By Mohalenyane Phakela
MASERU — The Beauty Pageants Association of Lesotho (BPAL) on Monday elected a new executive for a two-year term during its annual general meeting (AGM) held at the CTC Hall in Maseru.
The association, which was registered in April 2013, seeks to open opportunities for female Basotho hoping to pursue modelling as a career. The BPAL also engages in community projects such as fighting child-labour, human-trafficking and HIV-stigma, while supporting charities and promoting the preservation of the environment.
The association also looks at promoting the country’s heritage through beauty pageants.
The new committee, chaired by Tlali Tlali who retained his position, also comprises of Mpitseng Ntsoele (deputy chairperson), Limakatso Makutle (general secretary), Noma Mphakisoane (secretary), Teboho Letsie (treasurer) and Mathabang Molise (national coordinator). Maqetelo Mokhatlane, Gladys Pelesa, Rorisang Motlomelo, Nthole Matela, Khothatso Sefali and Mpine Moejane were elected board members, also for a two-year period.
Tlali said: “Looking at the Beauty Pageants Association of Lesotho constitution, there was no provision for the position of national coordinator, whose main task will be to ensure that the association is aware of all pageants being organised by registered members.
“We need to regulate and set standards as to which pageants are to be classified as national and developmental. For instance, we cannot classify Miss Maseru or Miss Leribe as national, but development pageants as they are meant for people living in those areas only.”
Tlali further told the newly-elected committee of the need to work hard.
“This is not an opportunity to enhance your CVs or advance your personal interests. We have to work hard to ensure the government and private sector recognise us for our hard work.
“We need to engage the government in all community activities that we do. We also need to negotiate with the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) to give tax-exemptions to companies that sponsor our pageants,” he said.
Meanwhile, different concerns were raised by members at the AGM, which, once addressed, would help the association grow.
Among the concerns raised was the need to elect district secretariats that would report to the national executive on developments in their areas, to enable the easy flow of information as well as fostering cooperation.
