Mamohlakola Letuka
SEVENTY percent of the people in Mafeteng, a district which accounts for eight percent of the country’s population, face serious health risks due to their dependence on unprotected sources of water.
This was revealed by Manoketsi Noke of the Lesotho Bureau of Statistics during the recent African Statistics Day commemorations in Tšakholo in Mafeteng.
Ms Noke said that only 30 percent of the population in Mafeteng had access to tap water while 70 % depended on unprotected wells and rivers for water for domestic use.
“We have gathered that the majority of the people in this district are still in need of water and acceptable toilets, to avoid pollution of wells,” Ms Noke said.
African Statistics Day is celebrated every year on 18 November.
Each year Africa celebrates the day to raise public awareness of the importance of statistics in all aspects of social and economic life.
This year’s theme focuses on ‘the critical role economic statistics plays in underpinning economic governance that leads to durable growth’.
Speaking at the commemorations, Planning and Development minister, Tlohelang Aumane, said it was important to coordinate the National Statistical System (NSS) to produce accurate, timely and reliable data to facilitate the planning of sustainable economic developments with the help of partners like the European Union and United Nations agencies.
He said that NSS was expected to help the government by p-providing crucial statistical data, monitoring and distributing to stakeholders.
“The NSS has three important components, namely data producers, data users and data suppliers and this is meant to enhance public sector performance and the public at large,” Mr Aumane said.
“Worryingly there are departments that would benefit from keeping statistics but fail to do so. Other departments gather data daily but do not see its importance.”
For her part, Bureau of Statistics Director, Malehloa Molato said it was necessary for the community to appreciate the importance of statistics in the development of the country.
“With the correct statistics, government departments will find it easier to plan the country’s development,” Ms Molato said.
The commemorations were punctuated with artistic performances by Ts’akholo primary and secondary schools learners as well as students from the National University of Lesotho.
