Hopolang Mokhopi
PRIME Minister Sam Matekane says the government has set aside M250 million for the rehabilitation and installation of new streetlights across the country to eradicate crime which usually occur in dark spots.
Mr Matekane said this while launching Maseru by night – a project to install streetlights around Maseru and lit up the capital to combat crime, among other aims.
About 47 lights, valued at M5.2 million, have already been installed by the Road Fund along the A1 Road from Maseru Main Traffic Circle to the Lakeside robots intersection. They were installed at 40-meter intervals.
Mr Matekane said lighting up the nation was part of the 21 thematic areas which his government vowed to prioritise upon attaining power in October last year.
He said Basotho wanted to see the country lighted because people lived in darkness resulting in various “calamity incidents”.
“Among these calamities, the high crime rate had emerged, road accidents and a number of rape cases had also increased,” Mr Matekane said.
“This also affected the country’s economy because businesses had to shut down early to avoid being snagged by criminals. Therefore, the government has set aside M250 million for roads across the country to be lit.”
Mr Matekane urged Basotho to take care of the lights and to work collaboratively with security agencies to prevent vandalization of the streetlights, saying it was for the benefit of everyone.
The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Matjato Moteane, said his ministry was rolling out various road maintenance and rehabilitation projects of streetlights across the country.
The first street light project was completed in December last year on the A10 road from Maseru Border gate to the Main Circle at a cost of M3.5 million.
Mr Moteane said his ministry would soon light up the Kofi Annan Road (A7) from the Basotho Hat traffic lights intersection to Puma Filling Station at Ha Thetsane, including the junction to Maseru Private Hospital at a projected cost of M4.1 million.
“This will commence in mid-November 2023 with the expectation that it will be completed in March 2024”, Mr Moteane said.
