Tokelo Khausela

THE Lesotho PostBank (LPB) has handed over a borehole to Boose Primary School in Mapoteng, Berea.

The borehole has now afforded the school clean running water after its taps were vandalised in September last year. Since then, learners have had to bring their own bottled water.

The borehole will also offer relief to the entire Boose village, which does not have community taps.

Boose Primary School principal, ‘Manthatisi Moroka, said the bank had assisted them greatly as the school only had M5000 for the project which required a total of M19 000. The bank had paid the balance.

“I thank PostBank for its support because it is not the first time the bank has helped us,” Ms Moroka said.

The bank also donated fertilisers and vegetable seeds for the learners.

So dire had the situation become that learners would beg for water from Ms Moroka on hot days. She would mostly be helpless on account of the lack of viable water source.

“I would bring a one litre bottle to school and the learners would beg for water from me. I always felt helpless because the water was too little.”

Moeketsi Modikuoa, the Berea district field inspector, hailed the bank for a job well done.

He said the unavailability of water had been posing serious hygienic problems.

“It is painful to learn that the learners often resorted to river water. This posed serious hygienic problems particularly when the country is still on guard against the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from failing to access drinking water, they also did not have running water to wash their hands after using the toilets. Therefore, the donation came at an opportune time,” Mr Modikuoa said.

LPB’s chief sales officer, ‘Mathabo Tshehlo, said while the bank was mandated by the government to drive financial inclusion, it was also imperative to help Basotho in other ways.

“It would have been unfortunate if we did not grant their plea because these children are the future leaders and we would be failing to achieve the bank’s mandate of serving Basotho if we did not intervene to assist in whatever way we can….” Ms Tshehlo said.