’Mantoetse Maama
BUTHA-BUTHE — The government will pump in M36 million to refurbish the Caledonspoort border post and border staff residences, Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing said on Friday.
Metsing told hundreds of villagers around the border post, customs officers and civil servants that it was urgent to renovate the bridge that links Butha-Buthe and Fourisburg in the Free State.
He said the current structure does not allow big trucks to pass easily especially during busy public holidays.
The government, Metsing said, was forced to refurbish the border post because of lack of offices and computer systems that facilitate faster service delivery.
“Because of these conditions some people dodged tax, especially during bad weather conditions,” Metsing said.
“The new facilities will have computers that will enable the Lesotho Revenue Authority to interact with their South African Revenue Service counterparts so as to ensure that border post services are fast and effective,” he said.
After the renovation, there will be improved trucks and small vehicle inspection and parking space.
He said the refurbishment is financed by taxes collected from tax payers in Lesotho.
“Paying tax is not only the right and patriotic thing to do but helps to build the country and enable it to provide for its citizens in a dignified manner,” he said.
Metsing urged departments that offer services at the border post to work together to ensure that services are provided under a single window as that will reduce congestion at border gates.
He said the public should be patient and asked them to use other border posts while the refurbishment at Caledonspoort Border Post continues.
Speaking at same occasion, the Minister of Finance Dr Leketekete Ketso said the project is not only intended to advance services but also to improve the lives of the people living around the area and those using the border on a daily basis.
“The border was there for ages and it is therefore necessary to refurbish it. The refurbishment is not only done to improve services and life of people living in Ha-Belo but also those using this border,” Ketso said.
He said the border will be busy as there are other projects that will soon start.
“We have projects that will commence soon, construction of the Phase II of Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Wool Scouring Plant and power station and this means traffic will increase at this border,” he said.