwork so that the company given the work to build the pool can start.
“Actually, we were supposed to have already finished the groundwork. Our only contribution as a country is to lay the slab, while everything else is taken care of by World Aquatics. So, the opportunity is too good to miss, and that means we have to push on our side because the equipment is arriving soon.”
Ntsibolane said the equipment and construction of the 25-metre pool were valued at more than M9 million.
While an Olympic-standard competition pool is 50 metres long, 25-metre pools are also officially recognised and provide an important facility for developing swimming.
Ntsibolane said locating the facility at Ratjomose Barracks would provide security and make maintenance easier.
The Pools for All initiative was established by World Aquatics to help countries with inadequate aquatic infrastructure develop the sport sustainably. The programme also supports efforts to increase participation and strengthen water-safety education at community level.
Currently, Lesotho Aquatics does not have its own swimming pool, making it difficult for swimmers to train consistently and for the federation to prepare adequately for competitions.
The challenge was highlighted last week when a four-member national team — Lineo Matete and Kealeboha Khama in the women’s category, and Teboho Sekoloto and Khobotle Bolae in the men’s category — competed at the Africa Aquatics 2026 Zone IV Swimming Championships in Botswana.
The team travelled to the championships having last trained in July because the swimming pool at the Lehakoe Recreation and Cultural Centre was unavailable.
“My players did not have proper training as the pool we were using, Lehakoe swimming pool, was closed in mid-July and we were left stranded,” team coach, Refiloe Chopo, told the Lesotho Times this week.
“I am aware that soon we will have our own swimming pool, and that will be a huge boost.”
