Mohalenyane Phakela
THE ELEVENTH edition of the annual Moshoeshoe Walk ended on a high note on Saturday evening with participants being afforded a royal reception by His Majesty King Letsie III at Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village, the first time this has happened in the history of the event.
Organised by marketing outfit, T Connexion, the 3-day walk is held in commemoration of the founder of Basotho nation, Morena Moshoeshoe I’s departure from his home in ‘Mate (Menkhoaneng) in Butha Buthe to Thaba Bosiu in the Maseru district which guaranteed better protection from his enemies during the 19th century wars including the Mfecane/Lifaqane which ravaged the southern Africa region.
Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso completed the 116KM distance for the second year running and according to T Connexion boss, Thabo Maretlane, the event attracted more people than last year.
“This edition was remarkable and participants were so happy to be welcomed by His Majesty upon arrival at Thaba Bosiu,” Maretlane said.
“Compared to last year’s 500, this time we had over 700 participants from different countries including the United States of America, Holland, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Malawi and South Africa with Batswana coming in larger numbers.
However Basotho still trail behind as they constituted only 30% of the participants although this is their own event. We had an awesome journey with the rain at bay. But then, I cannot say the walk has reached its climax as the aim is to have a 1000 people participating.”
Maretlane said they experienced challenges in ensuring adequate food catering due to the higher turnout, adding in future they would engage professional caterers.
He said they had always relied on communities on the route of the walk as a way of empowering them and therefore they would only rope in professional caterers next year to complement and not substitute the locals in the provision of food.
